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. Hey! Im having a las vegas inspired debut. can you give me suggestions on how to run my program? and for some fun games? thank you soo much 🙂

  2. hi.my friend jaymar wants me to have a debut party for a guy.,he’s turning 21..please help me for more ideas.,
    Thanks.

  3. Hi Justine,

    You have to first choose a theme for your party. Maybe this link can help — http://debutideas.com/?cat=5

    I suggest a simple butterfly themed debut party. Butterflies signify metamorphosis and they tell something about you now becoming a lady. It’s important to choose a theme first that’s based on your personality because from there, you can better decide on things such as your suppliers, your backdrop design, etc.

    If you have decided on a theme, ask us again and we will gladly help you!

  4. hi.im helping my sis who’s in other country to plan for her upcoming debut this dec here in phils.her theme is white party.can you suggest any “pakulo” to make it more lively.like sa designs,souvenirs etc.thank you so much for helping..

  5. Hi Nicie,

    I think you should go for a theme that will not be hard to pull off especially since you already have a venue. I think a Japanese theme will not be appropriate with your venue. As your birthday is October 31, yes, I think Halloween theme would be cool or you can always go for the twilight theme. How about Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland? click here for picture inspirations. Here is a link for samples of makeup. And some more pictures at our facebook page gowns and entrance to venue. Hope this helps.

  6. hi debut ideas..! iLL be having my debut on the 30th of october.. im pLanning to haVe a masquerade theme.. but i really have a problem choosing the best color that fits to my theme.. any idea..?? tnx.!

  7. hi, i want to ask how much do you spend for a debut? not too simple but not too extravagant, will probably have 100 max.

    thank you so much in advance. 🙂 please help me.

  8. Hi Miles,

    There should be no problem choosing your color because any color can do especially since you are choosing a masquerade theme. But we suggest that you use fresh young colors like pastel blue, violet or pink. If you choose dark red or dark green, that’s still fine but it will look very old in pictures, unless that’s the effect you want.

    Hope this helps 🙂

  9. Hi Nik,

    Speeches need not be long. 18 candles are given to people who the debutante thinks will serve as a light in their journey towards life. You can start your speech by describing your relationship with the debutante. Have you been good friends? for how long? etc. you can also describe her good qualities or the fun times you shared together? embarrassing moments, perhaps? then give her some advice in life if your older than her but if you’re the same age, probably you can give her a promise to be by her side when she needs you or promise to be a good friend or a shoulder to lean on. Hope this helps.

  10. hi debut ideas.im having my debut on December. wat theme would you like to advice in that kind of season..?
    coz my parents want an Hawaiian party would it be appropriate? thank you!

  12. nice day! my debut is coming this month of december and i don’t know how to plan and start my coming party. my motiff is black and pink. i want to be the organizer of my own debut but i don’t know where i should start. can you help me to find a web page where i can search a unique debut invitation cause i’m also the one who will do my invitation.. and i red the traditional 18th ideas and i saw the 18th guitars. i’m discussing with my friend and she said that she will going to have an 18th guitars also. i want that also but i don’t want her to think that i’m copying her idea so can you help me too to think a new 18 but have also a touch of guitars cause i’m a certified music lover and i love playing guitar. thanks, hoping for your answer.

  13. hello, my sisters debut would be two weeks from now but I still dont have any introduction speech for her..I want to make one but I dont know how to start it and what will be its contents…hope you could help me..=)..

  14. Hi Samantha,

    You can tell an anonymous story — “There was a girl who blah blah blah” — or you can tell something about your experience with this person “Last year, one girl told me that blah blah blah…” — that girl turns out to be your sister! Include something like you’re proud of how mature she has become and ready for the world, or you’re really happy how your sister has grown up to be one beautiful lady, etc.

    Saying something personal and interesting will make your introduction even more special!

    Hope this helps.

  16. Hi Marj,

    There is no such thing as an “appropriate” theme or a right or wrong theme. There are debutantes who threw unique birthday parties because they defied the usual. Some of them threw beach themed parties during the rainy season and it clicked! I think Hawaiian is a cool theme for your debut. You can put a new meaning with the month December for your guests!

    Hope this insight helps! =)

  17. Hi Ches,

    Here are some fun games you may want to consider for your Vegas inspired debut celebration.
    http://debutideas.com/?page_id=851
    Also here are some Party Guides that may help you organize your debut party, create your program.
    http://debutideas.com/?cat=6

    To replace the traditional 18s in your debut programme, you can have 18 Casino Chips, 18 Dice Rolls (each person will roll 2 dices and the number that appears should be the number of fun facts about you they should share to the guests!), and 18 Wines. You can still have the traditional 18 dances or roses where you can dance with 18 special men in your life.

    Hope this helps!

  18. Hi Hannah,

    If the Aphrodite’s Night appeals to you, then by all means go for it! You are going to celebrate your 18th birthday and being a goddess even for one night would not be a bad idea. Themes are dependent upon the debutante’s personality. If you are the sophisticated type of girl or at least want to be, then go for the more formal themes like a black and white party, a masquerade ball, etc. If you are the imaginative type who dreams of becoming a princess or a fairy or a goddess, then go for themes that are princess/goddess related such as butterfly theme, fairies theme, alice in wonderland theme, and Grecian theme or Aphrodite’s Night theme. Hope this helps.

  19. Hi! I will be having my debut on October 26. What theme would be perfect for me since I only want my debut to be simple but elegant. I also don’t like to have a fairytale or butterfly theme because I think its so childish. Please help me I’m so confused.

  20. Hi Cherry,

    Choosing a theme depends on your taste. It also depends on your lifestyle and your interests. We have provided some insights and ideas on some themes — http://debutideas.com/?cat=5

    We hope this link can help you decide 🙂

    Happy planning!

  23. Hi Marjorie,

    Sorry for the late reply. For 18s you may try 18 serenades instead of the 18 guitars your friend will have. That will be even totally cooler. Hope this helps.

  24. hi good day, i need your help, i will be having my debut 3 weeks from now and until now i still dont have my theme but i will be using yellow color for my motif. can you please help me i want something unique theme for me to known what will be my guest costume or what are they going to wear thanks 🙂 have a good day Godbless

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