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
hello! i’m having my debut this coming November and i’m thinking of having kiddie party as the theme. Kiddie party because i’m not into this girly things and i don’t want to wear gown. I’m planning to make the guests wear something formal that is green since it’s my fave color. could you please help me to think unique ideas for games, dress, souvenirs, invitations and party favors? Also, do you have other ideas in exchange of the traditional 18 roses and candles? you’re reply would be a very big help. thanks in advance! :))
Hi Alyssa,
We have some great party favor ideas on our article about the butterfly theme http://debutideas.com/?p=6 that you may want to consider. How about figurines of butterflies and flowers. That would be cute too. I’m also loving a butterfly shaped cookie that you can make 3 days before your birthday. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ldah__-frBM/SN0WIc-1VwI/AAAAAAAABVw/C8dwfvlpWGM/s400-R/Butterfly+Crackers.jpg.
For unique ideas, you can have a spectacular grand entrance by adding a detachable butterfly wing on your gown and having a butterfly release the moment you step up to your stage. You can also ask your guests to release the butterfly as you make your walk towards the stage. Have a swing set up at the stage that will serve as your debutante’s chair so that when you swing to and fro, it would look as though you’re flying. Hope this helps and happy birthday Alyssa!
Hi Avie!
I have a friend who had her debut at McDonalds and everyone had fun! So I think it’s really a cool idea to have a kiddie party for your 18th birthday. Your debut souvenir can be loot bags that are usually given away at Kiddie parties. but the items inside can be a lot different since your guests are all adults. Perhaps you can put a therapeutic soap there, personalized keychain, figurine, some candies perhaps, or anything that you think your guests may fancy.
For your invitations, you can use a school theme. Design your invites with an elementary pad paper as your background and write your details in kiddie handwriting.
Example:
You can visit this page for some ideas for GAMES 🙂
Debut Ideas! — GAMES
For your dress, it really depends on your taste. You can be as casual as you like since it’s a kiddie themed debut party. You’re free to choose a beautiful dress of your taste here since you are not confined in a very strict theme.
For your 18’s, you can have 18 loot bags (instead of 18 treasures) and 18 toys (instead of 18 candles. they will tell you what that toy symbolizes in your life).
That’s all and we hope you’ll have fun on your 18th birthday celebration!
Happy Planning!
Lizette and Jam
Hi~I’m also having a hard time choosing my theme.I love stars and koreans(celebrtiies,cultures.,etc.)
but I don’t know what to do.I don’t have a program script.Can you please help me?I don’t know how to arrange the program.
My Debut will be next month!I hope you can help me.Thanks~
HELP ME :))
Hi Pia,
Korean culture is indeed very interesting, fun and unique. Decide first if you wish to do the traditional korean culture or do more of the modern korean pop street culture that is so uniquely korean or combine them both.
If you are doing a Korean-inspired debut party, of course never pass up the opportunity to wear a Hanbok (a korean traditional garment). This consists of the the jacket or blouse shirt and the wrap-around skirt that is worn full. I’ve mentioned the parts because you can modernize these two by making the wrap around skirt into a fabulous gown that would go well when the jacket is worn with it.
Some pictures of hanbok dresses can be found at our facebook page : http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/photo.php?pid=3365045&id=73798053610
I found a modern take of the Hanbok worn by Sandra Oh at an awards night. You can pair this up with a jacket that you can wear during the early part of the evening or during your grand entrance and then remove it later on to reveal a stunning modern gown.
Source: http://www.dramabeans.com
For invites, try having a poster-like invite. Look for posters of famous korean series, for instance Boys Over Flowers:
Source: http://www.dramainkorea.com
Source: http://kbsworld.kbs.co.kr
Have a photo session with four of your guy friends and ask them to pose like these with you. Make this photo the front page of your invites and add a tag line like “Pia @ 18, irresistible.”
Why not do a My Sassy Girl version:
Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com
Pretty, fun and sassy, that is Pia @ 18!
For souvenirs, koreans are fond of cute trinkets so you might want to look for cute keychains, mini-dolls, charm bracelets, cute cellphone trinkets, mini-lanterns, etc.
http://www.artsandcraftskorea.com/acecart/bin/shop.cgi?action=list&cate=060600000
These are samples of lanterns that you can hang around your venue for a more authentic Korean ambiance.
