Why Latino Families Splurge on Quinceañeras

Latina below 15 years old dream of their own kind of quinceañera, a custom that began centuries ago to mark the rite of passage from a young girl into womanhood. In its simplest sense, the fiesta de quince años or quinceañera is a celebration of a girl's 15th birthday. Even years after the celebration, this day remains one of the most unforgettable for many Latinas.

For some families and their daughters, quinceañeras deserve a major blowout, according to an article by NBC News.

 "For me, it was definitely worth the fuss", said Vivi Ali Fortuño, 20, San Juan, Puerto Rico native as she recalled her big party where she had quite the grand entrance. "I mean, I came down from the ceiling on a swing. It was kind of dramatic."

But most of all, the celebration was about being surrounded by the people who love and support her.

"It was really, really special having all my family together. The dance in front of everyone... the waltz and my entrance," she said.

According to her mom, when Fortuño celebrated her quinceañera, she wore a white dress which is a Puerto Rican tradition. "In Puerto Rico, we wear four white gowns, one for baptism, confirmation, quinceañera, and on your wedding day. Her quinceañera was a big production, with 200 guests and a band...it was a formal introduction to society. It was very sentimental and emotional," her mom explained.

The celebration comes different take depending on which culture it is celebrated. It include a church blessing, having 14 male and female attendants to represent the previous 14 years of life, receiving a gift from your godparents and dancing the first dance with your father. Some girls wear long fancy dresses and tiaras, others don elegant cocktail dresses.

Quinceañeras, like the Jewish Bat Mitzvah, can be very lavish which highlights live music, a large feast and many guests. The cost of these parties varies tremendously from one celebrant to another. Some parents consider it a point of pride and a desire to keep the traditions alive while there are some who spare no expense.

"It is seen as a rite of passage in so many cultures," says Maggie Rodriguez, an event planner in Miami, Florida. For ten years, she has helped orchestrate many quinceañera through her company, Inspired Events. "I have done some parties for $15,000 and some for $60,000," says Rodriguez. The themes her clients usually choose are the masquerade ball and Eiffel Tower-themed party.

With the rise of Latinos in the US, this translates quinceañeras into a lucrative business that benefits many companies- from event planners to caterers to photographers to stylists and more.

Margarita Machado-Casas even brought her daughter Natassia from their hometown of San Antonio, Texas to Los Angeles to have her dress made by Melania Cuadra, a seamstress that had worked with her grandmother while growing up in Nicaragua. Natassia's quinceañera was an extravagant three-day celebration held in Cancún, Mexico and attended by 42 friends and family members. It included a blessing near a "zenote," a natural spring well, a waltz with her father and grandparents and mariachis.

"We decided to take the time to enjoy the moment," says Margarita who hired a travel agent to deal with all the details and the stress. "Looking back, it was the best decision of my life," says Machado-Casas.

While many second and third generation Hispanic girls opt for big celebrations, there are some who choose to tone down to small but intimate events to mark the occasion.

"There is a real broad spectrum, and it has changed with the times", said Rodriguez, noting that she is thankful for helping them celebrate their quinceañera. "You remember how special it was, and what it meant to you," she added.