quinceanera stories

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Los quince años were a tough age for me because I used to fight a lot with my mom. Eventually, I grew really close to her — it just took a lot of learning along the way. If I could go back in time and tell my 15-year-old self 15 important things, I’d say this:

1. We cannot accomplish anything by ourselves. We all need each other. Being part of a team is very rewarding. Your family is your team.
2. Make sure you do something you LOVE every day. Otherwise, you’ll get bored.
3. Don’t miss out on the gifts of nature. Do stop and smell the roses, listen to the birds, make friends with the butterflies, sing and dance.
4. Laugh at yourself from time to time. If others laugh at you, don’t fret — it happens to all of us. Remember those famous words from Eleanor Roosevelt: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
5. Don’t be afraid to try something new. There is so much to be discovered in life as long as you are not harming yourself (like smoking — which gives you yellow teeth, bad breath, wrinkly skin ... yuck!) or doing anything illegal.

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I love everything about quinceañeras. I believe a lot of good can come out of a family getting together to celebrate a girl’s transformation into adulthood. This week, I wanted to share 15 other reasons why quinces are so special! Here’s what I love about them...

1. I love that 15 means you are ready to learn how to read a bill, write a check, make arroz con frijoles — all of those grown-up responsibilities.


2. I love when you wear Chuck Taylors for the changing-of-the-shoe ceremony, like the girl in this picture! (We're on the KTLA morning show here.)
   


3. I love when you dress your perrito in a tuxedo and include him in la fiesta (if he is well behaved!).


4. I love when you donate your dress to charity for other chicas who cannot afford to have a quinceañera.


5. I love when you find creative ways to make a grand entrance. You can find a local antique car collectors’ club and ask if they would drive you and your court to the party. They might do it for free or for a minimal fee. You might even get the fire department to give you a ride in their red engine, if you ask!


6. I love when you give your last doll to your mom or your little sister, instead of receiving it.


7. I love when you set up a wishing well at the entrance of the reception, with a note pad where guests can write you a message


8. I love when your mom and dad get to tell a story about when they were 15, or when they dance to their favorite songs from way back then.

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If you are a princesa, then your papá must be "King Dad." It's very exciting to get dressed up for an evening of celebration, especially when everyone’s celebrating YOU. But even more exciting is to know that on this night when you become a princess, you get to have your first dance with the KING.

Instead of your dad giving away your hand in marriage, he’ll be holding on tight and you’ll be celebrating a father-daughter bond. How precious is that? Your relationship will last for the rest of your life and make you stronger.

I will never forget my daddy’s big, rough hand resting on the top of my head as he told me to be strong, and reminded me that girls can be anything they want to be. (That's him and I dancing, when I was a teen.) “I’ll always be behind you,” he said. To this day, I still feel like he’s watching over me and I am never alone.

Dads are there for us. They protect us and support us in many ways. It’s a privilege to have a quinceañera, and your dad is probably paying for most of it. But it’s also a privilege for your dad to have the first dance with you, the princess.

In quinceañera planning, moms have so much involvement, it’s easy to forget your dad. Don’t let this happen! Here are some tips to make him feel special:

• Choose a unique tuxedo for your dad, different from the rest of the court.
• Have a ceremony in which you pin a corsage that matches your bouquet on his lapel.
• Present him with a handmade gift made as a friendship promise.
• Write him a poem or dedicate a song.
• Pick a song other than the waltz for the special dance with your dad.

If by chance your dad cannot be with you, make a special invitation to your abuelo, tío, and padrino to honor you with the first dance and to stand with you when you acknowledge your dad, wherever he is. It’s a very mature thing to do, and everyone will be so proud!

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One quinceañera that was particularly special to me — one I'll never forget — was my friend Kary Ledesma's quince in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where I grew up. Her family was very wealthy. Her quince was a 500-guest, black-tie affair at her family's summer home in the countryside.

I was 14 and I think this was the first time that I realized how IMPORTANT a quinceañera is. Kary had a full court and a huge cake. I remember how incredibly beautiful she looked in her white ball gown, with her hair pulled up. She looked just like a princess or a bride in a dream.

Her amazingly handsome and tall chambelán looked like a prince out of a storybook. I was very impressed; can you tell? When they danced the waltz they looked like royalty. There were flowers everywhere. Even her name was spelled out in roses that floated in the swimming pool.

I will never forget how Kary's dad serenaded her with a song that he wrote for her, while she sat on a thronelike chair. Everyone was very emotional. It was very inspiring to me, but I knew that mine would have to be simpler. My mom just did not have the means to throw a big party for me because of our financial situation. With the help of my godmother, I still had a great party and felt like a princess. After all, it's not about how much the quince costs, but about the love that goes into putting it all together.

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Hola, chicas! I'm Isabella Wall. Over the years, I earned the nickname "fairy godmother of quinceañeras." But you can call me "tia Isa." I'm going to blog on Mis Quince every week. I have lots to tell you about quinceañeras, but you should know this blog is all about YOU. Ask me questions, share your quince ideas and experiences, and tell the world how amazing it is to be 15.

Today I have a message for those girls dreaming and wishing to have a quinceañera. It is a magical moment in which you get to be a real princess. A moment to feel everything about you is good and everyone loves you JUST THE WAY YOU ARE. OK, it sounds cheesy. But trust me, I know it’s true from personal experience.

I had plenty of growing pains. I grew up in the Dominican Republic. I started modeling and acting when I was 12. By the time I was 15, I was an actress, model, beauty queen, and a misunderstood teenager. No one understood the peer pressure I faced. There were prettier girls whose parents provided them with new things every year. I didn’t have that. But I did have a fabulous quinceañera. Still, 15 was a difficult age for me. I was trying to prove that I wasn’t a child anymore – Ah! If only my mom had let me stay at every party until the very end. Instead, she would drive me there and wait in the car for two or three hours. Then, she would walk in and find me! I am so glad that when I had my quinceañera, the party lasted until the wee hours. This family affair was a turning point for me. I understood how much I was loved and appreciated. I wanted to remember that feeling for the rest of my life.

Today, I am a proud modern day Latina-Americana. I have a wonderful husband, Marty. When you walk though the door of my house, the first thing you see is the Dominican flag proudly displayed. I believe that you must understand where you came from to know where you need to go.

Tell me, princesses, what quinceañera dreams can I help you make come true?

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