Time is the key to planning a quincea

Girl Formal Dress"It was something planned four days in advance, and I think theonly nice thing was the cake," says Lorena Reyes, laughing aboutthe improvised celebration for her 15th birthday. "One of my auntsmade the dress in El Salvador, and when I saw it, I thought it wasa joke. But it was too late to get another one because the partywas the following day." Reyes, now 24, appeared before her quincea?era guests dressed in an "entirely covered, from neck to feet" gown,that had very little to do with her personality and looked nothinglike the princess dresses she now offers to her customers. At the small business set up in her home near Beechnut and DairyAshford, Reyes provides counseling to girls ready for their quincea?era , their formal presentation to their communities as young women,which is a tradition rooted in Latino culture. "I work with anybody who has a low budget," explains Reyes, whosays Lore Quincea?era's specialty is to use ingenuity whenresources are low. "If (the client) has $2,000, I try to stretch the amount in orderto make something pretty and elegant as well. Sometimes I lookthroughout Houston, shopping for the best and least expensive," shesays. "And if an aunt knows how to prepare tasty fajitas, we callher. If there is a friend who knows how to make a centerpiece, wecall her, too. And if (the girl) is a church goer, sometimes thechurch allows her to use the cafeteria for as low as $250." Reyes draws from her own experience, stating that she values thefamily's efforts, and that their major hurdle is not lack of moneybut lack of time. Hence, while arranging with girls details such asthe predominant color in the decoration or which music the DJshould play, Reyes reminds them that organizing a party against theclock is not a good idea, using her old dress as an example. "When done ahead of time, things can turn out prettier," she says. Reportedly, about 400,000 Hispanic girls celebrate their quincea?era every year, usually at a cost of $500 to $5,000. But the fanciestcan run more than $30,000. The rite is replete with traditions: from changing from low shoesinto high heels, to the delivery of the last doll. It is like awedding where only the groom is missing, industry experts explain. Lisa Chapa, a local consultant with 13 years of experience, advisesteenagers to start planning at least 12 to 18 months in advance.She recommends, for instance, looking over at least six receptionhalls before making a decision. "Not all of them offer the same (things)," she cautions. "Someoffer the linens, chairs, everything; others don't. Furthermore,sometimes the parents want crystal candlesticks, but the mostimportant aspect for the girl could be a majestic staircase in thereception hall. The biggest mistake is to choose the first hallthey see. My advice is to ask as many questions as you can." The Internet includes many sites and blogs offering information,from how to decorate the cake to which businesses sell tiaras andnicer accessories. On these sites, the girls also exchangeinformation about the most current songs for their arrival at thehall and ask advice on how to prepare their choreographies. Whileprofessionals assert that such sites are an adequate guide, theywarn that some can be overwhelming due to their excessiveinformation and disproportionately high charges that turn out toexceed the family budget. "Blogs offer an added feature because (the girls) talk to othergirls going through the same experience and compare notes, but aconsultant is going to review contracts and advocate for them,"says Claudia Gutierrez De Velasco, who operates a businessorganizing social events with her sister Verónica in theHeights. Gutierrez De Velasco says her business, A Day to Remember, chargesbetween $1,000 to $4,000 to organize a party, based on its size andcomplexity. She also recommends that girls and parents ask how manyevents the professional planner performs in a week before they signa contract. "Some (planners) perform between three and five events," she says."We devote ourselves to one event per day. We are available fromthe moment the girl wakes up, making sure the makeup artist arriveson time, that everything is fine at church and coordinate flowerdeliveries. During the reception, we make sure food is ready andthe decorations are done right. The relationship becomes afriendship to some extent." Chapa states that her company, LRC Wedding and Quincea?eraConsultants, charges a fixed rate of $1,450 to organize a quincea?era party.