Sweet 16s, like Quinceaneras, celebrate a young lady’s transition from childhood to womanhood. The milestone symbolizes the coming of age in North America and Canada. The celebration can range from at-home parties to large affairs focusing on God, family, friends, traditions, food, and music.
I had the honor of coordinating Natalie’s sweet 16, and it was a definite reminder of why I should have kept up with learning Spanish. Nevertheless, the event was a great success!
The 250 guest event was a nice extravagant affair with traditions and customs which began with a brunch before mass at the family’s church. The party officially started when the sweet 16 girl made her entrance and performed several dances with her six guy court. The girl’s mom placed a tiara on the guest of honor’s head to declare her a princess status. The girl’s father proceeded with the “Changing of the Shoes,” ceremony by replacing her flats with high heels. For this quinceanera, the family opted not to include the “Lighting of the Candles.”
The event was set in the elegantly decorated Princess Manor venue and featured a DJ and the Mariachi band who sang Happy Birthday and entertained the guests. The sweet 16 girl, who wore a ball gown and changed into several outfits for her performances, was presented with the last doll by her brother. The speeches and toast were emotional moments, and I promise I wasn’t crying–it was allergies.
No matter how you and your teen choose to celebrate this rite of passage, be unique by experimenting with customs and traditions to make the celebration a lasting memory.
What traditions do you uphold during a Quinceneara celebration?
