Crafting a balanced program for you dream debut party is not really as hard as it sounds. All it takes is a little imagination. There are endless possibilities in creating a program for your dream debut. A program can be as short as two hours or as long as until wee hours of the night. You can go as crazy as making everyone involved and participate in different aspects of the program.
The following is a basic Debutante’s program:
- Introduction of the Debutante, her Escort and her Cotillion Court
- Toast in Honor of the Debutante
- Welcome Remarks (by the parents)
- Invocation or Prayer
- Dining
- Father and Daughter Dance
- Grand Cotillion Waltz Dance
- 18 Roses Dance
- Presentation of 18 Candles
- Singing of Traditional Debutante’s Birthday Song
- Blowing of the Cake Candles
- Cutting of the Cake
- Presentation of 18 Treasures
- Games
- A Word from the Debutante
- Time to Party!
The debutante’s program can also flow like this:
- Arrival and welcoming of guests – guests are ushered to their designated seats
- Cocktails are offered to encourage guests to mingle – this takes your guests’ mind off waiting for your grand entrance
- After everyone settles in their place, the host makes mention of important people who graced the occasion (if there are).
- Drinks and appetizers are served
- Parents talk briefly about the debutante (about her achievements, goals, ambitions, etc.)
- Audio Visual Presentation of the debutante’s life from infancy to present
- Grand entrance of the debutante
- Parents talk some more about the debutante (optional)
- Toast in honor of the debutant
- The debutante makes a short opening remarks encouraging guests to enjoy the party
- Prayer
- Guests start their meal
- AVP of well-wishers
- Father and daughter dance (This may also be incorporated in the eighteen roses. Fathers are usually the first or last dance of the debutante)
- Eighteen roses (audio of speech while dancing)
- Eighteen candles (speech)
- Singing of birthday song
- Cutting of birthday cake
- Games
- Introduction of the debutante, her escort and her cotillion court
- GRAND COTILLION WALTZ DANCE
- Debutante’s thank you speech
- Party time!
Other variations may be the following:
* The host will have a talk, more of like an introduction and a short summary of the program, a little talk on what is in store for the guests so that they would be enticed into finishing and staying for the duration of the party and making the party a success. The host need not mention the juicy parts (those surprise numbers and whatnots)
* For parents who are shy to talk in front of a crowd, the host will do the introduction about the debutante. There will be a little talk before the debutante is introduced. Probably the host may interview some guests and probably ask them some unforgettable moments with the debutante.
* For the eighteen roses, each guy can give a note for the host to read while they are dancing. This can also be recorded and played together with the background music while they dance.
* Cotillion can be danced at the end of the program after which everybody may dance and which may mark the start of the dancing.
* The father or parents of the debutante will talk about the celebrant (you can make a Powerpoint or Flash presentation for everyone to see that has baby pictures or some important milestones of the debutante’s life)
* Father dances with his daughter as a separate part of the program.
* Escort/ bf takes debutante for a dance then everyone dance after some time
* Some also incorporate 18 wines, 18 treasures, 18 gifts as a variation so that most of the guests would be able to greet the debutante.
* Games are inserted on different parts of the program.
Here is a more detailed flow of program but the arrangement can be tweaked here and there according to preference.
- Registration / arrival of guests / receiving of gifts / cocktails
- Guests settle on their seats
- Introduction of the 18th birthday celebrant by the emcee
- Acknowledgment of the parents and other VIPs
- Introduction and entrance of the grand cotillion
- Grand entrance of the debutant and her escort (optional)
- Welcome remarks and toast by the parents
- AVP of debutante (pictures from infancy to present)
- Grand cotillion
- Invocation / prayer before meals
- Meals and pictorial
- AVP of well-wishers
- 18 Roses
- Father and daughter dance
- 18 _____ (any 18s here – 18 wines, balloons or whatever you like!)
- Games
- 18 Candles
- Singing of birthday song
- Blowing of 18 Candles
- Cutting of birthday cake
- Debutante’s thank you speech
- PARTY / Everybody on the dance floor!
