How To Plan A Quinceanera Party

Santa Campagne

A young girl will remember her Quinceanera party forever. Friends and family will all want to help to make the day unforgettable, but where should you start? Here are some essentials that you´ll want to include in your Quinceanera party. Do as much or as little as you are comfortable with. Remember, your day is meant to be personal.

Select a Date Early

When your daughter turns 14, it´s time to look into reserving a location for your celebration. It may seem a bit early, but don´t forget that brides and other festivities may already have booked your dream location. To avoid disappointment, try to set the date and venue early.

The Budget

Set your budget before you do anything else. If you have unlimited funds, of course, you can skip this step. But for the average family, you´ll want to sit down and map out a plan for the finances. Include your daughter in the discussions so that she knows the amount of extras she can dream of including. There are many cost-effective ways to add in those special details. Is a friend an expert baker? Ask for a help with the cake. Is a family member a whiz at photography? Ask him to take photos on the big day. You´ll be surprised at how many people are eager to lend their skills. Just ask.

The People

Your daughter will need two sponsors: a madrino and a padrino. Help her select the important people who will sponsor her on her big day. Then arrange for her to ask them for this favor. Help your daughter select the Quinceanera party. She will want to include her personal escort and her damas and chambelanes. These are much like the bridesmaids and groomsmen.

The Theme

Select a quinceanera theme well in advance so you know what you´re working towards. Having a theme will keep the party coherent, and you´ll be able to select accessories and favors more easily. Talk with the girl of honor to get her ideas. What she has in mind may surprise you. Once you´ve settled on a theme, you can begin building the party around it.

The Dress

Up to eight months before the big day, you´ll want to have selected the dress. Plan for several fittings. You´ll also want the girls in the party to have their dresses ordered and fitted at least once. The men will order their tuxedos as time gets closer, but it´s a must that the dress not be left to the last minute to avoid disappointment. And don´t forget the shoes. Make sure your daughter has time to try them beforehand to avoid painful feet the day of the event.

Invitations

As soon as you know the date and the venue, you can order your invitations. Plan to order invites that coordinate with your chosen theme. There are sites online that personalize and help you with the wording. Get them in the mail about two months before the date arrives. Keep a running list of who you sent them to and the responses you get.

Using Professionals

If you´re not comfortable doing all the decorations yourself, use professionals. There are many wedding planners who also do Quinceanera parties. Ask around or look online for pros in your area. Don´t forget you´ll need to order the cake at least two months in advance, book a photographer, hire a caterer or select the restaurant menu and decide on music. Professionals can take this stress off you and recommend excellent people they´ve worked with before.

Finish Up

With everything else planned, all you really need to do is attend to a few details. Select the Quinceanera favors you´ll want to give guests (you can order them online), write out table assignment cards, give the venue the final headcount and make sure the honor party picks up their dresses and tuxedos. After that, you just need to show up and enjoy your little girl´s dream day. With proper planning it will be a day you and your family will always remember.

Jillian Lovern is an enthusiastic writer with a passion for party planning. Visit her site frequently for updates and ideas. She has a special interest in making unique birthday favors and Quinceanera favors.