The Pardinos Thank You Dinner Is A Touch of Class

by: Michael Kabel

How can you thank your padrinos enough?

It's a sad fact of our modern times that the Quinceañera has become such an expensive event. While the quince anos celebration grows more popular with every passing year, unfortunately that means it also grows more expensive. The modern padrinos do a lot more - give a lot more - than they used to.

Doing something special for all your padrinos isn't just a nice touch to show your maturity - it's an important part of your Quinceañera etiquette. The thank you gesture doesn’t have to be elaborate, and in fact it can't be expensive. But for all they contribute, your padrinos deserve a little VIP treatment.

The padrino dinner

One great solution is to throw a dinner for your padrinos a week or so before the ceremony. Your parents can help you prepare the meal, you can host the event at your family's house, and the atmosphere will be warm without being formal.

Of course, you’ll want to make sure it's okay with your parents, and you might offer to buy the groceries from your own money. The meal can be something very simple, but it should include a full course - an entrée, vegetables, and a dessert. You might also see if your parents will buy a bottle of wine on your behalf.

Sending the invitations

Because the padrinos dinner is essentially an informal get-together, it's not important to send elaborate invitations. In fact, a telephone call or an email is probably all that's necessary.

The trick is that you should contact each padrino personally. Not your parents or someone else helping your plan your Quinceañera celebration, but you yourself. This creates the impression that the dinner is an expression of your appreciation - which of course it should be.

Serving an honest meal

As mentioned just above, the padrino dinner should be a full meal, either traditional from your heritage or something more modern.

Cooking the meal is the real potential trap, here. If you think you can prepare a meal for a half-dozen adults, by all means cook away! But on the other hand, if you're not sure then it's probably best to enlist the help of an adult (like a mother or grandmother) to help out.

Serving the meal

The padrino dinner is really your first chance to play hostess. Take care to serve all the guests something from each dish separately, taking your time. Don't worry about being nervous - they're on your side, remember!

One secret to share: no hostess ever listens to the words "I'm not that hungry."

During and after the meal is finished

Inevitably, conversation will turn to your plans for the Quinceañera celebration. Feel free to explain with confidence what you have planned. The decisions are yours to make, and you've considered them carefully.