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.
hello:]
i’m asking for you cooperation for my upcoming debut at july, 2010.i’m really excited planning out of this things so much.please give me some advice and knowledge of what would be the outcome. my motif would be “pink” because this is my favorite color.and i really want to wear an elegant gown in that day.
i was planning out that i would place my party at the westlake pavillion and outside part have a pool side so i would rather extend the place outside the pool after the affair inside the pavillion.
and what should be the best theme for that?and i want also to have a cotillion de honor.
what should be the best dinner for this?
and what will be the great color combination for “pink” for some of the decorations like some balloons, flowers?is it ok?
and after the cotillion could i have a something jazz band outside the pavillion, in the pool side?
and what kind of souvenirs could it be?i was planning that a old cd willl personalized and it would become a simple clock with my own pic and own words.is it fine?
i will wait your reply:]
tnxsomuch,
.hi I’m going to celebrate my debut on October..will you give me a nice motif for color red..thank you..
Hi! I’m erika.. could you please help me think of a theme/motif? my debut will be held on May 5, 2010 at Great Eastern Hotel(Aberdeen Court). I like my party to have stars everywhere, so what kind of theme can i make from that?.. but i’m not sure if my venue could accommodate themes there because what i know is that in aberdeen court they held traditional debuts. so, i’m thinking now of what my color motifs are. my favorite color is fuschia, what other color can i combine with it??
hope you could help me.. 🙂
thanks!
Hi Shiela,
If your color motif is pink, i think the Princess theme and Fairies theme would be best for this color. “Pretty in Pink” is what you want to achieve. I can almost picture you in your elegant pink ball gown. Having a cotillion de honor usually suggests that the party would be formal, so dinner should be a full course dinner which basically consists of three or four courses, such as soup, salad, meat and dessert. You can either have a sit-down dinner where your guests will be served on their seats or buffet style where your guests will go to the buffet table and queue for their turn to be served the different courses. Use the pool as a decor by placing floating candles and flower petals on it. You can have different shades of pink to go around your venue so that it would not be monotonous. For example baby pinks with fuschia pinks would be so girlicious. Lavender and pink would also be a nice combination. For a more mature color combination, try baby pink with chocolate brown. Hiring a band would be a good idea because this will serve as your entertainment where your guests would probably even be enticed to dance. With regard to the souvenirs, your idea of the CD being a clock is a good idea because they will be able to use it and it is a great way to express your creativity. Hope this helps Shiela and happy birthday.
Hello Jhuvee!
You can use a red carpet theme ala Oscars. Another nice theme for the RED motif can be a Bollywood theme because Bollywood uses bold colors like red. Then with Red as your base color, you can add some more colors that complement it.
But don’t just decide on a theme based on a single color. Deciding on a theme will also depend on your personality. Know what your interests are and what kind of person you are and make sure that all these reflect the party your are throwing.
Hi Kaycee,
Most debutants nowadays opt for themes that don’t require them to wear formal gowns because they simply want to be themselves and that’s perfectly normal. Times have changed and young women are now provided with better and modern options. If you don’t want to wear a formal gown, make sure to wear something that you will be comfortable wearing. But don’t let your guests outshine you. Include the dress code note in your birthday invites so that no one will feel out of place.
Deciding on a theme really depends on your personality, your interests, even your budget. We have created some articles here on some birthday party themes http://debutideas.com/?cat=5, which you might be interested to explore.
Happy planning!
.i decided to celebrate my debut on a resort..can u give me a nice theme for that thank you very much…
Hi Jhuvie,
We have an article about pool parties (click here) that can give you some ideas on how to plan a party at a resort. Also we have a beach themed debut party article that I’m sure would really help you in planning your perfect resort party. You can also have a bohemian inspired party were you and your guests are dressed in Boho maxi dresses that you can remove when you want to take a swim. Hope this helps and happy birthday.
