Getting ready for your upcoming debut party? Basics first! Sometimes, debutantes forget even the simplest of things! So before anything, read these super simple guides regarding your debut essentials. This will definitely help you get a step ahead in your debut planning.
Invites
Still sticking to your motif, choose the invitation that is simple, elegant, and proper for the occasion. Do not rely on electronic invites such as the Email. If you are confident however that your guests check their email regularly, you may do so, just be sure to get a confirmation by calling them to ask if the invitation was received. However, a hard copy of your invitation is still the best way to invite people. After all, this is also where you can showcase your own creativity!
Inviting through SMS or texting may be quite impolite. Remember, you are the one asking them a favor to attend your party. Texting should only be used for confirmation purposes.
Carefully prepare the list of names included in your program. Make sure names are not misspelled. And be sure the people included in your program know what to do. Send your invitations at least two weeks before the event itself. This way, your guests will not set other appointments on your big day.
Your Motif
Motif is usually reduced to the color that will dominantly be used in the party. But really, motif is more than just that.
When choosing your motif, you may consider your favorite color, which is the conventional way of doing it, but to make your party much more interesting to become a real event to remember, you might want to think of a whole theme, rather than just a color.
A theme is a guide to what the most of your party will be about. It may range from something romantic like renaissance to something more magical like fairy tales. It’s all a matter of imagination and creativity, and of course, personality, that motif, which you think is you.
Once you have set your motif, everything else becomes easy.
Music
Choosing your music is like choosing the mood of your party. Just remember that it should not clash with your theme. If you have a Pocahontas theme, the most suited music would be Pocahontas Original Soundtrack. But who’s dictating? You are always free to be creative! Don’t stick to conventions. Choose the music you love most. Wouldn’t you want to remember your special day with a beautiful music?
For your 18 roses, you may pick a song for each and every dance. The song should suit the man you are dancing with. You may request a friend to sing your favorite song during dinner or ask the dj to play your most memorable song while parading around your guests.
Program and Entertainment
The program of your party is important in keeping your guests entertained. Remember, it is your party. You’re the star! But you are also the hostess, you have the responsibility to make the night as enjoyable for them as it is for you.
Most often, the right performers, and emcee do it all. To entertain your guests, you can abuse your talented friends into making them sing your favorite song for instance. In this way, you are giving an opportunity for them to showcase their talents. Parts like the Cotillion de Honor require a great deal of preparation however. It may take months of preparation before you can produce a perfect Cotillion de Honor.
It would also make your event more interesting, if you include special segments, or the “not usual” segments. But always take note of your theme.
Dress
Depending on your motif, you pick the dress that you think will bring out your best, that which will make you feel confident.
Most of the time, we feel confident when we’re wearing something that we think brings out our best figure. So consider the whole design of your gown, more specifically its cut. Be sure that it fits you perfectly well.
Deciding if a gown fits you perfectly well or not is more than just checking if it’s tight or loose. It’s really a matter of feeling. When wearing it makes you feel confident and comfortable, then it must be good on you.
It is easier to choose an outfit knowing what you really want. You can shop for ideas and designs in the mall and gather them into a collective of what design suits your taste.
Hair and Make-up
Hair and make-up may be the most crucial little detail, because hair and make-up can definitely transform you.
It is very important that you feel comfortable and confident with your hair and make-up, because how you look would more or less direct your mood the whole evening.
It would be helpful to experiment with your looks before the big event itself. This way you more or less know what looks good on you.
Accessories
Choosing the right accessories would come in easy as soon as you get your dress. Accessories play a big role, especially when you have chosen a relatively simple gown. Most of the time, the right accessories do it all.
If your dress can stand on its own, then simple accessories are best to be used to avoid overdressing and exaggeration.
Most well dressed people are the ones who keep it simple but undoubtedly elegant.
Bag
A bag is important to keep close the important things you need, those, which you think, you cannot last a single night without. However, carrying a bag with you during this very important occasion is just optional.
For some people, a bag is not an important detail. But you wouldn’t want a wrong bag to ruin your almost perfect debut, would you?
Your bag must definitely match your dress. If it matches, then it’s the perfect bag.
Shoes
Your shoes may not even be visible during the whole night of your party, because of your long dress. But it still is important to have the right shoes, just in case.
In picking your shoes, the thing to consider, aside from style, is of course comfort. No debutante would want a hurting foot after dancing with the eighteen roses.
Your shoes should blend with your dress. It should be in harmony with your gown’s color or detail. If not, it should match your bag. Be sure to ask opinions from your family and friends about your whole outfit so that during your debut you wouldn’t worry about it at all.
