Having a debut? This info will help

Debutante (or Deb) (French word for “female beginner”) is a young lady from an aristocratic or upper class family who as reached the age of maturity, and as a new adult, is introduced to society at a formal presentation known as her “debut” or “coming out.” Originally, it meant the young woman was eligible for marriage, and part of the purpose was to display her to eligible bachelors and their families with a view to marriage within a select upper class circle. This event is traditionally referred to as The Debutante’s Ball.

In the Philippines, a debutante’s ball is very popular and widely celebrated when young Filipina teenager turns 18.

The highlight of a debutante’s ball is known as The Grand Cotillion Dance where the Debutante, with an escort, share a waltz dance with the elegantly-dressed cotillion court composed of her friends of 9 boys and 9 girls. A special cotillion choreographer is normally hired by the debutante’s parent to teach the un-experienced boys and girls to perform a highly-choreographed waltz dance. Practices for the dance can last for 6 months and normally held in the debutante’s residence every weekend.

The other popular dance is The 18 Roses Dance where the Debutante shares a memorable dance with 18 men with each one offering a freshly-cut red beautiful rose. The father of the debutante is typically the first one to dance, often called The Father and Daughter Dance. The Debutante picks the 18 songs to play and the participants normally include relatives, friends, godfathers, neighbors and acquaintances.

Next of the tradition is The 18 Candles Presentation, wherein 18 ladies will light 18 candles to resemble the 18 lights that will serve as guidance to the debutante as she makes her transition to the status of a full grown woman. Sometimes, the 18-lighted candles are the candles that the debutante blows before she cuts the cake. Most often, the mother of the debutante is the last of the 18 candles participants. Each participant also says a word, a congratulatory note or wishes to the debutante.

A new activity that we have seen lately is what others call The 18 Symbolic Treasures, where 18 participants, mostly family friends and relatives, as well as godmothers and godfathers, offer a gift to the debutante. A perfect gift is something that the Debutante can treasure as she moves on to college and started to live as a young woman.

The last of the tradition is A Word From The Debutante, where the Debutante shares her thoughts of probably one of the most memorable times of here life.

Likewise, a debutante’s ball is a way for the parent to showcase to the society their daughter’s talents or specials sills like dancing, singing or playing instruments and other talents she possesses.

The debutante’s ball normally concludes with hours of dancing enjoyed by both the adults and teenagers.




The following is the typical Debutante’s Ball Agenda

INTRODUCTION OF THE COTILLION COURT, THE FAMILY, ESCORT, AND THE DEBUTANTE

TOAST IN HONOR OF THE DEBUTANTE

WELCOME REMARKS BY THE PARENTS

INVOCATION OR DINING TIME

VIDEO PRESENTATION

THE FATHER AND DAUGHTER DANCE

GRAND COTILLION WALTZ DANCE

COTILLION COURT SPECIAL DANCES

18 ROSES DANCE

18 CANDLES PRESENTATION

SINGING OF THE TRADITIONAL BIRTHDAY SONG

BLOWING OF THE CAKE CANDLES

CUTTING OF THE CAKE

18 TREASURES PRESENTATION

A WORD FROM THE DEBUTANTE

DANCING TIME (Courtesy of www.pacificsounds.com)

18 well-wishes

A segment of a debutante's party allows close of kin and friends to express their good wishes to the debutante. This is done along with the lighting of the 18 candles right before the birthday song and the blowing of the 18 candles. This can be simultaneously with some fireworks and other noisemakers.

What wishes does the debutante want to hear on her big day? Here are some samples of well-wishes:

To the debutante--

1. I wish you all the happiness in the world, may you achieve your goals in life and be happy for the rest of your life.

2. Good health, peace, happiness, and successs to the debutante. We love you!

3. May all your prayers be answered so that you will reach the goal of success.

4. I wish for your good health physically, spritually, emotionally, and mentally.

5. May you always have undying faith in you, faith in God, your family, and people in general.

6. I wish you all the good things in life, but if in case trials will come your way, I wish you all the inner strength to make you withstand life's challenges.

7. I wish you will not change. You've been a perfect friend to me, I could not wish for anything more but for you to remain as perfect as you are.

8. May you live your life in a Godly way, stay away from vices and bad influence. May you continue to be a good person come what may.

9. Cherrie, we've been friends for like a thousand years. I know you and I know what you want desperately to have on your birthday. Don't worry. I keep my promises. I wish you will finally achieve what you want. You know what it is. Happy birthday!

10. I wish you will grow taller by say, 5 inches. No kidding. I know that you've been dreaming to grow taller. So if I were your fairy godmother, I am going to grant your wish of becoming taller.

