Debut: The Basic Manual

Posted on by Debut Ideas!

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.

340 thoughts on “Debut: The Basic Manual”

  1. hi

    good am..

    my daughter will be celebrating her 18 bday on jan 2011.. as early as now, we want to plan ahead.. she wants somthing different and unique but simple and lively.. her favorite color is purple..she wants to have a theme for her debut but cant think of… she will be celebrating her debut in a resort in marikina….she wants to wear a purple dress but doesnt want her guests to wear purple ..please suggest how to decorate the place, what to write in the invites, souvenirs for giveaways, etc.. and what can we subsitute. with 18 roses, candles..

    i had a browse of you ideas.. with so many ideas, had difficult time to finding the right one

    please reply to my email add

    thanks and more power… its such a very big help to come up with this website.. you are truly an angel

    vina

  2. hi my name is miana and i can’t choose a theme for my debut i was thinking a princess diaries theme would be great but then how about the decors, invitation etc.? how can my invitation look like? and how should i name my debut? I’m planning to have it in fernbrook gardens.. well.. i like butterfly and masquerade themes too..

  3. Hi Donita,

    This looks like a baby doll dress. You can have a Barbie inspired theme with this. You can also make it into a runway-inspired theme since the design is fashion forward. Create your own fashion show with you and your friends in it. It would look cool for you to be strutting the runway with this kind of dress. Hope this helps Donita and happy birthday.

  6. Hi Girly,

    You can find big styros in Divisoria that you can use for your backdrop. Or you can hire a planner (usually kiddie party planners have more props). Look for planners in this link. Party planners. They usually have these in stock. Just tell them what theme you want. I’m sorry if we can’t be of much help.

  7. Hi Ann,

    The Cinderella Story theme would be a great theme indeed. It is elegant but with a touch of naughtiness (converse shoes). Your love of music can be incorporated in the program proper by asking some of your 18s to sing a song for you instead of a speech. You could also sing for your guests as an intermission number. The masquerade part can be incorporated by giving away masks of your color motif. I think your three ideas can be combined. Hope this helps.

  8. Hello! 😀 It’s me again. My debut’s gonna be on December and I’m thinking of having a TV themed debut. It’s kind of like the movie house theme but i want it to be quite different. Could you give me ideas on what to call the 18’s like the 18 roses for instance? thanks

  9. hi! i’m Bettina by the way my sister Pauline is having her 18th b-day on october, her theme is Pauline in Vegas (Las Vegas}. Do you think her theme is applicable for her gown and for the venue? Her debut will be in THE GROOVE by rockwell,and her gown is shiny color cherry blossom pink,and her invitations will be in box,inside the box are pictures of people in las vegas and the cassinos there. Her pictures,and 18….. are also there.By the way for girls her 18 are sparkles and 18 money.And or boys are 18 cassinos and 18 wines. pls. help me in preparing my sisters debut. thanks!!!:)))).

  10. ei.. debut ideas… one month to go and its my birthdeii… its kinds late for my planning but because of my mom why is it late..
    my problem is…
    isnt it awkward to have a debut at our place? i estimated to have 50 persons.. and my mom said that we just have to close the street for that night which is awkward because it is a residential area… and because of lack of budget… how can i use sound system? without hiring a dj? im planning to have 18 gifts.. 18 roses and candles… pls help me… my birthday party is on sept 11…

  11. Salamat sa mga inpormasyon dito sa site mo. Marami kaming nagagamit para sa debut party ng anak ko ngayung Oct.13,2010. May kaunting problema lang kasi di namin mabuksan ang technical script na pro format nyo for us to follow. Pwede po kayang e forward nyo na lang po sa aking email. Salamat po at umaasa sa tulong mo.

  12. Hi, i need your help. The motif of my venue is blue (3 shades of blue). I asked the guests to come in blue and black attire. Now, I’m having a hard time to what theme/tag lines I’ll be using for my invites. I’m thinking of “A night of glam” or something. Please do help me for the wordings of the invitation. And what tag lines can I use? Thanks a lot!

  14. Hello! I am a Filipino and I live in Singapore. I plan to my debut in Singapore and my debut is 10 months from now. I know it’s still a bit early but i guess i have to plan early cos the resources for having a debut here is very limited.
    I would fly back and forth to Philippines to make my gown,invitations,etc.

    I planned to have a Gossip Girl theme party.
    What color combination should i use?

    I have thought of a gown for my debut, if you have watched Magkaribal, I would love to get Gelai’s dress in the VvsV fashion show. (red dress) but i would love it to be in purple or pink. I was wondering would it be mis-matched with my theme?
    I have linked the photo,if you cant recall/dont know

    if it is,can you suggest me of another theme that would suit my gown?

    and any suggestion of games for the Gossip Girl theme? I cant seem to think of one.

    for my 18th candles,
    I was planing to have it in purple and pink too, and every candle are the letter of my name.

    for the 18th roses,
    purple and pink roses.

    for the 18 treasures,
    i haven thought about it, can you please give a suggestion on how to make it a gossip girl theme? or something?

    and soveiniers! i cant think of one.

    thanks alot of helping.

  17. Hi Sha,

    For a Sex and The City theme, go for the colors hot pink, silver and black. Your party should be all about glamour and fashion because these are what the four girls represent. Look for designs of Carrie’s gowns that you like and imitate that. For decorations, you can have hats, bags, shoes adorned with feathers as table centerpieces instead of flowers. Circle hot pink boa feathers on a bottle of wine and have black and white photos of you as centerpieces. Have black table cloth on hot pink table runners and hot pink table napkins. For decorations, you can have a mirror ball at the center of the stage, some hot pink balloons, silver ribbons and everything that sparkles. Click this for some Sex and the City theme pictures. For give aways, try cupcakes with shoes, stars, bags as icing or martini glass with chocolate candies on them. Also you can have shoes, bags, gown-shaped chocolates. Hope this helps.

  19. Hi Bettina,

    We have an article on Casino inspired theme that you might pick some ideas on. Happy planning.

  20. Hi, my daughter’s debut will be on december 18. We are planning to have her motiff Red and Champagne color. Can you suggest what theme would be appropriate. And any suggestion for give aways. Appreciate your help… God Bless and more power to your site.

  21. Hi Deathstryker,

    We really haven’t thought about a theme for a guy yet! =) But it’s cool though that you’re celebrating two debuts in your lifetime!

  22. Hi! I’m planning to have a strawberry shortcake party theme. Can you suggest where I can buy party amenities and stuffs? I want it to be kiddie themed party and at the same time the traditional 18’s. But I want to change 18 candles to 18K, is it okay? Thanks so much and I’ll wait for your response. Thanks!

  23. Hi debut ideas! What name can i change to the traditional 18’s candles, roses, gift and thousand if i have the sex and the city theme party. Thanks!

  25. hi. i’ll be having my debut on december and im having a hard time planning it. my theme is RAVE/disco party. the venue, invites, give aways. programs.. HELP

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