Top 5 Quinceañera Trends for 2008
by: Michael Kabel

Happy New Year! 2008 is quickly shaping up to be the biggest year for Quinceañera celebrations of recent times - maybe even ever! The last few years were a real Renaissance for the quince anos celebration. Fiestas grew larger, the gifts got bigger, and - maybe most importantly - millions more people became aware of its significance to the modern Latina girl.

So with the New Year comes new ways to make the Quinceañera celebration even better than before! Whether you're planning your Quince event as a gala commemoration of your new maturity or just an intimate affair among close friends and relatives, there are lots of trends on the horizon to help you make the event totally unforgettable.

Here's a look at just five of the trends that seem poised to explode in the coming twelve months and beyond. There are more trends, of course, but these are the biggest and brightest we see so far.

Theme fiestas get more elaborate, focused.

The themed fiesta picked up a lot of momentum in 2007, with quince anos girls around the country expressing their creative energy by using a single design and decoration motif to stage their celebration. That awesome strategy looks to become even more popular in 2008.

"More quince anos girls are narrowing the focus of their theme," says one Atlanta-based Quinceañera expert. "Where maybe before girls would plan a "fairy tale" theme they're now planning a "Snow White" or "Narnia" theme especially."

"The exact theme lets them really focus on creating the best design and decorations they can imagine to use at their fiesta."

The Court of Honor becomes more intimate.

The traditional court of honor includes upwards of thirty people. That's a lot of organization for the Quince girl and her padrinos to handle! Instead, modern quince girls are asking a small collection - perhaps as few as three or four damas and chambelanes each - to form her court. The fiesta becomes a much more personal event, one that's not top-heavy with an overabundance of functionaries.

Fiesta favors get personal(ized.)

New technologies have brought personalization to whole new range of fiesta guest favors. Now guests can enjoy their quince anos girl's name on cookies and sweets, souvenir "fun time" cameras, mint tins, and other useful but playful accessories. The personal gifts become a much more individual keepsake for all the guests.

Music changes with the times.

While traditional music will always play a big part in the Quinceañera fiesta celebration, more forward-thinking quince anos princesses are using more recent hits, too. Contemporary songs from both within and outside the Latin community are played for the crowd's enjoyment. Many quince anos girls choose to mix up the traditional and the modern, so that everyone gets a chance to hit the dance floor. 

Gowns and fashions take a turn for the sophisticated.

The princess look of recent years - soft, flowing dresses amid "girly" color palettes of soft pastels - seems ready to head into the sunset. Instead, quince anos girls are going for a look that displays their new maturity. Straight, columnar dresses with curves that flatter her physique look ready to replace them.

Makeup is becoming more of a "total" face makeover, including trimmings of eyebrows and other facial hair and using decorative make up that accentuates the face's stronger features. The idea is to celebrate the woman the girl is becoming by announcing her coming adult beauty.