10 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Your Quince
10 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Your Quince
1. Not Managing Costs
Underestimating the cost of a Quinceañera in your specific state, can be one of the biggest mistakes you can make. We encourage you to start planning your Quinceañera with a clear vision of what you want and a realistic budget, so your expectations don’t lead to financial stress. Many families overspend by not carefully tracking expenses for the venue, dress, catering, decorations, and entertainment. Create a detailed budget early and stick to it, allowing some flexibility for unexpected costs.
2. Waiting Too Long to Start Planning
A quinceañera requires significant preparation, typically needing 12 months of planning, or even more if your Quinceañera is going to be very elaborate. The choreography alone with a large court of honor can take months of practice. Waiting until a few months before the event can limit venue availability, increase costs, and create unnecessary stress. Start planning early to secure the best vendors, venues, and have ample time for dress fittings and coordination.
3. Not reserving, understanding or recording important deadlines far enough in advance
Find out how far in advance you should take care of these professional services and details:
- Venue & Church: If you want your daughters Quince to be on her birthday, or near it, don’t wait and risk your church or quince venue you want getting booked.
- Decorations: Choosing a specific theme and finding or making decorations to fit that theme- will you have time to find all of the decor you want?
- Catering: (including food tasting, choosing a caterer, payments, delivery, servers, clean up)
- The Dress: – be sure to leave enough time for the dress to arrive after ordering, and for alterations
- Court attire for Waltz and Surprise Dance: this can take time for find coordinating outfits with the quince dress, delivery, and any alterations
- Entertainment: Reserving these entertainers in time – Emcee, Mariachi’s, Bands, DJ, Robots
- Choreographer: Remember you’re going to be coordinating several teenager’s schedules for dance practices, so the sooner you book a conveniently located choreographer, the better.
- Items for her traditions: Doll, bear, heels, high tops, jewelry, etc.
4. Not Estimating a Realistic Guest Count
Your guest list impacts almost every aspect of the quinceañera, from venue size to catering costs. Avoid the mistake of being too inclusive or too restrictive. Consider your budget, venue capacity, and family dynamics when creating your list. Remember that each additional guest increases your overall expenses. Most venues have a capacity limit, and if “uninvited guests” just show up, this could cause a lot of stress if there isn’t enough food or enough seating.
5. Choosing inexperienced Vendors simply based on price
Choosing vendors solely based on price can be a costly mistake. Research potential vendors thoroughly, read reviews, ask for recommendations, and check their portfolios. Ensure they have experience with quinceañeras and can deliver the quality and style you desire. Personal recommendations and thorough vetting are crucial. Choosing a Photography and Videography company who isn’t very experienced, just to save money, is something we have seen be a big regret of parents.
Your quinceañera memories are precious, so don’t compromise on documentation. Avoid the mistake of hiring an inexperienced or cheap photographer/videographer. We suggest you ask to see several of their finished videos of venues that are similar to the one you chose. Different lighting sources inside your venue can dramatically affect the quality of the photos and videos. If a videographer over compensates with bright, bright light, it can really have a negative impact on the photos. Invest in professionals who can capture the emotion and details of your special day in very high quality.
We proudly recommend INFINITUS Photo | Video to all of our clients at our Denver Quinceañera venue, but INFINITUS will also travel anywhere.
6. Ignoring Dress Logistics
The quinceañera dress is a centerpiece of the celebration, but many make mistakes in selection and preparation. Don’t wait until the last minute to choose your dress, and factor in alterations, accessories, and comfort for your daughter. Consider the venue, planned activities, and her personal style when selecting the perfect dress. Dress and Attire Mishaps
- Waiting too long to choose and order the quinceañera’s dress can result in limited sizes or styles.
- Not allowing enough time for alterations and fittings can cause unnecessary stress.
- Overlooking comfort and practicality when selecting the dress and shoes.
- Not practicing with her crinoline on during choreography practice. A crinoline /ˈkrɪn. əl. ɪn/ is a stiff or structured petticoat designed to hold out a quince dress; also referred to as a “hoop” skirt.