So remember, in making your program, list first what part of the basic program you want to retain or delete and then you can make your own rendition according to your liking. Don’t make it too long but don’t make it too short either. Create a balanced program and be imaginative in adding your own flavor into it. A debut party well thought of is a debut party well remembered.
Hi! I having my party this coming sunday (oct 24) and i still dont have my programme on hand. Please help me. Im having a traditional 18th birthday party with 18 roses, candles and treasures. thanks in advance!
HI! im having my party this coming sunday and i still dont have my programme. Please help me! Im having a traditional 18th birthday party with 18 roses, candles and treasures. Thanks in advance!
Hi i’m having my debut on (nov.13) and I still don’t have my program… please help me! thanks! :))
Hi Blu,
You can wear either pink or blue. But whatever color you like will do 🙂
hi! my daughter is having her debut this coming December. The theme is Bohemian.No dress code. Come as you are. Is it ok to hae a belly dancer as one of the program? My idea of a Bohemian was inspired from 60s’ & 70s’ . And what can i substitute from the 18 roses, candles and treasures? I was planning to change the roses to sunflowers do you think it will match? any ideas?
Thank you and God Bles.
Hi . I am organizing a debut of my friend. Can you give me an idea on how to introduce the debutant on the beginning of the program? Pls reply 🙂
Can you also help me about organizing it. The debutante’s gown is BLUE. so do you think the balloons and designs need to be blue also?
Hi Avic!
We hope these articles can help you 🙂
http://debutideas.com/?cat=6
Happy planning!
Hi Ellyza, the 18 Treasures are those people who will give you a gift while wishing you a happy birthday and make a brief speech about it — why they chose that gift for you.
Hi Kairi,
You can give out some cute little trinkets since you are having a Barbie themed birthday party. A simple format for the invitation would be:
You can modify this to your own liking 🙂 Hope this helps!
Hi Grace,
Since your theme is Greek in nature, you can also explore the Greek traditional dances like this one:
Since you have enough time, I think your friends can pull off something like this 🙂
Hope this helps!
Hi Bea,
Tell some interesting facts about your friend or trivia that guests may find interesting or tell a story about this girl and how she has become one of the best friends you’ve had. Then present the debutante before she makes her grand entrance.
If your friend’s motif is blue, that does not mean that everything has to be blue also. Blue is just the accent. You must have other colors like white and a supporting shade/color like light blue.
Hope this helps!
hi,
first of all, hats off to you!!! grabe, all queries, helps, etc were answered well, very detailed even, some with pictures pa talaga. aside from having you come up with the very well planned website for this matter. mostly are weddings, kid’s parties, halloween, etc… and your site is the only one i found very, very helpful & detailed about having a debut. not only this site but also all your replies and suggestions. Saludo ako!!!
i’ve almost read all queries & replies posted here & have come across a couple or three mssgs regarding an Arabian Night Theme. so far, i & the celebrant’s mom have agreed on some of the most important details already. Its my pamangkin’s debut on Feb2011, & I’m organizing it for her. Being her ninang too, i want to make it more special & memorable for her. in this regard, i’d like to share w/ you & readers: invitations: miniature magic carpet, table centerpiece: shishas (personal & some borrowed), food: authentic arabian style aka “kashmir”, we’ll get a shawarma food cart, venue decor: have asked friends & families to lend me their persian carpets, brass wares, intricate designed candle holders or incence, a henna tattoo table, specially thought of arabian themed names for cocktails & drinks, ambience mood: lighted incense & harem style music. part of the activities, debutante & several best friends will do a belly dance. also, i agree w/ you that a chiffon cloth made to be available for girls who cant come w/ a costume. i have also purchased na some bindis. partly giveaways na din for girls. over na ba if i provide a home made “turban like” headdress for male guests? to really complete the entire scenario.
Now, my concern, do i still go for the traditional 18s, what would you suggest it to be called. for its substitute, i was thinking of getting a genie lamp. well wishers get to rub the lamp & make a wish for the celebrant, then an effect of a smoke machine & a “voom” sound, to get the feel that their wishes for her has just been granted. pwede na ba yun? for how many wishers? suggestions for any other gimmiks for actvities is also very appreciated.
also, please, i need suppliers for bulk orders of scented massage oils and supplier for a cute, maybe a 10 or 20ml bottles, as it will be the giveaways.
thank you in advance for your generous help and more power & success for this site & to you as well, the creator of this.
sure Cha! what about?
