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.
Thank you for your reply. 18 couples was a mistake, I meant to say 9 couples or 18 people is the tradition. She can make up a group of 5 or 6 couples only for the dance. If so is that still considered a grand cottillion entourage? Also I was thinking if we are going to have a head table , who should sit there. Initially our family was going to seat there (her bro being her escort). Now with the dance group , should they be in the head table instead? I value your reply. thanks again.
hello maam,
i just want to ask what ideas can you give for my 18 birthday..i want
to celebrate on beach. what songs, games, dress, design, giveaways and invitation can you give me.thanks..:D
hi…..i need ur help…..pls…kindly give me a flow of male debut program for my brother for his 21st birthday
hi there!!
my debut is 10months from now but i just wanted to prepare coz i might be busy with school, i wanted to have a hollywood theme,. any suggestions for the 18s? and and the room design? i also wanted my decorations w/ blue and silver since its my favorite color, but isnt it suited w/ my theme?
hope you would reply , thanks in advance!! 😀
and i would also like to ask for suggestions regarding the giveaways,. i dont think my mom would like the oscar award keychain,. thanks again 🙂
Hi ^^ . I’ll be having my debut on July 16 . Theme is Princess . Can you give me ideas about * Grand Entrance Song .. And some ideas about the decorations . Is white motif a good one ? Or pink and black is better . Since I’m wearing white, I think I’ll glow . Its hard to decide….
Can you please also give me substitute for my roses, candles and treasures?
I need it so badly . Thanks . Anyways … You are the best debut websites I’ve seen . Others have few informations . ^^
hi I’m organizing my sister’s debut party this coming august but I have no idea where to start,, she likes inspired taylor swift party but i don’t know how to do it.. need some help
Hi Mazel,
Taylor Swift has many music videos which you can use to get some ideas with regards to her gown, stage design and venue decor. We have on our facebook page photos of some of Taylor Swift’s music videos that you may take inspiration from. Taylor Swift. Ask your sister to choose from among Taylor’s songs or MTVs and go with that. Hope this helps.
Hi Joice Rel,
Go for the color that is close to your heart. Since you are a young lady, do not wear a color that is old like maroon or black or green. Wear something fresh like pink, white or light blue. I think the “Pretty in Pink” album we have in our Facebook account will suit you very well! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Debut-Ideas/73798053610
For 18s substitutions for your 18th birthday party program, you can check this out — http://debutideas.com/?p=1062
Hope this helps!
Hi Faith,
You can check out our article for 18s ideas — http://debutideas.com/?p=1062
Our ideas on the Hollywood theme — http://debutideas.com/?p=3
Hope this helps!
Hi lhen,
You can use our generic program and modify it according to your preference.
Hope this helps!
HI ! uhmm im going to have my debut next next month but i don’t know what would my theme be called. Im thinking about more like the VS 2011 fashion show. I love the colors and glitters there. But im not sure how to put it on my invitation. But it’s not a fashion show theme. just the colors. Im so confused ! pls HELP. thank you =))
WHAT PO MAGANDANG THEME/TITLE ? RED AND BLACK PO KC UNG THEME KO …
NEED AN ASAP REPLY PO .. PLEASE ….TNX
Hi Cindy,
For a red and black color combination, try moulin rouge, masquerade, or roses theme. Hope this helps.
Hi Deedee,
From what I gather, you love the glitters and colors of the VS fashion show but it is not necessarily a fashion show theme, right? You can have Glitz and Glamour where everything is glittery including your gown and decor. How about Angel theme where you are going to have a big angel wing as a prop along with your glittery gown. Take what it is you like about the VS fashion show like stage decor, props, color and glitters and incorporate it into your party. Hope this helps.
hi im having a BLACK MASQUERADE THEME in my debut this coming september 😉
and i need some idea about other names for my 18 roses, 18 candles & 18 treasures that would fit to my theme and any fun tasks that they would do before they say their speech. thank you!
Hi Marie,
You can use 18 candelabras for 18 candles and also 18 Masks, which is sort of a surprise for the debutante. Each person would approach the stage concealed in a mask and then remove it to make a speech. This is going to be very dramatic and exciting because the 18th birthday celebrant doesn’t know that these people are part of the program. On the other hand, 18 Masks, 18 Princes and 18 Music of the Night can also be used to replace 18 Roses. Each guy will approach the debutante with a mask on, and reveal himself to the audience by taking off the mask before dancing with the celebrant to classical or opera music. You can opt to have the 18 grand royal dance where you will have just one waltz song to dance to and the men will have a stanza each until he is replaced by another man. For 18 treasures, you may use 18 gems, 18 jewels, 18 rubies, 18 topaz. Hope this helps.
Hi!
i really need your help. I will be having my debut next month and the theme will be sex and the city. Please help me on venue decoration.
Thank you and heres hoping to hear from you 🙂
Kia
Hi Kia,
Place shopping bags, hats, bags, scarf adorned with feathers at the center of your tables which will serve as your table centerpieces. For decors, how about something like this? Sex and the City theme. Hope this helps. Happy Birthday Kia.
Hi! I’m having my debut on January and I would just like to ask for help. Our venue can only be utilized from 5-10pm, do you think it’s a little too early to start at that time? I’m also thinking about the after party, the fun might be cut short.. Can you suggest a program flow that would still include the usual parts of a debut but wouldn’t feel ‘bitin’ at the end? Really need your help. Thank you! 😉
Hi Cara,
It is just a matter of time management. I think 5 hours is a good enough time for a debut party. You will have 2 hours for the program, 1 hour dinner and 2 hours for dancing and other miscellaneous stuff. Begin the program at 5 pm like the introduction, cotillion, 18 candles. Then have dinner at 6:30 or 7pm. Continue with the rest of the program and then have dancing at 8:30 or 9pm to 10 pm. Hope this helps.
hi.. when exactly the debutant will change her outfit, from gown to cocktail dress??
Hi Jayl,
It depends.. Some debutantes change after when the dancing begins so they are comfortable on the dance floor. Others change outfit after the grand entrance so they have a different look during the guest photo-ops.
Hi author!
I want to ask if What can you suggest for my debut? Because I’m going to celebrate my debut in a Beach and the tropical/beach, hawaiian, pirate themes are so common. What other themes can you suggest please Reply! Thank you 🙂
Hi AUTHOR!
I want to ask if what do you prefer for a BEACH themed debut
I saw a lot of comments about the BEACH themed party but
I want a Unique BEACH themed party
I hope you can suggest a Unique BEACH themed party as what I said earlier
and Can you suggest also a Unique Flow of a beach themed party 🙂
Please Reply.. thank you :)))