The quinceañera celebration marks the fifteenth birthday of your little girl. There are just a few simple steps to planning this magical birthday party right. We asked the finest planners in the industry to bring you these steps to planning a flawless quinceañera.
Create Your Guest List
You will need to begin with a guest list before choosing the venue and budgeting for the food and other vendors. Most quinceañera parties include close family members and the inner circle of friends at the top of the guest list, followed by other friends. While the size of your guest list will affect the cost, it should not create sacrifice. Therefore, we have a couple secrets to creating an affordable quinceañera celebration.
Book Your Quinceañera Venue
You should always book your venue first. You will need a location, date and time secured before you can plan with other vendors and create invitations. An all-inclusive venue will save you the most money, stress and time with planning. Search for venues that include the furnishings, décor and staff services.
Quinceañera Invitations
As with any celebration, the size of your guest list will not matter, if you do not invite your guests. The date of your celebration should fall on her birthday or near her birthday, if possible. It is not uncommon to have a small celebration on the actual birthday, and hold the formal quinceañera celebration near the birthday. You should always have your invitations chosen and ready to mail eight weeks prior to the event. Make sure you include an RSVP postcard. Guests should receive the invitation at least six weeks prior, and respond at least two weeks prior. You will need the final guest count for the caterer and the venue.
Assemble your Court
The Courts de Honor consists of the birthday girl, her escort and fourteen couples, which includes seven Damas and seven Chambelanes. Not every celebration follows tradition, and her court might take a slightly different shape. The escort could be a boyfriend, close friend or cousin, depending on your culture and rules.
Quinceañera Dresses
The traditional quinceañera includes up to three dress changes. There is usually a dress for the ceremony, one for the reception and one for the dance. The traditional gown is pink; however, this is her quinceañera celebration and she gets to choose the colors.
The Shoes
The changing of the shoes is an important part of a quinceañera party. Flats are usually worn during the ceremony. The father or a family member changes the shoes from flats to heels just before the father-daughter dance. The shoes should match the style and color of the dress, and provide comfort.
The Theme
The quinceañera theme is the exciting part of planning. Choose a theme and colors, and have fun conveying your theme with the décor. Working with a venue that has in-house planners and designers can help you plan and stage the entire event.
Hire a Photographer
You will want to capture every moment of this day. It only happens once; therefore, it is important to hire a professional photographer. When choosing a photographer, you will probably make a decision based on style and price. Working with a venue that has preferred vendors can help you find the best of both.
Catering a Quinceañera
A quinceañera reception revolves around food. You will probably want to serve a full three course meal at a banquet-style celebration. You should choose your cuisine to match the theme and your taste. Have an estimated guest count for planning purposes. The final guest count should be provided to your caterer about a week prior to the event.
The Cake
Every birthday party has a cake, and this one is on a slightly grander scale. Design your cake to match the theme. If you want to create a dramatic effect, use dummy tiers to create the illusion of extra height. Choose a topper to match your theme.
Crystal Ballroom North Tampa
Crystal Ballroom North Tampa is an all-inclusive event venue that designs quinceañera celebrations from fantasy. Bring your princess to the design studio to choose her colors and décor. This magical venue is designed and staged to meet imagination. Plan her fairy tale event at Crystal Ballroom, and let her walk the red carpet to a ballroom designed just for her.
