Crafting a balanced program for you dream debut party is not really as hard as it sounds. All it takes is a little imagination. There are endless possibilities in creating a program for your dream debut. A program can be as short as two hours or as long as until wee hours of the night. You can go as crazy as making everyone involved and participate in different aspects of the program.
The following is a basic Debutante’s program:
- Introduction of the Debutante, her Escort and her Cotillion Court
- Toast in Honor of the Debutante
- Welcome Remarks (by the parents)
- Invocation or Prayer
- Dining
- Father and Daughter Dance
- Grand Cotillion Waltz Dance
- 18 Roses Dance
- Presentation of 18 Candles
- Singing of Traditional Debutante’s Birthday Song
- Blowing of the Cake Candles
- Cutting of the Cake
- Presentation of 18 Treasures
- Games
- A Word from the Debutante
- Time to Party!
The debutante’s program can also flow like this:
- Arrival and welcoming of guests – guests are ushered to their designated seats
- Cocktails are offered to encourage guests to mingle – this takes your guests’ mind off waiting for your grand entrance
- After everyone settles in their place, the host makes mention of important people who graced the occasion (if there are).
- Drinks and appetizers are served
- Parents talk briefly about the debutante (about her achievements, goals, ambitions, etc.)
- Audio Visual Presentation of the debutante’s life from infancy to present
- Grand entrance of the debutante
- Parents talk some more about the debutante (optional)
- Toast in honor of the debutant
- The debutante makes a short opening remarks encouraging guests to enjoy the party
- Prayer
- Guests start their meal
- AVP of well-wishers
- Father and daughter dance (This may also be incorporated in the eighteen roses. Fathers are usually the first or last dance of the debutante)
- Eighteen roses (audio of speech while dancing)
- Eighteen candles (speech)
- Singing of birthday song
- Cutting of birthday cake
- Games
- Introduction of the debutante, her escort and her cotillion court
- GRAND COTILLION WALTZ DANCE
- Debutante’s thank you speech
- Party time!
Other variations may be the following:
* The host will have a talk, more of like an introduction and a short summary of the program, a little talk on what is in store for the guests so that they would be enticed into finishing and staying for the duration of the party and making the party a success. The host need not mention the juicy parts (those surprise numbers and whatnots)
* For parents who are shy to talk in front of a crowd, the host will do the introduction about the debutante. There will be a little talk before the debutante is introduced. Probably the host may interview some guests and probably ask them some unforgettable moments with the debutante.
* For the eighteen roses, each guy can give a note for the host to read while they are dancing. This can also be recorded and played together with the background music while they dance.
* Cotillion can be danced at the end of the program after which everybody may dance and which may mark the start of the dancing.
* The father or parents of the debutante will talk about the celebrant (you can make a Powerpoint or Flash presentation for everyone to see that has baby pictures or some important milestones of the debutante’s life)
* Father dances with his daughter as a separate part of the program.
* Escort/ bf takes debutante for a dance then everyone dance after some time
* Some also incorporate 18 wines, 18 treasures, 18 gifts as a variation so that most of the guests would be able to greet the debutante.
* Games are inserted on different parts of the program.
Here is a more detailed flow of program but the arrangement can be tweaked here and there according to preference.
- Registration / arrival of guests / receiving of gifts / cocktails
- Guests settle on their seats
- Introduction of the 18th birthday celebrant by the emcee
- Acknowledgment of the parents and other VIPs
- Introduction and entrance of the grand cotillion
- Grand entrance of the debutant and her escort (optional)
- Welcome remarks and toast by the parents
- AVP of debutante (pictures from infancy to present)
- Grand cotillion
- Invocation / prayer before meals
- Meals and pictorial
- AVP of well-wishers
- 18 Roses
- Father and daughter dance
- 18 _____ (any 18s here – 18 wines, balloons or whatever you like!)
- Games
- 18 Candles
- Singing of birthday song
- Blowing of 18 Candles
- Cutting of birthday cake
- Debutante’s thank you speech
- PARTY / Everybody on the dance floor!
So remember, in making your program, list first what part of the basic program you want to retain or delete and then you can make your own rendition according to your liking. Don’t make it too long but don’t make it too short either. Create a balanced program and be imaginative in adding your own flavor into it. A debut party well thought of is a debut party well remembered.
Hi, can you help me make an informal program for a dinner party? Not like with the traditional debut – no cotillion, 18 roses etc.. It’s also a big help if you could give me some good theme for a dinner gathering so I could match my dress, the souvenirs etc.. I’ll be celebrating my birthday next month and I’m planning now for my simple debut party. Thank you so much.
