A Traditional Debut Planner

Posted on by Debut Ideas!

6 months before:

  1. plan a budget with your parents
  2. decide on the number of guests you want to have and make a prelim guest list
  3. decide on your color motif and theme
  4. look for designers, choreographer, a mobile, florists, photographers and videographers. Look at their portfolios and sample work.
  5. list the members of your cotillion and warn them that rehearsals may fall on weekends. Ask them about their schedules so you both know what kind of commitment to expect.
  6. once you have confirmed your venue and cotillion members, have your invitation printed as early as possible. Order additional envelopes just in case errors are made while addressing them.

4 months before:

  1. finalize your guest list
  2. select the menu based on your budget
  3. decide on what type of cake you like. There are some bakers who can do very intricate designs, and there are others who can make simpler cakes on a budget
  4. book your vendors and make down payments: the florist, photographer, videographer, baker and band/mobile. Make sure that you have a written contract with all of them.
  5. discuss the type of cotillion you want with your choreographer, and make a schedule of rehearsals.
  6. finalize with your gown designs.

3 months before:

  1. schedule measurements and fittings of your gowns (with the cotillion members).
  2. start taping interviews with your family and friends for the video presentation
  3. finalize your menu and make the necessary down payments
  4. start having trial make-up sessions with different artists. Have your picture taken after each trial so that you can remember how each one made you up. There are times when how you look in person differs from your face in the photograph.
  5. begin rehearsals for the cotillion and other special programs
  6. decide on the souvenirs.

2 months before:

  1. book the make-up artist of your choice
  2. send your invitation envelopes to your calligrapher of printer
  3. conceptualize the décor and set-up with the florist or the hotel

1 month before:

  1. send out your invitations
  2. buy your accessories: shoes, bag, hosiery, jewelry, undergarments.
  3. go for final fittings and rehearsals with the cotillion members.
  4. finalize the layout and logistics of the reception venue.
  5. if you hired a coordinator, tie-up all the loose ends and discuss the flow of the events and program. Otherwise, assign someone who can take care of wrapping up and settling the bill for you after the function.

2 weeks before:

  1. discuss the program with the hose
  2. give the final head count to the Banquet Officer of the hotel or your caterer. Don’t forget to add the coordinators, photographers, videographer, etc. to the headcount.
  3. reconfirm all your reservations with the florist, photographer, videographer, baker, band/mobile, make-up artist, etc.
  4. buy a token gift for your parents to thank them for giving you a wonderful debut

1 week before:

  1. arrange your souvenirs and guest book.
  2. do one last cotillion rehearsal
  3. relax for the rest of the week.

the day before

sleep early

the day itself

kick up your heels and have fun!!

after the debut

  1. have your gown professionally dry cleaned
  2. make thank you cards for all the gifts you received

( Source: Seventeen Philippines, July 2001 )

[Article by Charley Antonio and Hazel Villonco of the Bridal Cortege]

77 thoughts on “A Traditional Debut Planner”

  1. Hi! I will be having my debut party on August and my theme would be Gossip Girl – New York style. Can you suggest other names for 18 treasures? candles? shots? dance? What should be the centerpieces of each table and what do you suggest be my special thing to do like dance or what? I hope you can really help me. Thanks!

  2. Hi Monica,

    I think your chosen theme is innovative and unique so I think it could actually work. I think the main thing you want to get from Gossip girl is their fashion sense. Their somewhat preppy snobbish look are very fashion forward. Also the characters in Gossip girl loves to party all the time. With these in mind, you can now think of your 18s. For your 18s you may try 18 toasts, 18 wines, 18 champagnes for your 18 roses where your 18 roses will first share a toast and then dance with you. For 18 candles, try 18 hats, 18 headpieces, 18 scarves (depending on what you will give them) where YOU will be giving them a token for being your friend (this will serve as their souvenir also), and place it on their head after their speech. You may also want to try 18 Gossips where each will tell something personal about you and they will say if it is gossip or the truth. For 18 treasures, you may try 18 fashion styles where they will give you some things that are fashion related like clothes, bags, etc.

    For the table centerpieces, you may try cutting out small square windows of a box, place a candle inside to resemble a building in New York. You can also try to put fashion pieces at the table and adorn it with flowers and candles. For instance, a hat turned upside down filed with flowers, a small bag adorned with peacock feathers, candles with a scarf or a necklace laced around it. Make each table different. I’m pretty sure your guests would gossip over it… in a good way. Hope this helps.