Source: http://www.orientaltales.com
Hope this helps and happy birthday Pia!
hi debut ideas!!!
i would like to ask you to please help me come up with a tag line besides the usual __________ @ 18. i’m gonna have a kinda laid back party in a bar this march w/ just the 18 dances and 18 glow sticks, a few games and an avp. i want this tag line to be really catchy!! btw, my invite is informal. We actually used tagalog words for a change. 🙂
another thing, do you know where we can get a screen for our avp/projector 🙂 we actually have a projector already but the white cloth that goes with it is what we lack. pls tell me where we can possibly rent one.
thanks!!! hoping for your immediate reply!! 🙂
ianne
hello. il be celebrating my party on may 2010. im having a hard time on choosing my theme. the venue is a private hotel,much like an old house. so, the place wud be morrocan-inspired theme. do i have to follow it?or choose any theme that could match with the venue?what theme would it be perhaps? 🙂
Hi Elay,
Following the motif of your venue would be easier on your part because then you don’t have to decorate all that much and a Moroccan style is not a bad idea. It is very unique, colorful and flamboyant. We have an article that you might want to read to have an idea on how you can pull off a Moroccan inspired debut party which is similar to a sort of Bollywood inspired debut party. http://debutideas.com/?p=972. Capitalize on the theme’s color play. Choose bold colors to convey your theme. You can also incorporate a butterfly theme to your Moroccan inspired theme and have a butterfly release during your grand entrance. Butterfly and wild fairies theme would require you to have more flowy and translucent dresses, more of the georgette type of fabric but in bold and bright colors. Hope this helps and happy birthday Elay.
wow! thank you very much for the reply. i like the idea for the invitations. could you please tell me what are the highlights of your friend’s birthday at McDo? thank you so much! :))
THANK YOU ;))
what wud b best for my invites? have a butterfly or a fairy shaped cutouts? i want to have 3 motifs for the guests.the colors that they’re going to choose n picking their dresses.it wud b ok if i choose midnight colors?dark violet, blue and red?or any suggestion?
I really don’t know where to comment/ask questions haha but anyway, i’ll just do it here.
Do you have an idea where I can get an illuminated dance floor? 😐 And how much does it cost?
PS: THANK GOD I FOUND YOUR SITE 🙂 BIG HELP SWEAR 🙂
Hi Eywa,
I know one supplier who sets up illuminated dance floors. It is Confetti Effects, Inc. located in Manila. I’m just not sure how much. You can contact them through the following numbers and ask for their rates. Land line – 563-6638 and mobile 0920-907-9163. Hope this helps and happy birthday Eywa. Enjoy your debut preparations.
Hi Ianne,
I’m thinking that your party is more of a rave party isn’t it? I’m sure it is gonna be super fun. A tag line that you can use would be
“Ianne is now 18… The lady wishes to party.
So come and have a raving night. We will party on to our heart’s delight.”
I’m not sure if they are renting out the screen only but you can ask them. Try calling Media Monsters 5159017, 2166109, 0917.5421717 http://www.mediamonsters.multiply.com. If not, focus the LCD onto a white wall but if there is none in your venue, buy a white cloth about 5×6 feet and iron it out so that the texture would be smooth. Hope this helps and happy birthday Ianne.
Hi Elay,
Here are some color choices and some ideas that would really spell out Moroccan. http://moroccandesign.com/moroccan-design-colors. I think it is easier to do a butterfly cutout for your invites. Hope this helps and happy birthday.
hi. im going to celebrate my debut soon. i want a Barbie inspired theme. would you give me ideas that suits the theme? thanks! your website is really a BIG HELP.
Hi there!
im planning for my debut on october. i know it’s a little bit early, but i would like to have a theme that is related in my course- tourism i want it to be classy and elegant. can you please give me some ideas? thanks!
Hello Marion,
For a theme related to your course, why not try to showcase our country, the Philippines and have a Tatak Pinoy Maria Clara themed debut party. If you are planning to travel the world, you can also go for an Around the World theme where you showcase cultures of different countries on every table. Ask also your guests to play the part by donning in a country’s national costume; i.e. hanbok for Korea, terno for the Philippines, and kimono for Japan just to name a few. You can also have boarding passes as your invites. Hope this helps Marion and happy planning.
hi. my debut is on may 11. and im kind of doing all the preparations independently. days are really coming up fast and im sort of pressured already. i really dont have a particular theme for my debut but its definitely a bubble party. im planning to rent bubble machines. can you give me some great ideas for the party regarding the bubbles? and im really having a headache thinking of a tagline for my party. I SERIOUSLY NEED HELP RIGHT NOW. im hoping for your response. thank you.