Hi anne,
An informal program may consist of the following:
Guests arrive.
At this point, cocktails are being served (optional)
Host (can be a member of the family or a friend for intimate parties) will start the program, thanks everyone for coming, etc, introduces your parents.
Parents talk about your achievement, goals, ambitions, etc.
Either your parents introduce you or the host will, and then
GRAND ENTRANCE
AVP (optional but I think necessary)
Father and daughter dance (optional but I think also a must because there are only two occasions you get to dance with your father, your debut and your wedding)
Cutting of birthday cake
Prayer
Dinner
Games
Debutante speech (thank you speech or something)
For the theme, you can go for the much simpler themes so that you won’t have any problem planning it. You can have a butterfly theme so you won’t have any problem in choosing the color of your dress. You can wear a cocktail dress for this informal dinner party or you could also go for a simple and yet elegant gown inspired by the wings of a butterfly, and for your keepsake, probably a personalized posh pillow of the same color as your gown but probably a different hue. A butterfly keychain is also good. A sweet cologne (scent of flowers) for your keepsake is even better.
A zen-inspired debut party is also not a bad idea. For keepsakes, you can give away chopsticks, scented candles, and zen-inspired picture frames. You could also pick colors from the four seasons (winter, spring, summer, fall) and have that all around your venue. http://debutideas.com/?p=540. If you could give me some info like what theme appeals to you most, we could give you more ideas on that and probably simplify it for your dinner party. This is all for now and happy planning.
hi! I’ll be celebrating my 18 birthday 4 and half months from now and I’m planning to have a rock and roll theme. Can you give me tips and ideas how to plan it, I really dunno what to do. Thank you so much!
Hi Den,
You might want to read on our article A Party That Rocks http://debutideas.com/?p=27 for more details on how to pull of a Rock till you drop party. Incorporate it with our Rave Theme http://debutideas.com/?p=855 and I’m sure you will have an awesome and unforgettable 18th birthday party. Happy Birthday Den!
hi! anu po ba ang ginagawa sa 18 shots of wines? tnx a lot
gud day! just wanna if what is the role of the 18 treasures? coz, i have my i18 gifts and 18 treasures for the eldest! hahahahaa… hope you can answer it right away! tahnks!
hello po:] need ko po ung help niyo. pde po bang humingi ng format ng gwang invitation card? at mgpapatulong po sana ako sa preparation for my upcoming debut ee.
Hi Lhei,
Sorry for not replying sooner. Anyway, 18 treasures are bearers of gifts for the debutante. The gifts may symbolize something, like what the debutante will need in her journey toward becoming an adult or it may be just a gift that the debutante would really appreciate. I think you are right in picking adult guests for this because I’m sure they will pick the right gifts for you. Happy birthday Lhei.
Hi Len,
I believe the 18 shots of wine is meant for well-wishers. The chosen person will basically drink to a toast, probably make a short speech or a wish and then drink wine.
hi. . .i’ll be celebrating my debut this april 2010. . .i’m planning for a glam theme party. . .can you give me tips and suggestions? hoping to hear from you soon! : )
is 18 shots with wishes is different with 18 candles/wishes??
What about a Vintage-themed debut? What ideas can you give? 🙂
hi,., i’ll celebrate my 18th bday on May,., gusto ko sanang maging maganda talaga dahl ako lng yung babae sa family namin,., can you give me some tips? im planning to have a “tropical-inspired party,.,
Hi Shiela,
The simple format would be:
[Your parents name] request
the pleasure of your company at a dinner dance celebration of the 18th Birthday of their Daughter
[Your name in a big font]
To be held on Friday the 25th of December 2009 [just an example]
at Manila Hotel Philippines, Diamond Ballroom
at Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manila
18 Roses
….
