Quinceanera Party Planning Ideas

Planning a quinceanera is similar to planning a wedding, so start early.

Quinceaneras are a 15th-birthday party to celebrate a Latin girl's coming of age. Quinceaneras are usually an elaborate event with a large guest list--they mimic a big wedding. To plan a quinceanera with 100 or more people, it is important to begin party-planning ideas about a year or 18 months before the event. Many vendors book up quickly, especially if the quinceanera is in the spring or summer, which are popular wedding seasons.

Create a Binder

Create a party-planning book. Because a quinceanera is usually a large party, there is a lot to keep track of, such as guests who have yet to reply to the invitation, gifts and vendors. Keep a large binder with dividers for each planning phase and sub-categorize from these categories.

The first section should revolve on the "padrinos," the couples in the family that are asked to sponsor quinceanera items. Sponsored items range from moderate-cost items like gloves and shoes from a young couple in their 20s to footing the bill for the hall or ballroom from a godparent or close aunt and uncle. Keep a detailed list of the sponsor requests or organize this section by what dollar amounts padrinos have donated. As each donation is made, cross off the needed item. Create a new list of who has donated what, which will help when designing the written program and doing thank-you notes.

The next section should address church activity. If the girl is required to take any courses, seminar dates and classes should be kept here plus any donation given to the church or other church costs. Include rehearsal time for the quinceanera at the church, which needs to be booked sometime during the event week.

The last section is the largest and focuses on the quinceanera party. Have sub-categories for seating assignments, DJ and band booking information, food vendors, decoration vendors and other hired companies. The binder also needs a list of when each vendor requires payment.

Color Selection

Quinceaneras have become more modern and teen-age girls no longer don only white or light pink dresses. A popular choice is to choose her dress color to coordinate with the decor color. To implement other colors, work with a monochromatic palette that uses multiple shades of one color. For example, choose light pink, true pink and hot pink to add dimension. These colors can be used for everything, from centerpieces to the birthday teen's dress to the dresses for her "damas," or girl attendants, which are similar to bridesmaids.

Set a Budget

It's crucial to set a budget for a large affair like this. Set it and stick to it. Allow ample time to check out various venues, photographers and catering companies. This helps with decisions about how to allocate money. If working with a small company, such as a free-lance photographer or a startup caterer, negotiate contract terms or the cost. Some businesses want a new client and the chance to work a major event such as a quinceanera vs. losing business. Read contracts carefully--watch out for hidden clauses that penalize for late payments or a date change.

References

• Eventective: Top Ten Tips for Planning a Quinceanera