Things look like they’re going back to normal, but is it the same for the debutantes of 2021? Find out if having debuts are still a thing.
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The biggest question for young debutantes who are approaching their birthdays is whether or not they should celebrate it—and how. One 18-year-old recently had her celebration and shares with us how she did it, and why.
We’ve talked to Janna Sofia Aujero, who turned 18 last October and held a grand celebration in the Greenleaf Hotel. We also spoke to a seasoned events host, Marc Co, to give us an insider’s perspective on how it’s like for those working in the events industry.
During the interview, Sofia mentioned that most of her friends who are turning 18 usually don’t ask for a party anymore. “Usually the typical gift they ask for is an overseas trip or a car, but I did it in another way,” says Sofia. She decided to have an actual party, but was adamant about keeping it as safe as possible for everyone. Due to the ongoing pandemic, holding live events have become very difficult. The costs of testing, limited manpower and other safety requirements have to be taken into account.
People in the events industry have also noticed the shift for debuts during the pandemic. Event host, Marc Co, backs up Sofia’s sentiments about how people her age would rather cash out their debut. He says, “I’ve only hosted 2/3 debuts since the pandemic started, which is a lot less compared to my pre-pandemic work. I think this is partially because of the generation now who would rather en-cash the money, which would have been used for their debuts. Unlike weddings, which are necessary to legalize a wedding, one doesn’t really need to have a debut party to legalize someone turning 18 or 21.”
Although Sofia’s friends wanted different things for their debut, her mind was set. “Celebrating my legality happens only once and I won’t be able to do that next year,” said Sofia. Unlike weddings, a debut is essentially a birthday and can not be moved. Plus, socially distanced gatherings could also be a way to see schoolmates and friends after almost 2 years of quarantine. “Based on my recent experience, the guests have a lot more to talk about. Since they currently don’t have face-to-face classes, most of the debutante’s friends don’t really see each other a lot in person. It’s a special treat for them to be able to gather together. People seem to be more attentive as well, since they rarely get opportunities to step out of the house,” says Marc.
That’s why they pushed through with the event, but with the help of a full on team. Since there are a lot of restrictions within the varying industries that contribute to a debut, she needed to commission point people for each of them. “I’ve decided on a purple theme for my party, which is my favorite color. My beautiful stylist was Steph Apirici. She handled my outfits for the night. My first dress was designed by Sir Kenny Ladaga and my party was held at Green Leaf Hotel under the event styling of Lee Ann Omega,” says Sofia.
Before, debutantes would have an easier time planning their outfits all by themselves, but because of the restrictions Sofia said it was essential for her to have a stylist. Shopping and fitting for debut gowns have gotten so much harder since the pandemic, thus the expertise of a stylist would help answer so many questions. It’s even harder for the event host, because the face mask gets in the way of communicating with the crowd. Despite this, Marc says he makes it a point to follow safety protocols whenever he’s working in an event. “I would try to keep my face mask on at most if not all times, distance myself from the guests, and remind the guests from time to time to do the same,” says Marc.
“Turning eighteen means stepping in to a new path. I’m looking forward to having more responsibilities in order to live a life with purpose. It allows me to explore many things that I couldn’t do back then and I think that’s reason enough to celebrate,” says Sofia. For those who have been dreaming of their debut gown since they were little, any one of you could still hold a party. It may be a little harder than before, but if done correctly then you can still have your dream ball.
