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.
hi debutideas,
first of all, i need your help. i live here in Canada so i’m already planning on my debut since i’m panning to celebrate my 18th birthday in the Phils. i already have a theme in mind which is like the style of the movie “A Cinderella Story” with a twist of masquerade style. i want the gals to wear Converse with their purple dresses (my fave color) and the guys, well tux with their Converse too. and btw, i love music. i sing and dance so i want that to be a part of my theme too. now i’m confused because i wanna mix the 3 ideas up and i don’t know what things to come up. help >.<
Oh yeah, and I’m planning to do my 18th birthday celebration in Mactan Resort in Cebu 🙂
I’m already planning for my upcoming debut even it’s 6 months ahead. I’m having a hard time choosing bet. a hollywood and a fairytale theme. Can u help me combine these two in a way that they won’t clash? In a way that, there would be 18 happy endings, princesses, awards, movies, theme songs, best motion picture and a cotilion. I also want it to be a concert- liked theme debut. I’m really worried because i think these themes i chosed won’t click with each other and worst i have to choose only one. Pls. help me. And if u can put these themes together, wats the best kind of grand entrance and song?? Wat r my 18s??? Wat will my program flow be?? My invitation, gown, venue, give away??? Wat r d dominating colors on my party??? Thank u very much.
Hi Myel!
Perhaps you can give your guests cute mini Fairy Scepters!
http://www.google.com.ph/images?q=fairy%20scepter&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=tl&tab=wi
Or you can also give them a bottle of fairy dust. Include a tag in a bottle where you tell them to make a wish while sprinkling or blowing a bit of fairy dust in the air. 🙂
Hope this helps!
good day! uhmm,, i will be celebrating my debut on September.. i would just like to ask a flow of the debut program.. i have 4 “18’s”.. it will start from 7:00 to 12:00… i don’t have the cotillion.. i want to maximize the time.. tnxs..
George Michael is also a great singer and was quite famous in the 80’s era.”*,
hi debut ideas..
i just want to ask your advice and suggestions.
my parents will give me a debut party here in our own town. the location to be held is just ours. its an open yard.with an enough function/bar haLL and place.i just dont know what’s the exact name for that. Im exciting but a little bit nervous.=)
my birthday will be this july,2010.
my mother ask me to design the invitation to cost it less.which is just ok for me..but i dont know what to do,i dont even know my theme.
im the only girl here in our family but im not expecting to be as princess as the others. (its very expensive hahahha) i just want a party,something that everybody will like and enjoyed much. can you help me on this?
for my motif or dress too..help meh. I love pink but my mother suggest another color, for pink is very common.Which is true.I’ts just ok 4 me. i just dont know if plum,red,champagne or black-either of this- will suits me in. Can you suggests what could be the best. Im A Chubby person and tall(5?4).can you suggest what could be the best gown.
help me also what should be my souvenir.
THANK you so MUCh in advance…
Hi Paola,
Pink may be too common but we don’t cross it out from our options because it really depends on what other colors you combine it with. Some girls combine pink with brown / or pink with gray — these are very modern color motifs that look elegant. Don’t choose a color that’s too old for you. Choose a vibrant color that will fit your personality. For your gown, we’re no fashion gurus, but we hope this website can help you — http://www.dressyourbodytype.com/ — they have some articles there about how to dress each body type. You can also check this out — http://fashion.about.com/od/dressforyourbodytype/ss/dress4bodytype.htm
Choose a theme because that’s the first step. You won’t be able to decide how your venue will look, or what your souvenir should be if you don’t have a theme. Check our Ideas and Themes section http://debutideas.com/?cat=5 — so that you’ll have an idea about how to choose a theme.
That’s it and hope this helps!
Hi debut ideas!
I’m so glad I found your site. It really made a big help even through just reading your replies to the other girls. 🙂
Anyway, my 18th is on August. I’m thinking of a Masquerade party. What other theme do you suggest? I was thinking my color will be gold and black. And do you have any suggestions for my tagline and invitations?
Thank you so much! 😀
Hi Debut Ideas,
Please help me to decide on how to celebrate my debut. I just want a simple celebration with my family, relatives, classmates, and friends. My parents suggested that I should have a pool party, but then my birthday is in August and it’s a rainy season. I’m still confused on what to do. Please help me. I will consider your advice and suggestions. Thanks a lot! 🙂
Hi Kat,
Try this — http://debutideas.com/?p=23
and this — http://debutideas.com/?p=1332
The Budget Planner includes the suppliers you need for your debut and the Traditional debut planner includes a countdown of what you should be doing months before your 18th birthday celebration.
Hope this helps! Happy planning!