Hi Crnjcn,
Speeches need to be personal, coming from the heart. If she chose you as one of her 18, maybe for her you have been a special friend and an important person in her life. You don’t need to have lots of memories to create that speech, only memorable ones. Describe her from what you remember. If you have dreams together as a child, go with that. If you know of a certain peculiar trait, mention that as well. And then lastly, make a wish for her, a wish that will help her in her journey in life. hope this helps.
Can you please help me na pede ialternate na name for 8 shots? My motif is black and pink. dun na lang kasi ako wala maisip eh. please. my debut will be on dec 21. but still, wala pa invi ko coz wala talaga ko maisip na alternat name for 18 shots, 2 words po need ko. thanks.
Hi JM,
You can try 18 wine coolers, 18 sparkling drinks, 18 bubbly booze, 18 champagne, 18 wine and spirits, 18 fine wine and good spirits, 18 toasts and 18 cheers. Happy birthday Joana.
Wooh. I like all of your suggestions, but I prefer to use 18 bubbly booze. yeay! thank youuuu! =)
hi can you help me? im planning to have my debut on the 26th of decemeber. Barbie po ung theme ko pink and black. Ang naisip kong entrance sa lalabas ako sa loob ng barbie box. pero hindi pa ako nakagown tapos ipplay na ung movie about me habang nagpapalit ako ng gown tapos papakilala na ako sa a debutant. kelan papasok ung opening remarks? sino ba dapat ung magsasabi nun parents? four kasi ng 18″s ko first 18 shots, 18 candles, 18 pink gifts at 18 roses. kelan din pala papasok ung mga un ano uunahin. In short paano ung magiging flow ng BARBIE PARTY THEMED DEBUT?
tapos kelan ko din pala ipapasok kasi magdadance number ako at mag pplay ng piano. Thanks
at ano din pala magandang tugtugin na piano piece thanks:)
Hi Kimberly,
Sorry for the late reply. The grand entrance is a very crucial part of the debut program so it is important that you get your guests’ attention before it starts. The way to do this is to have your host (in a booming voice) announce your grand entrance. You can also enter after your cotillion de honor’s or 18s entrances so that everyone’s attention is already at the walkway. Another great way is having a grand entrance song that sets the mood you want to have… like if it is going to be a regal walk for a princess theme, you may go for waltzy songs. if it is more of a hip grand entrance song, go for songs that are upbeat and youthful. Choose from among these songs in our debut ideas song bank. hope this helps.
Hi Jessica,
If you can’t perform a cotillion with your friends, you can probably prepare a song number. You can also ask them to just go to the stage without them knowing that they will be a part of a game. The winner gets to have a prize. As for the Hello Kitty theme, you can still do it. Fill the venue with these cute little dolls. You can have them as table centerpieces instead of flowers. Have a cake that has a Hello Kitty theme too. It doesn’t have to go as far as the music. It doesn’t have to adhere to the theme to the last detail. You may have instead upbeat and youthful songs that you love played during your program. We have some song suggestions in our debut song bank. Hope this helps.
Hi amie,
Bohemian is all about fashion forward sense of style without regard to convention. So yes I think the come as you are would be totally cool, but asking them to wear maxi dresses in colorful hip colors may actually add to your ambiance. For your daughter’s 18s, yes you can substitute 18 sunflowers for 18 roses, or you can also have 18 flower power. You can have 18 hippies, 18 cool vibes for 18 candles and 18 boho styles for 18 treasures. hope this helps.
Hi Ara,
We have a games page that might give you some ideas on. For vintage vogue, a fierce pose game would be great. Ask some of your guests to pose in their fiercest way and the audience will be the judge. You can also have a mini-fashion show with this as well. For your 18s, try 18 fierce poses, 18 poses for 18 roses where you and your partner will pose before dancing. 18 styles, 18 designers, 18 fashion icons, etc for 18 candles, and 18 memories, 18 vintage collections for 18 treasures or gifts. hope this helps.