- Check out the beautiful dresses at TBC Occasions
7. Choosing a band vs. a DJ – is it what your daughter really wants?
Our experience has shown us that the majority of the quince girls want to dance to the DJ’s music with all of their friends, much more than they do to a band. Finding a good balance between a band and a DJ helps to please all of her guests. Many bands will require you to pay for a minimum of 5 hours; however, many Quinceanera timelines don’t allow for a full 5 hours of dancing time. It’s best to be realistic and realize that you may have to pay for 5 hours with the band, but only have 4 hours of dancing time. The reason is if your venue ends at midnight, and you have dinner from 5pm – 7pm, and then include traditions and dance performances, toasts and cake, the actual time for dancing is typically 3 1/2 – 4 hours. Another consideration is to be sure you create a diverse playlist that appeals to different age groups or else this can hinder your guests from dancing.
Quinceañera Band
Quinceañera DJ
8. Choosing overcomplicated Choreography
While traditional dances are a beautiful part of a quinceañera, overly complex choreography can lead to stress and embarrassment. Choose dance routines that the quince girl and her court are comfortable performing. Practice well in advance, but don’t make the routines so complicated that they become a source of anxiety. Always have the quince girl practice with her crown on, and also her crinoline and/or hoop. We have been hosting and creating Quinceanera’s near Denver, CO at our venue for 2o years, and we have seen many crowns get bumped off, crinolines get stepped one, and an occasional quince fall due to her main chambelan stepping on her dress.
9. Neglecting Cultural and Family Traditions
A quinceañera is deeply rooted in cultural significance. Avoid the mistake of completely modernizing the event at the expense of meaningful traditions. Balance contemporary elements with respected cultural practices that honor your heritage and family expectations. Remember this celebration is for the entire family, and grandparents, aunts and uncles are typically a big part of the celebration.
10. Not Managing Your Own Personal Stress
- Don’t become overwhelmed by trying to create a “perfect” event.
- Don’t forget to delegate tasks so you’re not trying to manage everything alone.
- Don’t forget to enjoy the process and the significance of the milestone celebration.
- Don’t forget to involve your Daughter in all of the fun planning that directly affects her and her friends, cousins or family members.
Some moms take complete control of the planning, leaving their daughter feeling disconnected from her own celebration. The quinceañera is a milestone that should reflect your daughter’s personality, preferences, and dreams. While details matter, being too controlling can create tension and take the joy out of planning. Allow room for spontaneity and your daughter’s input.
Forgetting to Enjoy the Process With all the stress of planning, some moms forget this is a once-in-a-lifetime moment to bond with their daughter and create lasting memories.
Pro Tips for Planning Your Quinceañera:
- Start planning at least 9 – 16 months in advance, especially if you want her quince on her actual birthday
- Hire a professional choreography company if you have a large court; you won’t regret this.
- Create a detailed checklist and timeline
- Communicate openly with family and vendors
- Consider hiring a professional quinceañera planner or choosing an all-inclusive quinceañera venue
- Remember that the day is about celebrating your daughter’s transition to adulthood, not achieving perfection.
- Don’t be late to your appointments with your venues and professional vendors. You have to help those who are there to help you. Showing up late or forgetting appointments can lead to cancelation fees and could prevent you from getting new appointment times during peak months, which all adds to your stress.
- Not creating a comprehensive checklist or timeline for planning can lead to last-minute scrambles and overlooked details.
- Failing to send invitations with sufficient notice can affect guest attendance.
- Don’t ignore Guest Experience Considerations – leaving 2 hours for dinnertime just to accommodate guests who show up late, creates a drawn out celebration; instead, list the dinner time on your invitations and keep the celebration and timeline moving. Poor coordination of the event flow and transitions between different parts of the celebration is what makes for a boring event.
- Be sure to provide clear information about dress code, gift expectations, or event details.
- Be sure to inform the court of honor (chambelanes and damas) about the timeline and where they will be sitting, conducting entrances, etc.
- Don’t underestimate the time needed for choreography and practice.
Summary
By being aware of these 10 mistakes to avoid when planning your Quince, you will…
help ensure a smooth, memorable, and joyous quinceañera for your daughter that reflects her personality and style. Her quinceañera will then create lasting memories that reflect on the significance of this special moment, so take time to connect with family and friends, and appreciate the milestone you’re all celebrating.
Written by Bella Sera Event Center owner – Elisabeth Montoya
We’ve thoroughly enjoyed designing and celebrating Quinceanera’s for over 20 years at our Quinceanera venue near Denver, CO. We’d love to help you plan a magical Quinceanera celebration for your daughter and your family too.
We invite you to Schedule a Tour with us so we can get to learn more about your vision and help answer as many questions as you have about how to plan this once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
Learn more about our Quinceanera’s and download our brochure
Schedule a tour with us – here
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