DEBUTS have become such an important part of a girls coming of age because not only does it celebrate the moment we become adults, it also is a chance for us to show people our individuality, and the image we want to project. The parties you give, be it big or intimate, shows a lot about who you are, and how you think the world looks at you.
Everyone wants to have a party that rocks or at least remembered. So do you want your debut to be really memorable? Make it unconventional! Debuts don’t have to be always as formal as your Juniors-Seniors Prom. Besides, you’re also celebrating your 18th birthday party, so why don’t you make it into something you will truly enjoy? Here are just some of the coolest ideas to consider in place of your usual formal cotillions, candles and roses.
Foam/Bubble Parties
If you and your friends love to dance, foam creates that wild and exciting atmosphere for a great bash. Tip: Too expensive? No worries. Create your own bubbles. If your parents and guests aren’t too conservative, you can still keep that program of yours. You can still dance with the 18 men in your life through the foam and in place of the candles for your 18 girlfriends you can do something like 18 Bubbles where they blow a bubble after wishing you good luck.
Costume Party
A talked-about party is not always about the host. If you want yours to be memorable, make it interactive by making your guests part of the show too! Get your friends to talk about your party weeks before the event itself. Ask your friends to come in costumes and be surprised at how fun it is to see everyone dress up as characters and celebrities. Tip: Make it worth your guests’ while, let your friends know that awards (gift certificates from spas and salons, or tickets to a concert if you feel generous)will be given to those who sport the best costume. This way your friends are challenged to look for the most unique costume, therefore making your party more interesting!
80’s Party
Blast from the past and ask everyone to be in 80’s attire. 80’s clothing trends are now in style so though your theme is not new, you’d be on top of a trend. Tip: Hire a great band that specializes in 80’s music. Get ready to boogie on down!
Grammy Awards Night
Get everyone to wear formal and make your friends feel like celebrities by having people stand as paparazzis as people enter. Design your location into a formal theatre. Give out fun awards (best “friend”, best male dancer, etc) Tip: Want to create the best cinematic atmosphere? There are theaters that allow you to rent out one of its cinemas just for parties and events like these.
Casino Party
What a great way to celebrate your adulthood than to play something only adults supposedly are allowed to play. Set up poker tables and prepare fake casino chips allotted for each guest for them to play with. Tips: you can give out finger foods and “cocktail” drinks (juices and softdrinks in wine glasses:) to add to the atmosphere. Put up redemption centers for those who want to “cash-in” their chips.
Pool party / Beach party / Luau
Have fun with the summer sun and enjoy a relaxing party at the pool or beach. Hold beach games and serve barbequed food and refreshing fruit shakes. You can even opt to ask people to come in Hawaian outfits. Tips: Set up your stereo with some relaxing tunes everyone can either relax, dance or sing to. Music creates the atmosphere here so make sure your guests are enjoying it.
Kiddie Party
Are you the fun and playful type? Hold a birthday party at Mcdonalds or Jollibee and bring out the child in everyone. Hold childish parlor games like palayok, pabitin and trip to Jerusalem games. Bring out great childhood memories with mascots like Ronald Mcdonald or even Jollibee himself. Tips: To add to the atmoshphere, hire magicians, clowns and balloon twisters. Rent out “dirty” ice cream trolleys, cotton candy machines and give it out to guests for FREE! People will surely love your party. If your friends are fun and cooperative enough, you can even ask them to come in kiddie clothes. In place of your program you can do something like 18 Ice Cream Toasts or 18 Balloons where balloons are popped after your friends address their little speeches for you.
Virtual Reality Party
Wouldn’t it be nice to step into an alternate dimension for your party? Transform your party venue into a vibrant digital realm, with neon lights and holographic decorations creating an otherworldly atmosphere. Rent VR headsets for the event or ask guests to bring their own if they have them. As guests don their VR headsets, they are transported to magical landscapes and futuristic realms, where they can embark on thrilling adventures or engage in friendly multiplayer competitions. With a blend of cutting-edge technology and teenage zest, this VR-themed party promises an unforgettable journey beyond the ordinary, where the virtual and the real mix to provide you and your guests an amazing experience.
Silent Disco
Throw a silent disco party where everyone wears headphones, and the music is transmitted through them. It creates a unique and amusing experience for both participants and onlookers.
Rollerskates Party
Get ready to roll into a world of fun.. literally. With this roller skates soiree, the venue is transformed into a retro roller rink, with disco balls casting shimmering lights across the floor. Neon-colored streamers and funky decorations add a touch of ’80s flair. As guests arrive, they’re handed colorful roller skates. Play upbeat music that sets the perfect rhythm for your guests to spin and dance to, allowing them to show off their best moves. A designated area for beginners ensures everyone can join in the fun while maintaining safety. The celebration is a nostalgic blend of retro charm and teenage energy, promising an unforgettable night on wheels for you and your guests to experience.
