18th Birthday (Debut) Questions?

Question

My Dear Kababayans, I am currently planning my daughter's 18th birthday this coming fall and have no clue on where to begin. Besides the reception, invites, flowers and favors. I don't know how the program flows the day of the event. I am aware of the 18 roses and 18 candles but what do we do with them? How are they presented? So you light the candles then what? How is it incorporated into the party? Who does it? How is the family involved? I am sure the boyfriend is but how? Any insight on seating arrangements? Does she sit by herself? With her BF? With her family? Is there a presidential table? FYI - I dont want it to look like a wedding as far as seating.

If anyone could give me details on how a debut goes from start to finish I would greatly appreciate it. Any creative alternatives are welcome too.

Thanks much!

-G

Additional Details

I wish it was that easy but she asked me for a traditional 18th saying she just wants to be treated like a princess for one day. Besides, legal drinking age in the US is 21.

You guys don't know how much I appreciate all your answers. If I can pick more than one best answer I would. I have picked up insight from all you nice ladies with the most informative replies.

18 treasures Bini! That sounds like a wonderful idea. I think I will pick couples for this one. I will have them pick a symbolic gift and have them give the meaning (i.e. candle to light your path, a sweater so that you will always be warm, etc.)

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

there's a lil talk. then you will introduce the debutante.
debutante will make a grand entrance
then eighteen roses (they will give a speech)
eighteen candles (speech again)
then cotillion by the eighteen roses and candles
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 her baby pictures or some important milestones of her life)
father may dance with his daughter
escort/bf takes debutante for a dance then everyone dance after some time

it's up to you, really
then food
then party!!!!!!!!!

you can also give souvenirs to guest.

you can make different party themes, like hawaiin, costume party, masquerade ball, moulin rouge theme, genres like (1970s), pirates of the carribean theme (instead of eighteen roses/candles you can use 18 swords or 18 [pirate] treasures)

for debut packages here are some sites:
http://www.pearlmanila.com.ph/debut.htm
http://www.hizonscatering.com/services/d…

Answer 2

Its up to you, here in France, its different, though. You can just follow the usual setting

Answer 3

i'd say forget all that, and just get everyone drunk and listen to good music, she'll have a blast and thank you forever.

but if you want a traditional Debut and don't know what you're doing, hire them...
http://www.pacificsoundsdj.com/tradition…

Answer 4

It's pretty similar to quincenieras or sweet 16 parties if you've been to one. I as well had an old fashioned debutante ball when I turned 18.
Traditionally there's a cotillion de honor comprised of 8 pairs of boys and girls (debutante's friends), plus the celebrant and her escort. They usually dance waltz, but other ballroom dance will do too. If they are into more modern music that might work as well. Hire a professional choreographer for this if you have time to practice.
After their dance, the host introduces the celebrant formally as a young woman. Then the program follows. You can probably show a short presentation of her pictures and videos growing up - with family, friends, her classmates; photos of her activities, hobbies and achievements while the host tells some things about your daughter.
During the 18 candles, the celebrant's girl friends and female relatives light one candle and each of them makes a wish for the celebrant. You can light the last one, or her best friend.
The 18 roses usually is the last part of the program. Waltz music plays and 18 of her guy friends and male relatives take turns to give her a rose and dance with her. The Dad is usually the first dance, and her boyfriend is the last.
Towards the end of the program, the debutante gives a speech, and her parents as well. After the program, dancing continues with a live band or dj music.
Good luck!

Answer 5

This is how u do the candles there's supposed to be a huge pretty candle next to the debutante and then one of the 18 candle ppol comes up to it and then light it then they go to the debutante and say their wishes for her. when every candles has been lit the debutante blows each candle. For the 18 roses it should be the Father who is the first then the granpa, and so on, or maybe friends, or cousins, then the last dance is her Bf. And the 18 candles it could be anyone like close friends and relatives. For the seating arrangement the debutante sit in the middle of her parents. while her 18 roses & 18 candles are in each side of the room probably in a long table. then the rest of the guests sits in a circular table but leave a big space in the middle where the debutante can dance in the 18 roses and if you have a cutilyon (idk how to even spell dat)

ok here are the events in order

1. Grand entrance of debutante
2. sits on her chair
3. do 18 candles
4.18 roses
5. guests eat
6. Party dance..
7. open presents
8. go home

Answer 6

traditional dance where the Debutante shares a dance with 18 men each one offering a rose. This is The 18 Roses Dance. Another tradition during this grand celebration is the 18 Candles presentation where 18 ladies lighted 18 candles to resemble the 18 lights that will serve as guidance to the Debutante as she transition to the status of a full grown woman.

