DIY DEBUT: MAKE IT YOURS

Are you ready to throw the coolest party in town to celebrate your 18^th? Are you prepared to see your name written down in the debut history books for having the most aesthetically pleasing coming of age event? I’m sure you are! It’s a special event, after all. You only turn 18 once, so you have to give your best. However you don’t want those boring old template invitations that are too pricey anyway.

You want your debut to be special. A debut made with care and love, and if you’re like me, a debut crafted with as little money as possible. Because we all know that the company of family and friends is the most important aspect of any celebration.

It seems impossible, doesn’t it? Holding a monumental debut that is unique, cheap, and undeniably you at the same time. Don’t let worrying cramp your flawless style. By using your creative skills, imagination and a bit of DIY (Do It Yourself) magic, your debut will be the talk of the town! With inventive, inexpensive, fun, and true-to-you decorations, your party will feel like a celebration of a wonderful, beautiful, and unique girl—that’s you!

Now, let’s get down to business! The anchor that makes a party memorable is its theme. Stick to something you truly love; if you’re a sci-fi geek, then why not throw a Star Trek themed debut? Or if you’re like me, a hardcore foodie, why not host a feast of a debut? And if you’re one of those flower and pastel colored-ribbons in your hair kind of gal, stick with a dainty theme and color palette. There are an infinite number of themes and I’m 100% sure you can find something that suits your style. For this article, however, I’ll be sticking with those three themes I previously mentioned. Remember, your theme dictates your decorations and your invitations. Don’t be pressured by popular party theme choices—find a theme that fits your unique vibe, and you’ll have a blast planning your debut!

After choosing a theme, we now make the invitations. Today, it’s easy to make invitations, simply because you don’t really make them. You just create an event page on Facebook and invite all your friends through there. However, why not go the extra mile for your party and send honest-to-good invites, handmade with love? Invitations are a great way to get people excited for your party and they also send a message to your friends saying, “Hi, you’re very important to me and I want to celebrate this special moment of my life with you”. By sending out DIY invitations, you’re showing your loved ones how much you want them to be there, and I’m sure the effort and care you put in will not be in vain.

There’s no set of strict rules in making invitations. You can make them any size, color, or design you want. Have fun and be creative in constructing your invites! However, don’t get too carried away; remember to put the important details of your debut: the date, time, venue, a reminder and contact number for RSVPs.

For the sci-fi/Star Trek theme, I decided to use the tips of silver stars I found in a gardening shop in Divisoria last April (what a find!). I also printed illustrations of our solar system to give the impression that an invite should definitely be out of this world! 

For the pastel debut, I made a small invite using washi tape or decorative tape, which is all the rave now in the DIY world. Your invite can be as outrageous, or as simple as you want it to be! Remember, when DIY-ing, you’re the boss. 

For the food-lover party, I chose to mix up the shape of the traditional invitation, and went for a Popsicle-shaped invite (I used the template from here, if you want to do the same: http://www.eatdrinkchic.com/page.cfm/freebies). You’ll definitely have the coolest and sweetest invites with these popsicles! 

Once you’ve sent your lovely invitations, It’s now time to create the decorations, one of the most important aspects of your debut! Your decorations set the mood and the groove of your party, and if executed properly alongside your theme, your debut will definitely receive an A+ in its report card! As I said earlier, one of the best things about DIY is that you get to whip up something gorgeous without spending a lot. You don’t have to empty out your (or your parents’) wallets to have an outstanding party. All you need is a lot of imagination, a few trips to National Bookstore, and you’ll be able to decorate your party your style, your way.

Recently, I’ve been using garlands to decorate parties and get-togethers with family and friends. Garlands are amazing—they decorate the place so beautifully, and they’re really easy to do! All you have to do is get a ball of sturdy string, and grab whatever you want to hang on it. Tape the designs you want on the string, and voila! You’ve got yourself a beautiful garland. 

I made different garlands to correspond with the sci-fi, food-lover, and pastel themed debuts. For the sci-fi drape, I decided to go in the minimalist direction. It’s clean, simple, and elegant. 

With the pastel garland, I gave my ball of string a rest, and instead replaced it with Christmas lights. Just dust off your old Christmas lights, and tie your favorite pastel-colored ribbons onto the wire. Here, I used different shades of pink paired with mint and green tea ribbons. 

As for the food-lover theme, I couldn’t resist my sweet tooth. I created a doughnut garland by simply printing them out! Remember, they don't have to be doughnuts. You can choose any food you like from pizza to sushi! It’s up to you.

Of course, a debut is never complete without the 18 roses and the 18 gifts. This part of the debut is very special since you will be showered with love from your most precious family and friends. However, if you aren’t feeling the roses (maybe your favorite flower is the carnation), or you find well-wishing corny, why not mix this old tradition up a bit? After all, you are coming of age, so why not do it your way?

For a Star Trek debut, as the captain of the Enterprise for the day, your trusty crew can give different planets to you, symbols of what they wish for you to find and discover in your new journey here on Earth and beyond, now as a grown woman.

And for a food connoisseur debut, eighteen of your closest friends and family can give you eighteen of your most favorite foods. Aside from the lovely words bestowed upon you, you get to eat your favorite comfort food during your party! Think of it as sustenance for the more emotional moments of your debut.

Lastly, for the pastel-girly themed debut, you can go crazy with when it comes to how you want your 18 roses and 18 wishes. Instead of roses, your friends can give you small cupcakes, or even baskets of your favorite flowers. There’s a lot of pastel-themed things that you can work around, and I’m sure you’ll be able to find something you’d like to receive from your loved ones.

Don’t forget that this is your party, your debut! You will be celebrating something that is as unique as your ideas, something no one can replicate—YOU! DIY will help your personality show through your debut. As I said, you only turn 18 once. And although the theme, decorations and invitations are important in crafting a successful party, what truly makes a debut fun and memorable is how you enjoy your night with the most significant people in your life. Just as you made those decorations with your heart, make the night an unforgettable one by spending time with your loved ones!

Enjoy!

Article and Photos by Mia Esguerra
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Mia is a Psychology major, but she would rather major in the art of making sushi. Aside from writing, she enjoys watching Studio Ghibli films and would one day like to swim with sharks.