Your daughter is turning 15 soon and now you have to plan one of the biggest events of her life while fighting back tears of nostalgia?! That’s a big ask for a parent. Though, we are confident that with the right guidance, you will create a celebration she will remember forever.  

Planning a Quinceañera involves many details and careful coordination. To help you stay on track, we came up with a list of 15 essential steps to planning the birthday party of a lifetime! Keep reading for 15 must-do’s when planning a ‘quince’.

A Checklist for Success

1. Set a Budget— Determining your quinceañera budget must be the first step as it affects everything from your party venue selection to the dress you purchase. 

2. Create a Guest List— It may feel early. However, making a detailed guest list helps with planning and budgeting.

3. Consider Ideal Dates—Select a few dates that could work for the quinceañera. Take into account  holidays, school events, and family availability to ensure maximum attendance. 

4. Notify the Padrinos— Padrinos (aka God Parents) play an important role in a quince celebration as they are considered sponsors who take part in the church ceremony. Be sure to communicate with them about important dates for preparation and planning. 

5. Notify the Church— In a Quinceañera, the celebration often begins with a religious ceremony, Misa de Acción de Gracias, held in a Catholic church. Their availability will affect your celebration date and preparations.

6. Book the Venue—Being flexible on a date is the way to ensure you lock-in your desired venue which accommodates your guest list, minds the budget, works with the church, and fits your theme. We recommend booking at least 1 year in advance. 

7. Pick a Theme—Decide on a theme and/or color scheme to guide your design choices and planned vendors. The photos we’re showcasing within this blog are from a fairytale inspired quince! 

8. Select the Court— The Corte de Honor is composed of the quinceañera’s closest friends and relatives. When asking them to make the commitment, be sure to tell them that they will need to dedicate time leading up to the event to learn the ceremony processional and performance choreography. 

9. Hire a Photographer and Videographer— These event vendors often get booked quickly! 

10. Lock-in a DJ and Emcee— These are also vendors who get booked quickly, so be sure you select someone you trust to make your celebration memorable.

11. Send out invites— We recommend physical invitations be mailed to your guest list at least 2 months in advance! 

12. Plan the design and details— This is the fun part! (Well, for us anyway!) Decorations, florals, seating arrangements, on-theme details, the dinner menu, cake and/or desserts, surprises for the quinceañera, party favors, and more! 

13. Book additional vendors— Research and hire event vendors to make your daughter’s quince dreams come true. We recommend finding vendors as soon as possible to ensure you get your desired design and guest experience. 

14. Plan the Glam— Dress shopping is a memory both you and your quinceañera will remember forever. Ramp up the excitement by taking her to shop for a dress and accessories. Then, book hair and makeup artists for the celebration day. 

15. Minimize stress and enjoy— Preparations for a quince can create a lot of pressure. We recommend keeping a singular notebook for all things quince, organizing a performance and mass practice schedule for the court, focusing on clear communication with everyone involved, and remembering that this is a once in a lifetime experience for your family! 

We have been honored to be a part of many Quiceañeras and know just how much a parent’s love and devotion goes into planning them. Every young lady we celebrate deserves to feel like she is living a quince fairytale as RCE birthday girl, Grecia, did! 

Need help planning a Quinceañera? Our team of Southern California event planners and coordinators is ready to guide you! Get started by booking a consultation call. 

Click here for the featured event’s vendor credits.