money-saving ideas

When your quince is over, it’s natural to think, now what? Some girls feel a letdown after the excitement of the planning and the party ends. Relatives fly back home, friends no longer come over for dance rehearsals ... you’re not the center of attention anymore. But don’t get depressed! In two short years, you will get to celebrate another big, glamorous milestone: PROM! (or la graduación, in Spanish-speaking countries).

After all the money you spent on quince, you may be worried about how you’re going to afford prom. After all, the average prom-goer spends $790 on the night! There is good news: For prom, you can reuse some of your quinceañera items and apply the budget-saving tips you’ve learned from me.

Budget and Prioritize

• Just like you did for your quince, make a budget and start saving right away for the expenses you’ll definitely have: the ticket, the limo, the post-prom plans, the beauty products. But rethink how much you need to spend on fashion. Can you reinvent your quince dress and use the same accessories and shoes? This could save you major dinero!

Shop for a Quince Dress with Prom in Mind

• For prom, you’ll want to look stunning in a more Hollywood-glam way, rather than in the fairy-tale style suited for quinceañera (with poofy skirts). You could consider a “convertible” quince dress, which has a detachable skirt. You can wear the dress without the full skirt for your prom.

Take Your Quince Dress to a Talented Seamstress

• Maybe some adjustments can be made to your dress, like shortening the skirt, changing the sleeves, or attaching the bodice to a different skirt. The cost of revamping your quince dress could be less than buying a new prom dress, if you know the right seamstress.

Trade In Your Dress

• Visit donatemydress.org and look up dress donation drives in your area. Call them to ask if they’d let you trade in your quinceañera dress for a prom dress that someone has donated.

Did you or someone you know reuse a quince dress for prom? Tell us!

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Quinceañeras can be very expensive (mucho dinero!), but they don’t have to be if you plan carefully, well in advance, and stick to your budget. The most important step to take before you start planning your quinceañera is to ask your family, "HOW MUCH MONEY CAN WE SPEND?"

Partying on a budget requires you to be very creative, that you have as many padrinos and madrinas involved as possible, and that you sacrifice some luxuries, such as an elaborate cake, a fancy beverage selection, or professionally printed invitations. You might also need to have a madrina of hair and makeup — a fashionable aunt or big sister — who can style you, instead of a professional at the salon.

Below, I’ll show you how you can have a quinceañera for 50 guests on a $2,500 budget. Feel free to remove the items that you can live without, and invest more in those that are most important to you.

Dress: $250
Accessories: $40
Hair & Makeup: $50
Venue Rental & Equipment Rental: $350
Ceremony Fees: $60
Flowers & Decorations: $150
Food & Beverages: $500 ($10 per person)
Cake: $150
Music: $150
Photography & Videography: $300
Invitations: $100
Limo: $250
Favors: $100

Remember that idea I gave you with the padrinos of the cake, where everyone bakes a small one? Well, that’s the perfect example for saving — in small pieces. Put aside little amounts of money throughout the year, and before you know it, it will add up to your goal!

What do you think — could you manage on a $2,500 budget?

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THE CAKE

• Here’s a dessert setup that allows for a large number of padrinos: Order a small but well-decorated cake that will stand out as a centerpiece on the dessert table. Place it on a cake stand for extra attention. Then, ask your friends and relatives to bake five to 10 smaller cakes in different shapes and flavors. Maybe the cakes will have sentimental value. For me, those special desserts would have been tres leches cake or the unforgettable flan that my tía Aida makes. When the time comes to cut and serve, each padrino can explain his or her choice of cake.
• Cupcakes are always fun. See my photo for inspiration!
• Also, check out this easy cake recipe on Mis Quince, from the new Pink Princess Cookbook.

THE FOOD

In my opinion, hors d'oeuvres are less expensive than a full meal or a sit-down dinner, especially if served buffet style. You save money because there is no need for a waiter. Also, people tend to eat more when the food is brought to them, so by going buffet-style, you won’t have to order as much.

DECORATIONS

• Decorate with flowers that are in season at the time of your party — they’ll be cheaper. For example, on the southwest coast of the U.S., calla lilies — a flower made famous in Mexican paintings — are always in season, so they’re pretty affordable. But on the East Coast, this gorgeous flower doesn’t grow naturally and can be very expensive.
• If you don’t like the live flowers available, opt for silk flowers. I love them mixed in with fresh greens — such as fern, ivy, or baby’s breath — and tied together with ribbon. It’s hard to tell they’re not real.
• Decorate with balloons. They are even cheaper than flowers. You can add color to tables by tying balloons to the back of chairs. You can also tie balloon bouquets to colorful shopping bags filled with tissue paper, and use them as centerpieces. Add a surprise gift inside the bag arrangements, and you can turn it into a prize for your guests.
• If you don’t use flowers or balloons, another option is chair covers, which are easy to make with color fabrics and a glue gun. Use giant bows made out of chiffon, tulle, wide ribbon, or a combination of these. Save extra and avoid overdoing it by putting chair decorations on every other chair.

Which other moneysaving tricks have you seen at quinceañeras? I’m always looking for new ideas to share on my blog. Comment below!

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Don't be discouraged by the supersized birthday parties you see on TV. A quinceañera doesn't have to cost a fortune to be a blast. There are many money-saving tips you can use. I'll share my favorites, and then I want to hear yours!

1. Open a registry and ask padrinos and madrinas to sponsor certain things, like the dress, shoes, accessories, cake, limo, flowers, sound system - anything! The padrinos and madrinas can be relatives or family friends. They are usually flattered and proud to participate. Write personal notes that say "I would be honored if you would be my padrino and madrina..."

2. Hold the party at home or in a public place, such as at a beach, park, or historical site, which usually can be rented for a minimal fee.

3. Play your own music. Start making a list of your favorite songs now (check out Mis Quince's playlist here) and burn CDs closer to your big day. Rent some speakers and equipment, if needed. At the party, hit the play button and get dancing!

4. Favors might not seem expensive, but when you add them all up, they can be. Here's an idea: Since you've already made a special CD, why not burn copies and give them to your court? Make custom labels and cases with your name and quince date. If you're feeling crafty, get your relatives together to make your own favors. (I love to be crafty for quinces! See me with my glue gun decorating a guest book? We used ribbon and silk flowers that matched the party theme.)

What money-saving tips do you have?

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