If you’re Latina, then you know that your fifteenth birthday is kind of a big deal, to put it lightly. Throughout the history of Mexico, Latin America, and the Caribbean, the fiesta de quince años has been considered the day that young girls become women. It was an occasion marked by a special church service and party.
Today, it’s a day to celebrate your life, family, and heritage. It’s also probably the most money you’ll drop on a party until your wedding, so you want to make it count. Our tips and tricks for planning your quinceañera will help.
Be Realistic About Your Budget
It’s not uncommon for families to spend thousands of dollars on their daughters’ quince. Maybe your family can afford that; maybe they can’t. The important thing is knowing how high you can set your sights before you start brainstorming your party. Keep in mind that all these things will push your budget up:
- Venue
- Food
- Number of guests
- Dress
- Decorations
- Cake
There are ways to save money on all these steps. For example, you can DIY your decorations and do a buffet for the food. Just be sure that you stick to your budget once you have your one.
Tips on the Dress
Your quince dress is one of the highlights of the evening, so obviously, you want to get the best dress you can. But there are so many options out there that the process can be overwhelming. Here are some ideas to help you narrow down your search:
- Start your search online to see what types of dresses you like, then go to a store to try the dress on.
- Think about the colors you want to feature in your decorations.
- Consider colors that you like with your skin tone.
- Look for dress shapes that make you feel the most beautiful.
- Try starting with your tiara and working backward.
Remember: you will have to spend all evening in this dress, and you’ll have to dance in it. Make sure you’re comfortable in it.
Choose Your Court of Honor Wisely
Tradition states your corte de honor should include fourteen damas, fourteen chambelanes, and the chambelan of honor. But you don’t have to do that for your quince; some choose half that many. Some choose to have only a few damas or a few chambelanes.
Whoever you choose, just make sure that you choose someone who knows what you expect of them and what to wear, especially the chambelan of honor. They should be reliable enough to come to all the rehearsals and not prone to causing drama among the rest of your court.
Keep It in Perspective
One of the best tricks for planning your quinceañera is to keep in mind what a quinceañera is. It’s a celebration. If it gets to the point that you’re so stressed that it’s hard to plan, just remind yourself that it’s a birthday party. At the end of the day, as long as you’re there with your familia, you’ll have a good time.