The fiesta de quince años, or quinceañera, is a rite of passage in Latin American culture for 15-year-old girls, referred to as quinceañeras. The event is considered one of the most important in a woman’s life, where they experience song and dance in their honor. As the chambelan, making sure you fit the bill can be stressful. After all, the quinceañera is the person who you will celebrate with and escort into womanhood. No one is expecting you to make this decision lightly. To help ease the process, here are a few tips for becoming the perfect chambelan.
Consider Your Relationship With the Quinceañera
You’ll spend most of the event with the quinceañera, so it’s your job to make them as comfortable as possible. Many girls choose their fathers or brothers to be their chambelan. If they can’t make that work, they may choose a close friend, cousin, or uncle. Being chosen is an honor, so don’t take it lightly!
Plan Ahead
As a chambelan, you and the rest of the corte de honor (court of honor) will be responsible for planning the event, including rentals, dinner, dresses, and your quinceañera suit. You will also plan the surprise dance, rent the venue, and help the quinceañera prepare for her special evening by attending the rehearsal.
Make sure to make the event as unproblematic as possible. To make sure things run smoothly, start planning months in advance and make sure everything is taken care of a week prior at the latest. The quinceañera obviously can’t plan all this by herself—she is only 15—but you can get help from her father and other family members. Still, her input is necessary since this is her special day. Don’t leave her out of decisions, but don’t make her do the heavy lifting. That’s your job!
Cover the Expenses
If you’re a chambelan for hire, this point won’t apply to you. Instead of paying out of pocket, the company you work for will pay for any expenses. However, if you’re planning the event, you’re also responsible for paying for it. You can get help from the quinceañera’s father or other family members. Make this a team effort, and your date will appreciate it.
In short, these are just a few tips on how to become the perfect chambelan for your date. The process doesn’t need to be as stressful as you think. By keeping these tips in mind, you’ll be able to make the quinceañera’s day memorable.