Quinceaneras: Invitations 101

Generating a buzz about your child’s Quinceanera starts with sending out amazing invitations. The invitation reflects the tone of the Quinceanera, whether it’s country-club formal, or a fun, kids-only fete. Quinceanera invites also feature the basics -- who, what, when, where, and why -- and oftentimes includes important information like a schedule of events, the names of those in the court, and the padrinos (or sponsors). Party Pointer: For efficiency and cost effectiveness, strive to order all your stationery from the same place and, ideally, at the same time.

INVITATIONS
Traditional: There is no rule of thumb when it comes to the look of your child’s Quinceanera invitations. For a basic invitation, you can go by the book -- literally. This means picking a style from sample books like Carlson Craft invitation albums or Stylart. Check out some styles at Tildeco.com.
The Twist: Teens are steering away from the standard invitation and getting personal with pictures and portraits. Most quinces choose to do a photo shoot either in their Quinceanera dress or in everyday attire. Because these cards are quite a production, Melissa Acevedo of Quince Anos magazine and DebutPlanner.com, suggests personalizing a larger card (say, five-by-seven inches) for family members with all the photos and pertinent information. Then for your child’s friends, a slightly smaller invitation with one image will do.
What to Write: Beyond the basics (who, what, when, where, and why) there’s lots of information that should be included on a Quinceanera invitation.

You’ll definitely want to mention anyone that has made a contribution to the day. Padrinos (usually a godparent, or the person presenting the bible, the last doll, a ring, or donating to the church), are recognized, as are the sponsors, so that guests know who was involved from a financial standpoint. Oftentimes there are several sponsors.

The name of the girl’s escort and the names of those in her court should also be included on the invitation. The court of honor usually consists of 14 girls (damas) and boys (chambelanes).

Lastly, a general thank-you from the quince is appropriate. This can be a message in the form of a poem or a prayer, and may be accompanied by a note dedicated to the memory of someone close who has passed away.

When to Order/Send: Invitation orders should be placed three to four months before the party date. The sooner you order them, the more time you’ll have to proof them, make any changes, and address the outer envelopes (a calligrapher, for example, requires up to two weeks to address 100 invitations). The most common time to send out invites is six weeks before the Quinceanera, while eight weeks is ideal (10 weeks for guests from abroad).

REPLY CARDS
Traditional: Reply cards often include a box for each guest to check, letting the host or hostess know how many people will attend the Quinceanera. A date for the return of the reply card is essential.
The Twist: Why not save a tree and have guests reply via phone? Just include “RSVP to [your phone number],” on the invites and you’re done. Because the Quinceanera is such a community-oriented event, the phone call RSVP is a great time to ask close family members to contribute, and not just in a financial way, but in helping to plan. For instance you may want to ask the quince’s aunt to sponsor her dress, or her uncle to provide the music, whether that involves hiring a DJ or band.
2007 Trend Alert: Personalizing your child’s stamps will make a lasting impression. Try a site like PhotoStamps.com and use a photograph, monogram, or a logo in the same color as the invitation for postage that will wow your guests.

THANK-YOU CARDS
Traditional: These notes are used to thank guests for their gifts and presence at your child’s Quinceanera and usually feature your child’s monogram. This daunting task is a by hand necessity.
The Twist: Our favorite idea is to send a picture card or postcard featuring a fun photo of your child from the Quinceanera. Check out photo websites such as Shutterfly.com or KodakGallery.com for more photo ideas.
When to Send: Because most guests will give presents upon arriving to the affair, thank-yous should be sent out within a month.

 

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