Hi! I’m actually having a hard time thinking of a good theme for my debut. I don’t really want a formal debut, but not a simple party either. What to do? And the theme.. Hmm, I’m having a hard time thinking of a good theme, too. I’m into Filipino Celebrities. I’m also the adventurous, laid-back type. And I like having lots of fun. I hope you could help me! Thank you!
Hi Gillian,
You can buy bubble makers that you see in toy stores. Cheaper ones can be seen in Divisoria. You can either send this along with your invites and ask them to bring it to the event or hand these at the entrance which will serve as one of your souvenirs. You can ask them to make bubbles on your grand entrance so that the venue will be filled with bubbles as you walk toward the stage. You can also buy battery operated bubble makers for a continuous bubble blowing experience. We have an article about a bubble party that you may want to read on. Click here. For taglines, you can have “Bubbly Gillian @ 18” or “An 18th Bubbly Birthday Bash!” “An 18th Bubbliciously Birthday Bash for Gillian is growing up so fast. ” “Gillian is turning 18 soon. Let’s celebrate and blow our bubbles up to the moon!” Hope this helps and happy birthday Gillian.
Hi Jam,
A debut party need not be extravagant and traditional. A girl’s Debut in essence is her coming of age and what’s important is that all her loved ones are there to celebrate this special day with her. It is also important that your personality exudes during your celebration. You have to make people know who you are as a person, and the best way you can do this is to choose a theme that reflects your personality. If you are having a hard time choosing a theme, especially from among the birthday party themes we have laid out so far — http://debutideas.com/?cat=5 — look within yourself. Create something that you feel comfortable in. Since you like Pinoy celebrities, maybe you can have a simple FAMAS awards night party or perhaps a teleserye themed party. Or maybe you can pattern your party after a certain TV show that you like. I really can’t think of anything about your adventurous and laid-back personality because they are contradicting. If you want to have lots of fun, adding lots of fun games will do the trick. Don’t dwell too much on the 18’s because that might drag your guests into boredom after a while. just have a combination of two like 18 roses and 18 treasures, or 18 roses and 18 candles. Then proceed to entertainment and games — the fun part! Make sure to hire the right host or emcee. By having a fun emcee, there won’t be any dull moment and everyone will surely have fun.
Hope this helps! 🙂
my birthday’s in august and i have soo much to ask..
what’s a nice theme?!! my favorite color’s purple… i don’t want it to be so extravagant, and not too simple…. i thought of fairytale or echanted but i think its too much, and i want it to be modern.. what’s a simpler version of a fairy tale themed party?? and is it okay if my cotillion girls don’t wear the same style of dress but same color? will it still look good? i hope you can help my messed up mind!! thank youuu :)))
Hi Analeigh,
If you want a modern theme, a fairytale theme will not work because this entails you and your guests to be dressed like princes and princesses. If you want to have drama in your debut but minimize on extravagance, you may try having a masquerade theme in black and white. Your guests will be dressed in cocktail and evening gowns in black and white. In order to standout, you will be wearing your favorite color purple. Your decorations will be in different shades of purple to establish a purple motif. Your cotillion girls will likewise wear purple of a lighter shade than you so that you will still standout among them. The thing that is most essential in a masquerade party is the mask. Have someone give away masks at your entrance and ask your guests to wear them to create a magnificent ambiance. This will then serve as a party favor. Hope this helps and happy birthday.
Hi Clar
With a Barbie themed debut party, you have to work with hues of Pink, Lavender, Flesh and White. For your souvenir items, perhaps you can have barbie accessories as your giveaways, and put a tag with your name and details on it. You can have miniature toys as souvenirs too, this will tell so much about how playful and fun you are as a person. You need to have impeccable make up and a cute barbie-like dress to wear to your party with a cute tiara. Be sure to keep your color scheme in mind while you are getting birthday invites, streamers and decorations. Your food can be kikay too! Have star-shaped candies and heart-shaped cookies on your guests’ tables. Have strawberry shakes, strawberry yogurt parfets and strawberry ice cream with sprinkles in your menu. For your games, you can have a dress up barbie challenge. You will of course get to choose which barbie has the best outfit! Spread pink bubble gums and candies around. For this theme you’ll be working with a lot of glitters too! Anyway, these are just the initial ideas. You have to THINK PINK to make this theme work. =)
Happy Planning!