11. I wish my friend that you will finally meet the boy of your dreams tonight. Happy birthday, big girl!

12. I know you hate your pimples. My wish for you tonight is for those pimples to disappear from your otherwise angelic face. May you become lovelier each day.

13. Cher, you're a big girl now. Stop sucking your thumb. I know that you're going to shoot me after this, but my wish for you is for you to grow up into a fine young lady who no longer sucks her thumb.

14. I wish that you will finally meet your dream boy. Happy birthday!

15. May you have many more birthdays to come, say, a hundred more?

16. My wish is for you to have 10 wishes that you could use to realize your top ten wishes.

17. May you have all the blessings you need the whole year round! Happy, happy birthday!

18. I wish you all the success in the world! Mwah!

fantasy debut

How about fantasizing a debut that you will never have because it could cost your family millions? What sort of debut party would need five million bucks? Let us imagine having 18 of everything. Since you are turning 18, let us see what 18 things you can have to make it as the world's most expensive debut?

18 roses, 18 girls and 18 boys to dance the cotillion, 18 "lechons" or roasted pigs, an18 -layered cake, 18 gown changes, 18 candles, 18,000 balloons, 18 gunfires, 18 local and foreign guest celebrities, 18 diamonds on your tiarra, 18 caterers, 18 courses of dish, 18 escorts, 18 long tables laden with food, 18 different kinds of wine,18 bands, and 18 cars to be given away as door prizes.

Any other fantastic suggestions are most welcome.

debut

When a girl turns 18, her world opens up to a rainbow of possibilities. Eighteen is the age of maturity, when a girl is formally introduced to the public. This occasion is otherwise known as a girl's "coming out", her first taste of what it's like to have her first dance with a man.

One writer with a very conservative view of what a debut ought to be said that a girl who , before 18, can say that "she'd been there and done that" does not deserve to celebrate a debut. A girl who already had a boyfriend before `18 should not demand to have a grand debut celebration for it defeats the real purpose of celebrating a girl's debut.

A debut is a girl's first formal introduction to the world of adults, particularly to eligible gentlemen. It means she is now allowed to entertain suitors and even have a boyfriend if the right one comes along.

But preparing for a grand debut is not like a walk in the park. Planning should start two months before the affair to allow for practices and preparation of the program, food, invitation, etc.

The debutante can use the help of friends and family to contact people who will have parts in the program. The success of the program depends on choosing the right host or MC for the party. The host or emcee will control the flow of events, how the whole party will start and end. It is important that coordination between the host and the debutante will be made long before the party in order to allow for changes to be fitted in.

18 roses, 18 candles (goes with 18 wishes), 18 balloons, 18 treasures, 18 cakes, 18 "lechons"...the list could be endless. The debutante should choose the events she would like to happen and say so.

If you have any questions as to the flow of the program, you may leave them here under comment and I promise to answer.

like a princess

To look, feel, and be treated like a princess is a dream-come-true of every debutante. That is why the event of turning 18 is a much-look-forward- to day by girls of all types. After all, a girl is only 18 once that is why today, the debut is one of the most popular social events which cost parents a fortune. One girl who was approaching 18 was asked by her dad what she wanted when the day came. She was given only two options: a car or a grand debut. She chose the latter. Her dream debut venue was at a poolside where everything unfolded like a fairytale coming to life. Pink and white balloons floated on the pool and the debutante came out from an arc of balloons where she was met by the members of the cotillion who were all dressed elegantly to complete the fairytale effect. It was one fantastic night for everyone.

planning is the key

The success of any event lies in the planning which should happen months before the big day. If it is a wedding or debut, many months of planning is needed for a smooth and successful celebration. Those who can afford it might opt to hire a planner or organizer or coordinator to do all the worrying. But this may prove to be a lot more expensive than if you do the planning yourself with the help of your family and friends. A list of the things you need to consider months before and involving willing relatives might be of help. First, the date. If it is a church wedding you need to coordinate with your parish or pastor about the date to avoid conflicts. You don't want to share the limelight with another couple. If it is a birthday, such a debut, the date of the celebration is also important. Certain engagements and schedules might run in conflict with the actual birth date of the debutante so much so that an adjustment will have to be made on the date of the celebration. I would like to point out a certain dilemma which happened to one debutante whose birthday happens to fall on a day before a final examination that she and her friends and classmates will have to take and pass. She could not sacrifice her whole future for one single birthday. However, she wanted to celebrate her debut so much that she had to make a decision, and that was, to move her party 3 days after her final exams. By doing so, she was assured of the full attendance of her classmates and best friends on this very special day of her life. How did the party go? I was the host so I should know. I will talk about it in my next entry.