Six Money Saving Secrets For Your Quinceañera

by: Michael Kabel

It's no secret that the Quinceañera costs a lot of money. Did you know, the average Latino family now spends several thousand dollars on their daughter's quince anos? It's true. That's a lot of money!

But there are ways to save money on the Quinceañera that most families never realize. Some require a little more planning and some need good timing. Just the same, the six secrets listed below are all ways you can trim the fiesta and misa budgets way down - without sacrificing style or elegance!

Shop bridal shows for your gown.

Though the formalwear industry doesn't like to advertise this fact, many brides and bridesmaids dresses are virtually identical to a lot of formal gowns. As you shop for your Quinceañera gown, you can find great deals by perusing bridal dress shows and bridal store sales.

Many bridal gown stores, both in the real world and online, hold clearance sales at certain times of the year. Hitting the right sale at the right time could get you huge discounts on just exactly the kind of dress you want.

Find a venue that caters.

Some special events venues offer their own catering services to their clients. Holding your fiesta with them may save you time and money finding a separate caterer. They may also offer better deals or package deals that offer discounts for giving them both parts of your business - catering and venue rental.

Remember too that prices on venue rental, depending on the time of year, are often negotiable. Venues are often cheapest during the fall and winter months.

Serve wine and beer instead of a full bar.

Obviously this is for your adult guests only! Rather than stock a complete bar, simply offer a choice of red or white wine and a single brand of beer. The guests won't mind, and you'll save money on the cost of liquor.

Rent your floral arrangements instead of buying them.

Renting the flowers to decorate your fiesta lets you save money while still retaining their beauty for your venue. And as long as you return the flowers in good shape you'll get a refund of your deposit.

Make sure there's a florist who rents flowers in your area (most florists do, however.) You should also make sure you'll have transportation the day after your quince to return the floral arrangements. Finally, make sure that's something that you'll feel comfortable about doing on the day after your big celebration.

Give candy and chocolate favors as dessert.

Save money by combining the favor you give your guests with the dessert you serve them. This will eliminate the cost of a dessert, either from the venue or from your caterer, giving you plenty of money to spend on other things. The favor could be any number of gourmet chocolates, candies, or other kinds of sweet treats.

Ask for your tiara and scepter to be Quinceañera gifts from your godparents.

This one should be handled with a lot of poise and class. It may also not be a good idea if your godparents are also some of your padrinos. But you can reduce the expenses going into your misa by requesting these ornamental items are gifts from your godparents. The gifts will even be that much more significant coming from them, too.