Hosting a Quinceañera
Updated February 10, 2026
Hosting Guides By Gina Holzer
A Quinceañera is a very special time in a young girl’s life. In the Hispanic community it is that unique moment when a girl becomes a woman. So many details go into this event. I am providing a guide to help you with your planning journey to produce the most wonderful experience for this big occasion.
Picking a venue is a good place to start. You will most likely need a large event center or something similar. Booking far in advance is highly recommended.
Choosing a theme is an important decision. The guest of honor will likely be involved in making this choice. Some ideas to consider include enchanted forest or garden, princess or fairytale, a masquerade ball, winter wonderland, or butterfly garden.
Once you have done this make a guest list and send out invitations. These will need to be very detailed with party information to include the theme. The invitations need to be sent 6-8 weeks in advance for proper etiquette.
Entertainment is a big part of this event. Hiring a DJ or a live band is common for this occasion. Be sure to reserve them months in advance as it can be difficult to find one with short notice. Some other professionals to consider hiring are a photographer/videographer to capture all the excitement and fun. In addition, a choreographer may be needed for any dance routines that the guest of honor wants to perform. Some additional options to make your event enhanced would be a photo booth with props, dry ice for the dance floor and a slide show with pictures of the guest of honor starting from babyhood.
In addition to the entertainment, another very important item is the food! Most people will have this catered in unless you have a very large family that is willing to help cook. The event center you have rented may provide tableware or linens at a cost, but if not then you will need to provide tablecloths, plates, napkins, and cutlery.
Some traditions that you may want to implement are the “changing of the shoes” when your guest of honor will change from flats to heels symbolizing the shift from being a girl into becoming a woman. Other traditions to consider are “the last doll” and the presentation of a rosary and a bible during the celebration, both given by either the parents or godparents. Other roles to coordinate are the damas and the chambelanes as well as their outfits to match the theme. The attire of the guest of honor is almost a very formal dress and in addition will be wearing a tiara.The last doll usually will match this.
On the day of the event, it is helpful to have an emergency kit available with safety pins, a sewing kit, hairspray, deodorant, stain remover and snacks.
There is so much that goes into this wonderful occasion, and I hope this guide has helped. Feliz Quinceanera! Enjoy yourself!!
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