Do you have a brilliant idea? Drop us a note at party@mydebutideas.com
Photo Credit: © Plush Studios/Blend Images/Corbis
I’m celebrating my debut on nov. 2009. I don’t know how to plan the flow of the program, can you give me some examples? Thank you very much. My theme for my debut is the classic one with the cotillion. I don’t have any idea what to add besides 18 roses, 18 candles and 18 treasures. Thank you for your suggestions. God bless!
I read your blog for a long time and should tell that your articles always prove to be of a high value and quality for readers.
Hi Joanna,
On behalf of debut ideas, we welcome you to our site. You are part of what this website stands for and our hearts are out to debutantes who would really like to make their debut party an event to remember.
By the way, we’ve already posted a basic program for a debut party. You can actually do a variation depending on what you want to retain or add to your own program. I hope this helps you on your debut planning. Happy planning and let me know what you come up with.
debut ideas
hi! i’ll be celebrating my 18th birthday this coming May. i’ll only have 2 programs, since i don’t want it to be traditional. there will be 18 flowers(i’ll be using different flowers instead of roses) and a mixed 18serenades/gifts. i would like to ask suggestions for the title of the programs. what word/term can i use for the “flowers” and for the serenades/gifts? btw, the title of my party is “Whimsical Summer.”
i would really appreciate to hear suggestions from you. God Bless!
hi..is it possible to have a traditional debut party for about P50,000? could someone suggest a cheap venue?? please and thank you! im hoping to convince my parents in giving me one.
Hi Aly,
You seem to be all prepped up for you most awaited party. Whimsical Summer is indeed a very ingenious idea. For your 18 roses, you can substitute “18 Blooms of May” or “18 Flowers of May” which is much simpler. The word “serenade” is actually a nice title for the serenade/gift had it not been mixed with gifts. Hence, for your mixed serenades/gifts, I would suggest you use “18 wines.” They would give a brief speech, make a toast and then render you a song or present their gifts afterward. Hope all is well with the planning and enjoy your party.
thanks for the ideas! it’s a great help. =)
hi debbie,
This will all depend on the number of guests you would have. The number of guests would determine the type of venue you would be looking for, and of course, the headcount would determine the amount of food to prepare. There are certain clubhouses in the metro that can be rented for as low as 5 to 10k. Ask the clubhouse in your subdivision or a subdivision near your house on their rental fee. Setting up the venue to a theme that you want would require a lot of imagination and ingenuity on your part if you want it to look magnificent and yet within your budget. Three-star hotels offer budget party packages for debutantes starting at 25,000 inclusive of everything so you don’t have to worry about anything at all. You can buy a nice gown in a department store for 2,500, 5,000 up to 10,000 pesos depending on the design. If you want your gown to be a perfect fit for you, you can go to Divisoria and have your gown custom made for the same price range or even cheaper (haggle like there’s no tomorrow.) So, I believe it is possible to have a debut party with a budget of 50k. Happy planning and let me know how it goes.
thanks a lot lizette! well, i was thinking of having about 100-150 guests. could you suggest some cheap decent venues for debuts?? im really having a hard time finding one. thanks a lot! =)
hi debbie,
What area would you want to hold your debut so that we could narrow our search?
hopefully..somewhere in makati or in the metro manila region except the ones up north like quezon city..ehehe. i’m from las piñas
hi debbie,
We have come up with some venues for you to choose from in the suppliers page. This is still under construction so please bear with us as we want to give the best possible suggestions for our dear debutantes. Thanks and happy planning.
Hi! if I were to have a foam party, where would I be able to rent a foam machine? and roughly how much would it cost?
Hi Gia,
Foam parties are exciting indeed. I don’t have a clue on how much a foam machine rental costs, but bubble machine rentals are usually P1,300, so the foam machine may be in that range as well or a little bit higher. Although you may opt to make foam and bubbles yourself (we will be posting an article on DIY foam and bubbles soon), you may want to check these people out first. I saw them on the internet. I’ve tried contacting them but they haven’t replied to my queries yet. They rent out every possible thing pertaining to parties, including foam machines. As I do not know them personally, please always exhibit caution when dealing with them or with any supplier for that matter. They are DNX Systems, (0927) 6263344 and (0915) 9133346. You can also check out a carwash near your venue since this is just the same thing that they use to make foam for foam parties. Ask them if you can rent out their foam machine for only a few hours. I’m sure they will be able to accommodate your request. Happy planning and thanks for visiting our site.
Hey 🙂 I’m having my debut next year and I was happy to see the Awards Night theme. I’ve been wanting to have that kind of theme since forever! :)) It’s good, now, that I have a guide. Do you think the greenbelt cinema rental would be too expensive?
hi tricia,
Frankly I don’t know how much is the rent for a cinema, but it surely is going to be an awesome party once you pull it off. I believe it will not be that expensive most especially if you rent out the small ones, but I really have no clue. I’m sorry if I cannot be of help but I am going to try to find out for sure because that would also be a good alternative for a venue. Thanks and happy planning.
hi! 🙂 im planning my debut but im having a hard time finding a venue. can i find a nice venue with a budget of around 40k? with 120-150 guests and in manila or makati area 🙂 can you suggest venues with that kind of budget?
