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by Michael Kabel
Growing up can be expensive.
Quinceañeras have become very, very costly - the average family spends almost five thousand dollars on all the supplies and costs associated with the Misa y fiesta. For most families, that's an awful lot of money.
But don't lose hope! The American Quinceañera celebration has experienced a genuine boom in recent years. More families are returning to the tradition, and a new wave of party service industries and designers are giving the ancient event all the attention it deserves.
You want you Quinceañera to be the ultimate event you've always dreamed of - but here's the thing: you shouldn't go crazy with the money. Your parents and padrinos are trusting you, and as a sign of respect and of maturity, you need to be smart about spending their cash. Even if they tell you it's okay to go wild, you should still be careful. That's what women do: the most for their friends and family.
Set Your Goals, Set Your Boundaries
It's a good idea to portion all the expenses you expect to encounter as you plan both the Quince fiesta and the Mass. Planning a budget means agreeing to work within a certain sum of money.
You might wish to start by dividing your Quinceañera expenses into four separate areas:
1. The Quince invitations
2. Your accessories, such as the tiara, scepter, Bible, and kneeling pillow
3. The gown
4. All the fiesta costs, including food, decorations, and entertainment
After making out this list, you should prioritize how you want the money to spend. If you're planning on a big fiesta, obviously that should get the lion's share of the funding. If you've always dreamed of a perfect designer gown, that's your priority instead.
After making a list of what's important to you from the choices above, you can begin researching the items you'll buy, rent, or use for your fiesta night. You should also make arrangements with your church, and see if there are any fees or gratuities to be paid in advance. The fiesta venue will also need a deposit, probably well in advance of your date.
Don't Let Yourself Be "Savings Scared"
Quince girls (and a surprising number of brides and wedding planners) often let themselves become afraid of saving money. They reason that if it's expensive, as everything seems to be, it must be good. And if something isn't expensive, it will seem shoddy or unstylish. This is hardly the case, despite lots of clever advertising to the contrary.
There are plenty of ways to cut costs - but not corners - for fiesta dining, entertainment, guest favors, and decorations. You might take the do-it-yourself route, arranging the decorations yourself. The dining might consist simply of appetizers or dessert, instead of a full-course meal. Many venues are cheaper in their "off seasons" (usually the winter months) and are more likely to come down on their rental price. You can gift-wrap your own Quince favors, adding a personal touch to each guest's keepsake token of appreciation.
The sooner you figure your budget out, the better. There's a lot of work to do when planning, and if you get a jump on the details, you'll find the whole process will go much smoother for everyone. Feliz Quinceañera!
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