Hi Erika,
With your love of stars, I’m thinking of a stars theme, a twilight theme of silver and blue with small yellow stars twinkling. That would be really cool. Even if the venue does not decorate according to theme, you can do it yourself and ask some friends to set it up before your birthday bash. Cut out silver and yellow stars and hang it using nylon strings in your stage and all around the venue to create a twilight theme. Put an arch balloon of midnight blue and silver on your entrance or on your stage for a dramatic effect. You can have a gown of midnight blue with silver trimmings. If you are opting to go for the color theme fuschia, you can combine it with baby pink and lavender for a more dynamic color hue. Hope this helps and happy birthday.
Hi Diane,
I’m sure your party will be fun and cute. You can wear a baby doll dress with a cute color:
Source: http://z.about.com/
or this in pink or yellow:
Source: http://www.kaboodle.com
In keeping with your sponge bob theme, why not try a yellow color:
Source: http://z.about.com
Hire mascots like sponge bob square pants and Patrick starr. Hold childish parlor games like palayok, pabitin and trip to Jerusalem games. Hire also magicians, clowns, ventriloquists, and balloon twisters. Rent out “dirty” ice cream trolleys, cotton candy machines and give it out to guests for free! I’m sure your guests will love those. As an alternative for your 18s, try 18 Ice Cream Toasts, 18 cotton candies and 18 Balloons where balloons are popped after your friends address their little speeches for you. Hope this helps and happy birthday.
Hi Debut Ideas!
I will be having my debut on the 3rd week of May. I am planning of a fairy tale theme. I’ve read some of your posts regarding the said theme. I enjoy reading them because I’ve got a lot of advices. Anyway, can you give me some suggestions for my souveneir? I can’t think of any. I want it to be some kinda unique. And also, i don’t know how to make my debut entertaining. What I am thinking is that everyone is going to be bored on that night because of a simple program with 18 roses, candles, and etc. I hipe you could give me some suggestions regarding this matter.
Thank you and I’m looking forward for your reply! 🙂
do i need 18 songs for the 18 roses or 1 song will fit for all of them or will be okay?
Hi Summer, no need for 18 separate songs. 1 song can fit as long as it’s long enough. But it’s really up to you. Some debut celebrants choose 18 songs for each 18 roses just because they want to. Some debutants choose certain songs to which she can relate while some 18th birthday celebrants choose music based on her relationship with the person she is currently dancing to. But generally, 1 to 2 songs is okay 🙂
hello. what 3 priamry colors would be best for a wild fairies theme?:D
Thank you so much. i find it hard to choose 18 songs so i just picked 1:> THANKS
hi..i’m celebrating my birthday on october..i just want to ask if it’s ok that i would have a beach party even it’s no longer summer??tnx
another favor: pls. give me more theme that can fit with my birthday party?tnx..pls. answer poh!
Thank you so much! Your ideas are so fantastic! 🙂 will surely do those things! 🙂
Hi Lalaine,
Fairytales usually are enchanting and magical. I’m pretty sure your guests will not be bored with the theme that you chose. What fairytale in particular would you be showcasing? Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, etc. or just fairytales in general. Anyway it would be easier to think of a souvenir if you have one in particular, but anyway, for souvenirs, you might want to have mini baskets with an apple inside (snow white) or chocolates, bread, fruits (little red riding hood) perhaps. For cinderella, mini glass slipper figurines. How about mini dwarf stuffed toys, doll keychains, princess cellphone charms. A photobooth with your favorite fairytale princess on the backdrop would be okay too.
Having a good host who could keep your guests’ attention is sometimes the key to a very entertaining program. Well that and a good and well planned program. We have an article about the debut program flow that will help you with this. The key is to balance the high’s and low’s of the program. For instance, do not do all your 18s in one segment. Intersperse intermission numbers with your 18s so your guests will not get bored with all the speeches and dances. Ask some friends of yours to do a dance number or sing for you on your day. Make your guests participate by playing some games in between your 18s. This will really keep them on their feet. We have some game suggestions in our Games section that you may want to read on. Click here for games. Hope this helps and happy birthday.