Hi jenny,
It all depends on what type of venue you want. Garden venues are more pricey so you may opt to look around for 3star hotels in the manila and makati areas. http://debutideas.com/?page_id=97#manila and http://debutideas.com/?page_id=97#makati. Click on the website of the venues on these pages and some would have their rates on their site. Some you may have to call or email for rates. I have yet to call all of them for rates for our file sometime soon. There are a number of them that offer affordable debut packages. For instance, City Garden Suites and Citystate Tower Hotel have affordable rates for debut packages. I believe restaurants have cheaper rates. The thing that you would want to consider among restaurants is how many guests they can accommodate in their venue. You can also rent out a hall or a function room and then choose your own caterer. That way, you can budget the price per plate to fit in your budget. (You may have to ask the venue for this though because some venues have accredited caterers.) Another consideration is renting out clubhouses. They have cheap rates and would allow outside caterers to cater. This is all for now. Happy scouting.
Hi there 🙂
I’m having my debut in 2 months and I’m not so sure of what theme I would have. But I thought of having it a pool party like everybody’s going to be in their swimsuits especially my friends and after that, an overnight after the party. Can you suggest any other ideas? Because I’m not so sure of mine. I wanted the foam party too since most of my friends love to dance. But I’m thinking the venue, and where to rent the machine. I’m from Zamboanga City, Philippines. Thank you so much! 😀
Im so glad i found this website.,
such a big help for the venues and themes. But Im planning to have my debut next year of June (rainy season in the Philippines).,
But Im currently residing here in Las Vegas. So the family & I have to travel back home. But I have alot of friends in Manila right now. As of now, Im thinking of having a “Mardis Gras/Masquerade Tehene”., and My favorite color is Purple.
Any ideas of what else I can add up to this, or how I can set it up, etc.
My parents are willing to spend from 100k-150k pesos.
You think I can make this possible?
Please reply back.
My email add is joannagalvez@yahoo.com
Thanks :]
Hi Jelly (Zamboanga City),
A pool party is actually a cool debut party to have. You can use a beach-themed party or a luau party to make this more spectacular. This is an informal way of celebrating your debut. However, it does not mean you can’t have a program just because it is a pool party. You may forego the usual program and just create a mini-program. You may eliminate some of the elements of a full debut program. A cotillion dance would be difficult with a pool party so substitute this with probably a hawaiian dance. It would be really a treat if you can have synchronized dancers grace your debut party, but this is a long shot. For decorations, during the program proper while no one is swimming yet, fill the swimming pool with floating candles.
We actually have a foam party article but I haven’t posted it yet due to some concerns that I’ve encountered while I was writing it. Foam parties are really fun to have especially with your friends. The problem is where to hold the party. I’m guessing some venues may not be too keen on having their place filled with soap and water. A suggestion would be an empty swimming pool where you can fill with foam and bubbles knee high. Suppliers for foam machines are hard to come by and I have suggested one debutante who also wants to have a foam party to ask a carwash company near the venue if they could rent out their foam machine for a few hours. Be careful though when having foam parties as accidents may happen since a venue filled with soap suds would surely be slippery. This is all for now and happy planning.
Hi Joanna G.,
It’s nice that you chose to celebrate your debut here in the Philippines. Of course everything is possible most especially if you have a nice budget to go around with. Since June is indeed a rainy season, you might want to consider venues that are indoors. Mardi Gras/Masquerade theme is a great theme to have and the color purple is not a bad choice as well. This is similar to the Renaissance theme article that we have here in the site. You may want to consider some elements there. A Mardi Gras will not be complete without a jovial parade of costumes. As your grand entrance, make your friends parade in front of you (costumes and the works), after which you will follow suit with a banging grand entrance complete with spotlight. You may have a sort of a dance number (short) or 2 to 4 male friends may carry you to the stage for effect. As I come up with more ideas, I will definitely let you know. In the meantime, make use of our debut party budget planner and scout for suppliers as some suppliers get booked fairly early.
Thanks for the help! We had a decision to make my debut as a White Beach Party; that means all guests must wear white to coordinate with the theme. I’m quite worried about the giveaways. Can you help me think of an idea on what to prepare for the giveaways? For the invitation, we’re already working on it, I’m just worried about the giveaways. Thanks in advance! God bless ^^
Hi Jelly,
White Beach Party is a good choice. We have an article about the Tropical Beach Party that may be helpful to you. http://debutideas.com/?p=518. Fusing it with a white party is simple. You just need to put white drapes around the venue or white beach flags. You can also go for a zen-inspired white party where you hang japanese white lanterns around the venue. About the keepsakes, photobooths are so in nowadays. You can print a white backdrop with your name on it, or a picture of a beach would also be nice, and your guests will be photographed in those. You can also give away white flip-flops (just like what they did at a certain filipino celebrity wedding), a miniature japanese white lantern or decorative bottles with white sand. If I think of anything else I’ll let you know. Happy planning.
hello im having my debut next month and i haven’t think of any give away that i should give and i want more unique ideas to put on my program 🙂 my theme is butterfly