Debut planning checklist: a month-by-month guide for an 18th birthday

9 to 12 months before

• Agree the budget with whoever is paying, and how many guests it covers — the guest count drives almost every other cost.
• Pick the date and book the venue first; good venues go early, especially in December and summer.
• Choose a theme or motif colours. It guides the gown, the styling and the invitation, and suppliers quote better against a clear brief.
• Decide whether you will hire a coordinator or run it as a family.

6 to 9 months before

• Book the caterer, photographer and videographer, host or emcee, and lights and sound. Ask each for a written quote against your guest count.
• Start the gown: a made-to-order gown needs fittings, so leave time.
• Choose the cotillion dancers and a choreographer, and set a rehearsal schedule.

3 to 6 months before

• Finalise your 18 roses (usually the men who matter to the debutante — father, brothers, relatives, friends), 18 candles (women with a wish or message) and 18 treasures (gifts with a short message).
• Ask each of them personally first, then confirm in writing so nobody is surprised on the night.
• Draft the programme: entrance, prayer, the roses, candles and treasures, dinner, the cotillion, speeches, and the closing.
• Send the invitations, with a reply-by date about a month before the event.

The last month

• Chase the households who have not replied, and give the caterer your final headcount and any dietary needs.
• Send every supplier the programme with their call time.
• Rehearse the entrance and the cotillion at the venue if you can.
• Prepare the seat plan and who is at the door to welcome guests.

Keeping it all in one place

Most of the stress comes from scattered lists: the eighteens in one chat, replies in another, supplier quotes in a third. Keeping the guest list, the programme and the suppliers together — and letting guests reply from a single link — removes most of the chasing.