Debutantes often ask us for a simple yet elegant and sophisticated theme with a touch of class and artistry. If you are one of these debutantes, look no further because this theme is just right for you. Here are some pointers in throwing a Zen-inspired theme.
Colors
Choose warm and neutral colors, as well as earth tones. Examples of neutral colors include black, gray, white and sometimes silver. Earth tones are subdued range of green, red and brown hues examples of which are dark brown, tan, beige, and sage among others.
Remember that minimalism is the key to a Zen theme, so in choosing colors, go for two color combinations with the second one being an accent. You can have dark brown for instance with sage as an accent, or black with white as an accent. An all white zen theme would be just as divine. Combining a cherry blossoms debut theme with the Zen birthday theme would give you a more youthful color palette with the addition of light pink. The light pink on dark brown will give you a more sophisticated and mature take on the youthful pink.
Decor
Zen theme enables you to incorporate as many of the five elements of nature as possible. Wood, earth, fire, water and metal which are said to help increase harmonious interaction with nature, giving your venue ambiance a very relaxed look. Making wooden boxes with stones and candles as a table centerpiece is an example of combining these elements.
You can never go wrong with candles. Placing a clear fish bowl or clear square glass vase with water and floating candles can also be a great centerpiece for a Zen-inspired debut party. Clear glass vases are usually preferred because of its simplicity and understated character. Plus, it is much cheaper and readily available than wooden zen boxes.
For tablecloths and runners, opt for simple textures and designs and clean lines, for instance a solid colored chocolate brown tablecloth with table runners with minimalist designs.
Another item that will add to your ambiance of tranquility and simplicity would be Japanese paper lanterns of subdued solid colors. Hanging these around your venue will create the feeling of oneness with nature as the wind blows causing the lanterns to sway.
You can also place luminaries around your venue, on the sides of the red carpet and in your stage. Be mindful of safety when dealing with candles. Make sure that it is in a safe place where it will not catch fire. You can make luminaries yourself by cutting out intricate designs on a paper bag and putting tealights inside.
Venue
The best venue for a Zen-inspired birthday theme would be a garden venue, although an empty function room can be a potential canvas on which you can express your creativity.
Invites
Create a solid colored invite of dark brown, black or white with a simple font for enveloped invites. You can print cherry blossoms on the edges for cherry blossoms inspired theme parties. Other ideas for your birthday invitation – scrolled invite on chopsticks and origami folded invites.
Dress
Your dress or gown should display minimal details, simple texture and design, and clean lines. Your chosen color can be incorporated in your dress with minimal accents of your secondary color. For cherry blossoms theme though, you can go for floral (cherry blossom) accents.
Food
For a more authentic Zen-theme, go for Japanese dishes like sushi, egg rolls, rice bowls and maki among others. Red or green iced tea for drinks will be a healthy treat!
Music
Meditation music is the best for your Zen-themed 18th birthday celebration because it adds to the ambiance of relaxation. You can play this music during cocktails or before the program starts, but this is as far as it goes. When your program starts, choose music that you like, something more upbeat and youthful.
Games
After a period of relaxation, it is now time to party. Throw in some games to make your party alive. Here are some party games you can choose from:
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Origami folding game
Hand out paper and folding instructions at the entrance. While waiting for the program to start, your guests will be able to study folding the paper. Call on five persons to join. The one who is the fastest and correctly folds the paper wins.
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Yoga poses
Research yoga poses online and choose what poses to use in your game. Ask a flexible friend of yours to do these poses. The contestants will have to be in this position for as long as they can. The one who can hold the position the longest wins.
Chopsticks
Challenge your guests’ ability to use the chopsticks with this game. The object of the game is to pick up beads of rice with the use of the chopsticks. The group with the most rice wins.
Party favors
Potted plants (taragon tea, basil, etc.) or bonsai is an excellent party favor for a Zen-inspired debut celebration, which can double as a decor initially. This debut party favor can be distributed when the program is over.
Other party favors that you can also use for this particular party theme are paper or wooden fans, bento boxes with egg rolls or minicakes inside, mini take out rice boxes with potpourri or cupcakes inside, chopsticks, tealight candles, scented candles, green leaf and bamboo-scent oils and citronella incense.
The key to the Zen birthday party is simplicity, a term not often used in parties nowadays. There is beauty and elegance in simplicity especially if you choose your items carefully. Do not overdo. Use your creativity in planning for your Zen debut. I’m sure your 18th birthday celebration will be a one-of-a-kind night to remember.
Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Hi I will have my debut next year
i want it like KATY PERRY INSPIRED DEBUT
but i dont know where to start
im hoping to hear from you soon
thank you
Hi Ghia,
What do you think characterizes Katy Perry from the rest? Isn’t it that she’s naughty and nice? Sweet but sexy? You can start from there. Choose your party wardrobe and makeup beforehand. Then choose a particular song of hers that you want your party to be — if you want it to be California Gurls for instance, you should make sure there are a lot of cotton candies and sweet stuff on the table! You can choose the colors pink and black as your motif because they’re opposites — nice and naughty. Add lots of sweet stuff around the venue like teddy bears, lollipops, candies, etc. but add some naughty stuff too like hang some sexy net stockings to put some candies in. The key here is mixing and matching nice and naughty stuff. You can start from there! 🙂
I really hope your Katy Perry inspired debut party works out, we think it’s a cool idea! Hope you can share it with us too 😉
Hi debut ideas! 🙂
I just love your site. It helped me a lot. I would just like to ask for your help in case I wanted all of the 18s to be part of my program. And some intermissions and games. HAHA. I have so much ideas in mind. Its just that I need a theme which guests of both the new and quite old generation can relate too. hihi. I just want it to be simple but super duper fun. I first thought of a rave theme, but then I remembered about my titos and titas; they might not be able to relate. Please please help me. Thank you so so so much 🙂
Hi debut ideas!