  5. Hi Monica,

    Modern songs would be the way to go for a Gossip Girl theme. Go for songs that are youthful and upbeat. If you know of some songs that they’ve used in the series, use that. There are lots of songs here in our song bank that are upbeat and youthful. Have fun picking! Click here

  8. Hello! Im having my debut this July and it would be New York inspired — where it would mainly focus on music and fashion. I was wondering if you could help me replace the names of my 18 roses, 18 memories, 18 shots and 18 treasures. Lastly, what advice can you give that would surely liven my 18’s and party up because it will be held in a bar. Hope you can reply to me asap. Thank you! 🙂

  9. hi!

    i’ll be having my debut on october. i was thinking of doing it at Rustica at Sct. Reyes. I don’t want to spend more than 18k because I’m planning to go out of the country with my friends too. I think Rustica is a nice place but I don’t have a theme. My birthday is on oct31. i like to have a japanese inspired party but i think the venue will not be appropriate. 20 k is the max i want to spend. do you have any suggestions? is holloween a nice theme? maybe i will celebrate it the week before

    i’ll be waiting for your reply

    thank you so much

    PS- thank you for creating this site. it’s really helpful

  13. Hi Gabbi,

    Sorry for not replying sooner. Anyway, for your 18s, you can replace 18 roses with 18 favorite songs, 18 songs as these will be the songs that you and your 18 roses will be dancing to. You can also have 18 blooms (depicting a flower) or 18 buildings (depicting New York and its many high-rise and famous buildings). You can also have 18 songs (from plays shown in New York). For 18 candles, try 18 runways or 18 poses where your 18 candles will strike a pose before making a speech. You can also try 18 fashion items for 18 treasures where your 18s will be giving you branded items like bags, shirts etc. Retain 18 memories (Cats the play). Games are usually played in order to liven up a party. You can ask your guests to name some famous characters of TV series with location in New York, for instance, Friends, Sex and the City, Gossip Girl, CSI-NY, Law and Order just to name a few. We have a few other game suggestion on our Games page. Hope this helps and happy birthday Gabbi.

  14. hi there,,can you pls give me an idea or suggest me something to say to a debutant,,’coz im one of her 18 candles and i rily dont know what to say,,i dnt have any idea ‘coz diz is my 1st tym to attend in a debut party,,can you pls.thank you…

  15. hi there,,can you pls give me an idea or suggest me something to say to a debutant,,’coz im one of her 18 candles and i rily dont know what to say,,i dnt have any idea ‘coz diz is my 1st tym to attend in a debut party,,can you pls.thank you…

  17. hi! my daughter will be 18th in december, any suggestion for her debut recital party? motiff? She’s in broadway music. Tnx

  18. hi nik,

    wish something for the debutante for her future. the candles actually symbolize how you light her path so use that to wish her the best for the life she will face in the future 🙂

    Hope this helps!

  19. Hi Anne,

    Themes are dependent upon what the debutante likes or loves. For instance if she loves musicals, or does she like to party. Tell your niece to read on some of our articles on themes in order to gain some insight on the different themes. She may be able to ascertain what fits her personality. Hope this helps.

  20. hi i am turning 19 this november. but i want my 19 birthday to be like a debut again. i had discussed it with my parents and they both agreed. is it okay to have a debut but instead of 18 candles. it’ll be like 19 candles, 19 roses…? and could you suggest a theme for me? please send me an email. thank you

  21. Hi Fralala,

    Of course themed parties are not just for debuts. They are for any birthdays. For themes, I would suggest that you pick something mature and elegant. A Masquerade ball for instance would be extravagant. Or how about the Phantom of the Opera theme (which is similar to the Masquerade). This will create magic and mystery for you and your guests. If you’re a big fan of the Twilight saga, you can also have a Twilight theme with red chocolates as party favors and with red candle centerpiece (creepy but nice)

    Source: http://www.everydaycelebrating.com

    I suppose you can still use the 18s in your program with the addition of another person because you’re already 19. If you did not do this on your 18th, then it’s not too late to experience it on your 19th. Just pick a maximum of 3 sets of 18s. Hope this helps.

  22. Hi Tess Garcia,

    Your daughter can pick a broadway musical that she loves and emphasize it in her party. For instance, if she is going to perform, she can pick a song from that musical. Even the stage should be decorated based on that broadway musical. Her 18s names can be changed basing from that musical too. Ask your daughter to pick a musical first and everything will follow. Hope this helps.

  23. Hello I am planning for my 18th birthday and i need major help po.
    I want it to be nice and elegant but simple. How can I do that?
    and my theme color is pink.

  25. hi! i’m planning for my debut this april..
    i surely want a garden or beach venue but i’m confused of what would be my theme. oooh. :/ i really need a help ryt now.
    i’ve checked on your themes and i kinda like “aphrodite’s night” and “bringing the beach indoors”.
    do you have any theme in mind aside from these 2?

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