Souvenirs
Souvenirs are remembrance, memories, reminders of your event. To achieve the real purpose of souvenirs, do not just give away something that has always been given away. Pick something special that matches your motif. Pick a souvenir that you think will remind your guests of your memorable day with them. Think of something even more creative to give your friends or family who have helped you a lot in organizing your debut. They will appreciate this token so much that they wouldn’t get tired of helping you at all.
These themes are not familiar for me: Cherry blossoms zen inspired theme and a Mad Hatter Tea Party theme. How does it look like?
thank you very much for your help! can you please explain more about that cherry blossoms zen inspired theme? i really like your suggestion! 🙂 thank you so so much again.
First of all, I want to tell you that I really enjoyed reading your responses to the other debutantes’ questions. They are very helpful and they gave me lots of ideas. 🙂
Anyway, my 18th. birthday is this coming second week of July. I thought of having a debut because I do not want to have any regrets in the future for not having it. I did not realized until today how unprepared I am if I am to have the debut exactly on my 18th birthday. My parents told me that I could just have the debut 4-5 weeks from my birthday so we could have enough time to prepare for it. The other reason for having the debut later is my Mom will be very busy for the next few weeks that she won’t be able to help me prepare if I were to insist on having the debut on my birthday. What do you think? Would it be okay to celebrate a debut 4-6 weeks from my 18th. birthday? What would be the pros and cons of that aside from having more time to prepare? I would really appreciate your reply. Thank you very much. 🙂
I already posted this on the other section, “Debut Programme, Flow”. I posted it here again because I realized that this may be the more appropriate section to post my dilemma. 🙂
hello. could you help me in making a program for my debut? thank you 🙂
hi Jin!
These links can guide you in making a debut program:
Debut Program and Flow
Debut Technical Script
Happy planning! 🙂
Hi Delina!
I know how you feel! It’s really important to have more time to prepare for your debut, but 4 to 5 weeks is such a long wait! But you can make your debut party more interesting by doing something interactive. This is just an idea but I hope you get the gist.
Make your guests guess your debut theme by sending them clues every week about your debut. For instance, if you are going for an Alice in Wonderland / Mad Hatter theme, this week you can give them a “Countdown” invite that contains a clue, a teabag for instance. then next week, you can give them another “Countdown” invitation that contains a ribbon. Your Countdown invite can contain something like:
“Delina’s birthday party is just 1 week from now. We hope you have an idea about here theme anyhow. Those who can guess will get a prize from her. So make sure to think well to impress our girl.”
Something like that. Just keep up the mystery every week to build up your guests’ excitement.
Happy planning and we hope this helps! 🙂
hi, my debut would be this coming november..and i don’t know what would my theme be. what would be the best theme for a debut? i really don’t want the traditional one.. i want my debut to be with a twist.. thx
Hi Jessica,
Sorry for the late reply. Anyway, we have an article on Four Seasons in the Philippines which might give you some insight on throwing a seasons inspired theme party. Winter is especially mysterious and magical. Your color combination will be perfect for a winter theme. Blue and white is just like a snowflake like below.
Source: http://www.its.caltech.edu
For a winter theme, you can call it “Winter Wonder for Snow Princess Jessica.” Try also “Winter Wonderland with Jessica.”
Hope this helps.
Hi Nicolene,
I think you don’t need to limit your theme to valentines just because the songs that you are going to use are all love songs. It is understood that the songs that are gonna be played in the 18 roses dance are love songs. You can choose whatever theme you like and then go ahead and use love songs for your 18 roses dance. As for your idea of 18 sticky notes, I think that is a very good idea. Your recycled box will serve as a party favor for your 18s and you are doing our mother Earth a favor too. Happy planning Nicolene.
Hi Leslie,
Nature Elegance is a nice theme for your chosen color green, brown and white. “Kris@18 blossoms into a natural beauty.” A japanese zen inspired theme would also be good for a green, white and brown combination. . Put potted plants or bonsai on your stage and hang white Japanese lanterns to adhere to a zen inspired theme. Those potted plants will serve as party favor later on after the program is finished. Hope this helps.
hey debut ideas.
i know ill be the first guy to be asking for a suggestion\ for my 18th.
i know i should be dealing with it on my 21. but i want also to celebrate my 18th. 🙂
any suggestion?
that suits for a male. :))
thanks. 🙂
ill be celebrating my debut on feb and i want to be prepared now!!wat can you suggest for the theme of my debut i want an interesting pary and happy,,,and i want to be difference olso
Hi Angel,
Read on some of the articles we have on the site and see if something interests you. there are a lot of themes actually that are interesting. Pick a theme that best showcases your personality and your creativity and what you think you would be able to pull off. Hope this helps.
