Planning a quinceñera is very similar to planning a wedding and just as time-consuming. According to the popular magazine Quince, written specifically for those planning their dream quinceñera, you should begin the preparations a year in advance. Securing a church date, a banquet or dance hall, and ordering your flowers and dress are all things that you should see to well in advance. Other preparations like choosing your damas and chambelanes, finding dresses for your court, practicing your dances, and choosing a cake don’t require as much time.
A quinceñera is a very special birthday celebration that is planned for young ladies of Latin American heritage that turn fifteen. A mass is celebrated, followed by a celebration with food and dancing for family and friends. Most people view the celebration as a coming of age party for the teen.
Here is a quick guide to help you remember all the preparations that go into planning and throwing a quinceñera. It is easy to forget or overlook the small things or even a big part of the party if you put it off for too long.
Picking the Date
The date of your quinceñera should be as close to the date of your fifteenth birthday as possible. Whatever weekend your birthday falls closer to is always the best decision. It is important to pick the date of your actual party as far ahead of time as possible, a year is advised for those dates that fall around big event weekends such as Labor Day, memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Christmas and New Years. By picking the date a year in advance you give yourself more options when it comes to booking a hall, mass, entertainment and a caterer.
Book the Ceremony and Choose a Hall
Immediately after you decide on a date, call to find out if the day is available for a ceremonial mass at your church. Then begin looking at local dance halls or restaurants where you think you would like to hold your party at. Finding a place that can handle the food for you as well is easiest.These plans should be made at least a year to eight months in advance because people are always making reservations for wedding, anniversaries and other important events.
Create a Budget and Decide Your Party Theme
Before you begin making all the party decisions, sit down with the folks who will be paying for the big day and determine what your budget is. This will help set guidelines for your plans and give you an idea of how to choose a party theme. Some quinceñera party themes are extremely lavish and call for very specific decorations and entertainment that can get expensive. Other party themes, such as a fairytale or rock n roll theme, are easier to coordinate and find props and decorations for less or even make yourself.
Pick a Dress and Your Court
Traditionally, a court made up of damas and chambelanes should be chosen a few months before the actual day. Your court is made up of friends and family that are around the same age as yourself. You will also need to ask someone to serve as your escort, who will be performing a special dance with you after the ceremony.
After you have decided on your court, it is time to pick a dress for your big day. Traditional quinceñera dresses are white or colored ball gowns that can be bought from a dressmaker or custom made. Even if you already have an idea of the gown that you want, try on as many dresses as possible to find the style and design that looks best on you. If you are purchasing your dress from a dressmaker, ask about a discount if your entire court purchases their dresses from the shop.
Order Dresses and Tuxedos for Your Court
About three months ahead of time you need to choose and order outfits for the rest of your court. If you decide on matching dresses for the damas, see if you can get a discount by purchasing them all from the same place. For the guys, make sure that everyone goes in to have a tuxedo fitting and that there are enough tuxedos to rent for the day.
Begin Choosing and Purchasing Your Decorations
After you have chosen the hall where you will be having your party and determined how many people are on the guest list, you should have a general idea of how many decorations you will need. Remember that you will need enough decorations to cover the surrounding room, the entrance, a gift table, and to serve as centerpieces on all the tables guests will be using.
To save money, look into making your own quinceñera decorations and party favors. Buy supplies from a local craft store in the colors you have chosen and put together simple, but elegant centerpieces with silk flowers, candles and ribbon.
Begin Choreographing Your Dances
At least two months ahead of time, get all of your court together to choreograph a dance that you will perform at the party. Traditional dances include a choreographed waltz, but alternatives can include a salsa, bachata, hip hop or a merengue.
Final Preparations
The days leading up to the big event are going to be the most hectic, but it is still important that you make sure all those final preparations are ready. Make sure you visit the nail salon and get a manicure and pedicure, have all the dresses steamed, count all the party favors, and know your dances by heart.
The only thing left is to enjoy the day!