Hi Ashtine,
Having a beach party in the months of September to November is quite risky. It is rainy season and it would not be a nice beach party when it rains. If you have a back up plan for when it rains, like if your beach venue has a function room you can use just in case it does rain on your day, then by all means go for it girl! You can do the program indoors and then go out to the beach for a swim afterwards. For themes for a beach party, you may try Bohemian themed debut party. This is especially great for beach and pool parties. It is so practical to don boho (maxi) dresses on top of your bikinis so that when the program ends, you and your guests can just easily slip away from your dress for a swim. Hope this helps and happy planning.
Hi,
I will be celebrating my 18th birthday in November. I just wanna ask what theme suits well on the kind of debut I am planning for. My debut would probably be a “birthday concert” but the kind of songs I’ll be singing are the like of Don’t rain on my parade and New york, new york. So those are not the typical pop music. I’d like to fit what I am gonna sing to the theme of my debut. Also, most probably, I am gonna have additional 18 thousands and songs to the typical 18’s. What words could substitute those that go with the theme? I am thinking old hollywood would be a better choice or movie-ish or masquerade party. Do you have more themes to suggest that may suit well to my party? And oh, may an aphrodite-grecian party be incorporated with it?
Thanks a lot! 🙂
hello…i will be celebrating mu 18 birthday on may 3,. 2010, and i don’t want it to become so traditional debut party, i just want it to be a simple gathering where all my relatives, friends, classmates, and colleagues will meet. but as of now i still dont have any idea what to do or where to start preparing…and also about the souvenirs, can you suggest any kind of souvenir which will very cute, stylish, or whatt they called “astig”.im also looking for a dress which will fit in this kind of gathering. hope you can give a good suggestion thanks
Hi Kathreen,
Would this gathering have a program? If it is just dinner with your close friends and relatives, then I believe a cocktail dress would work just fine. Do you have a color motif? How about a theme? It is easy to plan for your party if you have a theme. If it is going to be a rave party or a glam rock party, you can dress like a rock star. For souvenirs, you can give away, CDs of your favorite rock songs, glow bracelets, etc. If you are into fashion, you can have a runway theme and your souvenirs can be mini shopping bags with chocolates or candies inside and a thank you note in a dress shaped paper. Having a theme or even just a color motif would make your party more organized and cohesive even if it is just a gathering of your close relatives and friends. For souvenirs, you can have chocolates or candies repacked in metal canisters, baskets or boxes. You can also have colognes or bath soaps which I’m sure your guests would appreciate because they can use it. For your dress, go for cocktail dresses, above the knee baby doll dresses in your color motif. Hope this helps and happy birthday Kathreen.
Hi Pinkie,
Primary colors could not sum up what wildfairies should look. These images can inspire you in deciding for your colors.
Color Scheme#1:
I’m not suggesting that you use all these colors. Choose only one color then use the other colors to accent your motif. Basically, this color scheme is Pink accented with green. I just placed some gradations (light pink and light green) so that you can see some subtlety with the combination.
Color Scheme#2:
I patterned this color scheme from the second fairy image above. If you want warm colors for your motif, this could work well to utilize pink, orange and yellow hues.
Color Scheme#3:
This color combination based from image#3 is all about standing out from the rest. It uses cool and warm hues that will say something about how unique you are.
Color Scheme#4:
The colors of summer are timeless as they are created by nature. This color scheme symbolizes a new day and a new hope. If you want to highlight your complexion, use these warm colors. Choose a main color motif and let the rest accent it.
Happy planning!
can u recommend a unique give aways our color theme is blue
hi pia,
it’s easy to list down giveaways for a color blue motif, but the question is if it’s appropriate with your theme. for instance, you can give out blue sarongs, but then it wouldn’t be right if you are having a Rock and roll themed debut party because it really does not connect. The more you narrow down your search — and by narrowing down i mean considering your theme and your interests as well — the easier you will find unique souvenirs or giveaways for your birthday guests. for now i can only give you generic items like cookies in a personalized jar, small blue stuffed toys, personalized blue bag tags, and lootbags with trinkets. if you want unique items, you need to have a theme in mind. =)