18 Candles
…
18 Treasures
…
18 Wines
…
Attire:
Male: Formal
Female: Cocktail Dress
hi, i was looking for some ideas for the event and i discovered this site. i just would like to ask, how should we introduce the debutante if there’s no cotillion dance. thank you!
hi debut ideas!! my debut will be on march 27, 2010 and my theme is Hawaiian theme, ahm.. and i need a program-me flow.. ahm.. wala na pong cotillion and imbes na 18 roses it will be 18 luau, 18 gifts will be 18 thousands, 18 candles, 18 balloons, 18 shots, i hope u will help me..
ahm.. can you give me some Hawaiian invitation designs and format>>??
thnks a lot..;-)
Hi. I’ll have my 18th birthday this September 2010. I also had my grand 7th birthday and “Barbie” was the theme for it. I want to have a different but classy theme for my debut? Would you mind if you give me ideas and themes? 3 or more kinds themes if pwede. Thanks! 🙂
Btw, love your site. 🙂
Hi Bianca,
When I think of glam, I usually associate it with Hollywood, where you can find almost everybody and everything to be glamorous. So, you might want to look for ideas on our article here http://debutideas.com/?p=3. You can also be a rock star and have a combined glam rock theme party. You can also have a glam theme with a flair of the 50s era, which is going to be fabulous as well. I also associate glamorous with being stylish and fashion forward, so you might want to try a runway inspired theme and have you and your friends walk the runway like a supermodel. Hope this helps and happy birthday!
Hi Lalaine,
The 18 candles are designated for your 18 friends and as they light the candle they can either say something about you, how you are related or they can give you a wish. The 18 shots on the other hand are usually designated for older men (they are usually the ones who drink) and as they drink wine or have a shot of vodka, they give you a wish as well. Hope this helps.
Hi Jen,
When you say vintage, I think of things that are old. It is kind of broad as there are different styles in each era. For instance, the 1920s Hollywood is big in hats, cute retro hairstyles and drop-waisted dresses. The 1950s are popular for their full skirted dresses. How about 1960’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s and the latter part of the 1960s would be the psychedelic era. If you want our very own Maria Clara era, you may want to get some ideas in this article. http://debutideas.com/?p=857. These are just examples of things that are vintage. You may want to choose one and go with that in order to have a more cohesive theme. Hope this helps and happy planning.
Hi Juliet!
A simple format can be:
[Your parents name] request
the pleasure of your company at a dinner dance celebration of the 18th Birthday of their Daughter
[Your name in a big font]
To be held on Friday the 25th of December 2009 [just an example]
at Manila Hotel Philippines, Diamond Ballroom
at Roxas Boulevard corner Dr. J. Quintos Street, Manila
18 Roses
….
18 Candles
…
18 Treasures
…
18 Wines
…
Attire:
Male: Formal
Female: Cocktail Dress
And for the designs, these links might give you an idea:
http://www.myexpression.com/prodBrowse.cfm?ProdCategoryID=14&ProdSubCatID=11
http://www.colorsbydesign.com/store/THEMED/THtropical.shtml
Hi Juliet,
Wow! It seems that you are all set for your 18th birthday party. The Hawaiian theme is a great theme to have because there are lots of things you can do with it. With regard to your 18s, I’m just concerned that your guests will be bored with all these 18s. If they are not going to have a speech, it would be okay I guess but if 5 sets of 18s would be making a speech, that would be 90 persons going to the stage and making a speech. Even if you disperse it and have games or other parts of the program in between, it would still take a lot of time. So you might want to reconsider that.
It is great that you already have some 18s ideas. In naming your 18s, you should also consider your theme, since you have a Hawaiian theme, these are things that you can use: For your 18 candles, you can try substituting 18 bonfires, 18 torches or 18 tiki torches. You can decorate the candle so that it looks like a torch and then name it 18 torches or you can buy a real torch at Ace hardware priced around 50 to 150 pesos depending on the size. For 18 roses, you can substitute 18 leis or 18 garlands. For 18 gifts, try 18 jewels, 18 treasures or 18 gems, or you can also try 18 cocktails where your 18s will make a speech, give a toast and then give the gift. Using 18 thousands would limit your 18 gifts on how much they would give you, and you would not want to do that, would you?
With regard to your program flow, you can omit some parts of the basic program flow that we have in the site and tweak it here and there to make it your own. You can just remove the cotillion part and insert your 18s instead. We also have an article on a tropical theme that might give you some ideas as well. Hope this helps and happy birthday!
Hi Kim,
Well, I believe you would be able to throw a very beautiful 18th birthday party with 5months of preparation. Would you want to have a pool party? Would you want to have it in an indoor venue and then bring the beach indoors? If you are already decided on what to do then the next step is to look for your venue. If you already have a venue, think of ways to make it look tropical. Gain inspiration from our articles on tropical beach themed debut party and pool parties. http://debutideas.com/?p=859 and http://debutideas.com/?p=694. This is all for now. If you have other questions, feel free to ask us.
thank you debut ideas.. more power..