Quinceanera Invitations

What is a Quinceañera?

A quinceañera is a coming-of-age celebration in honor of a young Latina's fifteenth birthday. The day typically begins with a religious ceremony, followed by a reception. A quinceañera can be an involved and elaborate production, with many symbolic elements. The word quinceañera is also used to refer to the celebrant.

Invitation Designs

Quinceañera invitations are often highly formal, coming from the same printing companies as wedding invitations. Pre-made invitations tend to feature soft colors like pink, lilac, and periwinkle. Common images include young girls in flowing dresses, roses, and even fans, a hallmark of Spanish heritage. Invitations may also feature a baby picture, or a portrait of the quinceañera in her formal dress.

Purchasing Invitations

• The online or brick-and-mortar store where you are purchasing other quinceañera accessories should offer invitations.
• Local card shops, printing companies, and newspaper offices often carry books of sample invitations and will place an order for you.
• The Joyful Events Store offers a selection of 42 invitation designs suitable for a quinceañera celebration.
• With a little skill on the computer, you can make your own quinceañera invitations. InvitationPaper.com is just one of many online retailers offering blank invitations. You can also find paper suitable for invitations at most stores selling office paper.

Quinceañera Invitation Wording

Invitations can be worded in one of two ways. The parents can invite guests to honor their daughter, or the quinceañera can invite her guests to celebrate this special occasion with her.

If you're purchasing your invitations from a printer, they will usually offer suggested wording for the interior of your invitations. If you're creating your own, or you would just like more options, Invitations4Less.com and LCI Papers offer sample wording in English and Spanish.

English or Spanish?

The use of Spanish on quinceañera invitations can be a great way to honor your heritage. However, no matter how much you wish to celebrate your culture, an invitation is useless if the recipient is unable to read it. Let your guest list determine whether you print your invitations in English, Spanish, or both. You may also wish to print the essential information on the invitation in English and add a Spanish proverb or Bible verse as an accent.

Additional Items

When you're creating your quinceañera invitations, don't forget that you may also need to purchase or make the following additional items:

• If you are hosting a reception after the religious ceremony, you can include the reception in the invitation wording. You can also create a separate reception invitation, usually a small card that is inserted in the envelope. These cards should be designed to coordinate with your invitations.
• RSVP cards will help you plan your reception by getting an accurate guest count. This is another piece that should coordinate with your invitations.
• You may want to include directions to the church and/or reception with your quinceañera invitations. A quarter-sheet of paper is usually enough to create a small map.
• Place cards may be useful for your reception, whether you want to assign everyone a seat, or just reserve a few tables for family members.
• Thank-you notes allow you to show your appreciation after the event. You can purchase cards to coordinate with your invitations, or choose a basic design on white or beige paper. Add a pre-printed verse, or leave the inside blank for a personal message. This is another time when you will need to make the decision whether to use English or Spanish, but even those who have never set foot inside a Spanish class typically understand the word gracias, so it can present less of a balancing act.