Hi! I will have my debut next year on July and I am planning to start with either the color fuschia or red. I kinda like the effects on the serye “Magkaribal”. I am wondering how I could add spice into that special event! The hard thing is that I am currently in USA and my sister would be the one to manage everything for my debut. My sister and I looked at the place C3 and Holiday Inn Hotel. I want it to look grand with just ample budget because it is my comeback party wherein I want to showcase the new me and yet conserve my true self as well =). Could you help me on how to mold it to a marvelous party with somehow a fashionable theme as in “Magkaribal” series? I appreciate it. thank you!
Hi! I will have my debut next year on July and I am planning to start with either the color fuschia or red. I kinda like the effects on the serye “Magkaribal”. I am wondering how I could add spice into that special event! The hard thing is that I am currently in USA and my sister would be the one to manage everything for my debut. My sister and I looked at the place C3 and Holiday Inn Hotel. I want it to look grand with just ample budget because it is my comeback party wherein I want to showcase the new me and yet conserve my true self as well =). Could you help me on how to mold it to a spectacular party with a fashionable (shimmering) theme as in Bea’s hot pink gown in “Magkaribal” series? I appreciate it. thank you!
hi…
Id be celebrating my debut this coming September 11. I already have my place, and everything.. I just want to ask if how would the 18 roses go. Should I have a song for each guy, or a song for the whole 18 roses? what song would you prefer for each guy if most of them are my closest(as in really close) friends and some of my family members?
thanks for the reply..
BTW, your site gives me so much info i needed.. again, thank you 🙂
hi! I’m already having my debut next month..august 23..my theme is “angel” because of my name..my guests are the clouds because i require them to wear shades of blue..can u suggest a better event title…too common n po kasi yung Angel turns 18 or Angel @ 18..thanks….
Hi Grace,
It depends on your theme Grace. If you have like a princess theme, a Royal Dance with just one waltz song would be great. For other themes, different songs would be best. We have a compilation of songs that you can use for your 18 roses. 18 roses songs. Pick one that best describe your relationship with that person. Hope this helps.
hi i’m planning to celbrate my debut. i want it to be something different.. can u suggest me a theme for my debut?
Hi there Debut Ideas 🙂
I’m Stephanie , turning 18 on the 17th of November. But since that is a weekday, I’ll be celebrating it on a weekend, which would be dated November 19 or 20 at Palacio De Manila with 200 guests. It would be 3months from now and i already chose the MASQUERADE THEME but i have no idea of how will i come up with a better name of the masquerade theme which will be placed in my invitation and stage/entrance background as well. Also, instead of the traditional 18 roses/candles/treasures and the like, i want to make some twists but it is taking me a hard time to think of anything that will replace those which is related to my theme. With regards to the traditional entrance of the debutant, i also want a different one. If possible, i want an over all suggestions (sample gowns, invitations, programs, makeups, accessories, entertainment, after-party, drinks etc.) to make my 18th birthday extravagant and a unique one.
Your suggestions related to this matter would be of great help.
Thank you and God bless ! ü
Hi Isabel,
Usually debutantes choose their theme based on their personality, like what they want, what they are able or willing to do in terms of do-it-yourself decorations, give aways or invites. Read our articles on the different themes and pick the perfect theme for you, something that would really define you and make your party totally unique. Happy picking.
Hello Debut Ideas! I am thinking about my debut now but the date isn’t till a year away. I want to be sure that everything i am planning will be absolutely perfect! One of my theme choices is vintage bohemian. Do you have any ideas pertaining to invitations, decor, give-aways, 18 roses/candles and etc? Thank you so much! =)
hello. i need ur suggestions with regards of my motif and theme because i can’t really decide what should be the right theme for me. i super love color pink and i love angels too.. what comes in my mind is a pink angel and i don’t know what would be the right term of it as to become my theme. )
my debut is on jan 2011. dancing is my passion and so im making that as my theme. any ideas how to move the program further or the theme etc. seems like its not really a common theme and so im having a hard time thinking of how to imbibe “dance” in my party. thanks a lot =0.
Hey Debut Ideas,
My debut would be on October, and I have already booked on the photographers, venue, and the I have already designed my gown.
My gown looks like Kim Chui’s gown when she ws performing on ASAP, here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtM96RQ50sk but the color would be white, I wonder what best fits its theme. please help ! and I live in cagayan de oro by the way 🙂