Hi Siobe,
I personally would love to see 18 Red Roses on a Twilight-inspired debut party because the Red Rose is one of the most dominant elements in the book / movie. Candles too! Candles are okay, I suggest you don’t replace it because they’re exactly what Twilight vampires are all about! 🙂
For your invites, I suggest you send wax-sealed old-school enveloped invitations
Maybe you can also splatter red paint all over your letter, suggesting that it’s blood and it’s time to gather all your blood sucking friends — something like that. 🙂
Hope this helps!
Hi Cristina,
We have a list of articles about certain birthday party themes that you may be interested in!
http://debutideas.com/?cat=5
Think of a theme first that you will stick to then ideas will start sprouting from there! 🙂
Hi Girly!
We really haven’t canvassed in a while. Check out our directory, then inquire about their debut packages 🙂
Venue directory
Caterers Directory
If you need other suppliers, check out our database of contacts here>>>
Happy planning!
Hi, I’m already having my debut next month and I need to get my head straight on a few things. If I’m wearing a champagne dress, what color/s should my guests wear to complement my dress? And when is the best time to have the photobooth set up? My mom said it should always be in the beginning and that there should be no photobooth in the later parts (dancing/drinking etc.) because my guests would be too preoccupied with that than with spending the night with me. 🙂 I don’t know what to do. Please help. Thank you! 🙂
Hi Pauline,
I believe dark colored gowns would be best so that your champagne colored gown will just standout from among them. If you have a color motif combination like champagne and plum, your guests can wear plum colored gowns. Your mom is right. Make sure that the photobooth staff are aware that there are times where they need to close the photobooth. If the program is ongoing, the booth should be closed. Position the photobooth at the entrance so that when guests arrive, they can already have their pictures taken. So the photobooth is already open at this time. It can also be opened during dinner because some guests that are probably waiting for their turn to the buffet may want to have their pictures taken first. Hope this helps and happy birthday.
Hi Ana,
Here is the link of the debut program that you can make use of
http://debutideas.com/?p=48
Here is the technical script:
http://debutideas.com/?p=979
From experience, debuts with too much 18s are very boring. If you really want to go through with it, be sure to make it exciting and interesting for your guests 🙂 Usually having too many people speaking in front makes guests sleepy so just be cautious of that 🙂
Happy planning!
Hi Yana,
I think the gown doesn’t have to be red. If you want to standout, any color except black and white will do. Choose a style that is vintage looking. Old Hollywood glam. If you opt for black, you can also imitate gowns from Breakfast at Tiffany’s with matching cool humongous sunglasses.
Source: http://maddierose90804.files.wordpress.com
To have a more vintage feel to your gown, match it with a vintage hairdo like the ones found here
Hope this helps and happy birthday.
i’m in the process of preparing for my daughter’s debut on feb 2011. the theme is 1 enchanted evening. can you suggest the 18’s that she’ll have, music and souvenir’s? also we’re planning to have it in the manila area about 150 guests, can you give some suggestions?
thanks and more power. your site is really very informative
Hi Shobe,
I think since the house has already a pool, you might as well take advantage of it. It can either be a very beautiful backdrop for your stage when you choose to hold the event outdoors or you can just decorate it with floating candles, petals, balloons to make it into a huge decor. Any theme will do if you are going to hold it indoors. You can have a tropical inspired party and just make the pool as a prop. If you want to take advantage of the pool and really use it, then have a pool party. We have an article about pool parties and what great themes to incorporate it with. pool parties You can also have a bohemian inspired party inside. Ask your friends to wear boho maxi dresses for females with swim suits inside and then when you and your friends are ready to take the plunge, you just remove your beautiful boho maxi dresses and you’re ready to go. Hope this helps.
Hi Nice,
Since you will be inviting just a handful of people, I think a pool party will be a good choice. It is just unfortunate though that august is a rainy season. What you can do probably is to rent out an indoor swimming pool or just a pool with a sort of shade so that when it rains, you and your friends could still swim and enjoy the pool. Hope this helps and happy birthday.
Hi Kat,
Try this link. Debut Ideas Budget Planner
Hi Erika,
I love your choice of color.
Source: myweddingplace.blogspot.com
For your color pink and grey, might I suggest cherry blossoms zen inspired theme.
Source: weddings.theknot.com
You gown can be a combination of pink and gray with minimal detailing to adhere to the japanese zen theme. Hope this helps.
Hi Debut Ideas,
I am having my debut this September and until now, I couldn’t decide if I’m going to have my debut in chateau or in garden. My friends said that it would be nice if I take the garden. Well, if I’m going to pursue to the garden, can you please help me by suggesting a theme and the motif?
Thank you in advance.
Hi Ria,
There are lots of themes fit for a garden venue. For instance, Butterfly theme, Fairies theme, cherry blossoms zen inspired theme, flower theme, a Mad Hatter Tea Party theme. Hope this helps.