I just love your site. It helped me a lot. I would just like to ask for your help in case I wanted all of the 18s to be part of my program. And some intermissions and games. HAHA. I have so much ideas in mind. Its just that I need a theme which guests of both the new and quite old generation can relate too. hihi. I just want it to be simple but super duper fun. I first thought of a rave theme, but then I remembered about my titos and titas; they might not be able to relate. Please please help me. Thank you so so so much
Btw, a zen debut is nice except that I cannot see mysef in this theme because my personality is quite the opposite. I am the cheerful, playful (and the childish) type hihi 😀 How can I put a twist to it instead? 🙂
hi.. my 18th birthday will be on January 2011…. any suggestion what will be the appropriate theme for that month? ..
Hi Miss Capricorn,
There is no such thing as an “appropriate” theme, or a wrong and a right theme. Choosing a theme depends on your taste and personality. Find out what it is you really want that can be done within your budget and how much time you have.
Hope this helps! 🙂
Hi Angelica,
Maybe you can go for something like a Grammy Awards Night where your titos and titas can get dressed to the nines.. or a 70’s theme party! Vintage is still “in”. So with this theme, you get to have a modern party you can enjoy, which the elders can relate to at the same time! The crazier the outfit, the better. Tell your guests not to limit their imagination. They can wear afro wigs, bell bottoms, fit polo shirts, micro mini dresses, etc. — when all your guests wear the appropriate outfit for your party, nobody gets left behind! Plus your pictures will be like “old but new” photographs that you can preserve and reminisce on after a decade. Happy planning!
Hi Angelica,
So you want to put a twist to the Zen theme meaning you still want to choose the Zen theme? Because you have other choices. If you say that your personality is the opposite, then don’t choose zen. There are other themes that could fit your personality better. 🙂 Just explore our site, you may get an idea what you can use 🙂
Hope this helps!
Hi debut ideas!
My daughther’s 18th bday will be next year… She wants some kind of “america’s top model” theme or model theme because she really loves fashion… Can you give me some ideas? Like color’s, program plan like having all the participants going to ramp in a runway… I really need your help…. thanks a lot…. and God Bless!
Hi Jen,
Your daughter can have a mini fashion show with her friends instead of a cotillion. There should be a runway at the center on which she and her friends can walk on. She can showcase her modeling and styling talent and have fun at the same time! The backdrop should be something interesting like that of Project Runway with back lights. She can replace 18 candles with 18 Fierce Poses or 18 Catwalks wherein her friends will pose first for the camera before making a speech. She can also replace 18 Treasures with 18 Shopping bags in which her friends will give her something fashionable.
For the games, you can have a Dance and Pose game. You can ask participants to dance to a beat and when the music stops, they will make the fiercest pose they could do and freeze. The one who moves or poses badly gets eliminated. The prize for the winner of course can be any type of accessories like belts and bracelets and tie for men.
You can also view these posts in Facebook:
RUNWAY INVITE INSPIRATION: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4656852&id=73798053610&fbid=415631508610
RUNWAY INSPIRATIONS: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=244390&id=73798053610
Hope this helps! 🙂
Hi Debut Ideas,
Wow, that’s great…. can you give me again a suggestion about the invitation of fashion model/runway theme? Thank you so much for helping me… More power!!!
hi debut ideas
i want to have vintage theme but somewhat girly theme. can you help me in the flow of my debut? my debut wil be this march 2011. thanks in advance.
Hi Chole,
This article is a sample of a debut program flow. Click here.
hello, i love this web and thank u for being a Fairy God mother to those young lady turning 18…. i like to ask po. what mgnda na theme dito po http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs180.snc3/20777_264792253946_71303103946_3449912_3650792_n.jpg, i choose this place because of the fine dining and cozy ambiance.. i love the table settings /cloth etc, with the touch of yellow green and hot pink.. what do u think po is a good decoration in here?..tnx
Hello. I want to ask something, I am having my debut this July and I want to have the Japanese themed party (Zen) but my problem is what would be the outfit of my guests? 😀 It’s
Hey Debut Ideas!
my debut is on September and i really want to have a unique idea for my debut. at first, my idea was a hawaian pool party. but my older sister stole my idea and now i don’t have any cool and unique idea. pleasee really need your help. super thanks 🙂
Hi Annika,
To give you some ideas for your party, you can check out our website under Ideas & Themes. We have several themes on this page that might help you plan.
The best advice I can give you when planning a party is to choose a theme that is close to your personality or to something that you are interested in. In this way, it will be easier to plan it. Hope this helps!
Hi Haru Palma,
Your guests have several options when it comes to deciding what they should wear for your Zen-themed party. They can go for the traditional look by wearing a Kimono.
Your guests can also opt for something a little bit more modern but still maintaining the Japanese look.
There are a few shops that can rent out Kimonos and just include the details in your invitation as to where they an go. You can also check universities with a Japanese community – I’m sure they would want to help.
Hello, I want to have a debut party that is unforgettable and unique. I also want a runway type or like sexy dresses but will remain elegant and has a fashion on it. Any suggestion?