The following is a typical Debutante’s Ball Agenda.

INTRODUCTION OF THE DEBUTANTE, HER ESCORT

AND HER COTILLON COURT

TOAST IN HONOR OF THE DEBUTANTE

WELCOME REMARKS (BY THE PARENTS)

INVOCATION OR PRAYER

DINING

FATHER & DAUGHTER DANCE

GRAND COTILLON WALTZ DANCE

18 ROSES DANCE

18 CANDLES PRESENTATION

SINGING OF TRADITIONAL DEBUTANTE’S

BIRTHDAY SONG

BLOWING OF THE CAKE CANDLES

CUTTING OF THE CAKE

18 TREASURES PRESENTATION

A WORD FROM THE DEBUTANTE

DANCING TIME

As far as sitting is concern the debutante should be sitting in the platform alone with flowers and ballons around here.

Answer 7

I celebrated my debut by having a ball...it's really cute...I am Cinderella and my boyfriend is my escort...really sweet, my debut was like a wedding, but mine was greater than an ordinary wedding,...my aunt and uncle prepared that for me and it is really good,...you can try surfing the web to find out some more ideas...that's if you don't want my idea!

Answer 8

Lucky girl...poor mom..lol. just kidding. I went to one when I was little and they didn't really do the whole debut thing like the dancing of the 18 people and stuff. My family wanted me to have a 18th birthday debut but I kinda chose not to. I wish I had one but it just cost so much and takes so much time to learn the dances that we have to do. Plus my friends weren't really willing to do it...i know sad..some friends. But we were all preparing for college and it's a stressful time. The cost of it includes hotel, food, dresses, dancing lessons for the formal dances and more. But this year I was the Reyna Elena for the Santacruzan...my parents spend a lot of money for that...my dress (metiza gown) and my crown (which was like 6 in. high or more), the barongs for the guys in my family and the filipinana dresses was made in the philippines. So it was costly...o ya and the lechon (pig) too...well not made in the Philippines...more like china town..lol. But that was like my debut because the attention was on me and all the yummy food. But here's a link about the birthday and stuff...hope I helped..good luck, it should be a fun experience for you and your daughter.

http://www.pacificsoundsdj.com/tradition…

you can also search: Debut- 18th birthday in the Philippines. on google or yahoo...any search engine.

Answer 9

well, the traditional ones are 18 roses and 18 candles.
in 18 roses, the debutante chooses 18 men who are important in her life. when i had my debut, i arranged my dancers according to their importance, my brother being the last one because he is closest to me (my dad and i had a separate dance so that he could be my first dance of the night).
same with the 18 candles, only the participants are girls. the girls make a wish for the debutante or give her a message while holding the candle. i also had this on my debut, only the girls also had balloons. after their wishes, they'd give me a balloon and put their candles on the stand. after all were done, i blew out all the candles then released the balloons while my friend was singing. (i forgot to answer your question, yes, they light the candle before they talk)
my program started with a prayer, then a slideshow which my brother made for me. after that was my entrance (my parents hid me backstage so that no one would see me before this moment). before the 18 stuff, we had dinner so that the program would be continuous.
you can make her boyfriend her escort so that he'll be involved. (although my cousin thinks this is not a good idea because if ever they broke up, she could never change who escorted her at her debut, i had my brother escort me)
my mom did the seating arrangements. on the invitation we put stuff like, we reserved _ seats for you at table _. i sat with my family during my debut 'cause i don't wanna feel alone on my birthday.

alternatives:
there's this new thing now. it's called 18 gifts. the debutant chooses 18 persons to give her gifts but they'd have to explain the meaning of their gift.
18 wines - it's just like 18 candles, only instead of candles a toast is made
18 songs - my friend had 18 songs in her debut. it's kinda corny, but it's an idea. she chose 18 people to sing for her one by one. they get to pick what song to sing. the idea is to sing songs of friendship
18 treasures - i' m the only one who did this as far as i know. instead of 18 people giving me gifts, i chose 18 people in my life to give gifts. i bought the gifts by myself and no one but me knew who was on the list. the only moment they found out was when i made my "special number". that's what we put on the invitation so that no one would suspect about this 18 gifts. i received good feedbacks for this part because a lot of people were touched by this, 'cause usually the debutante is the one receives the gifts.

well, that's all i could think of. i hope i helped you.

Source(s):

feeling a bit nostalgic about my 18th birthday : )