Match Your Quinceanera Theme and Invitations

The exciting time has finally come to plan your Quinceanera and there are many things you'll have to consider and decide upon, but most importantly, the overall theme as well as what type of invitations to send out to all of your friends and family.

The invitations, which are usually mailed or given to guests six to eight weeks before the big day arrives, will set the entire tone and give everyone their very first glimpse of the upcoming celebration. You will definitely want to match them with the theme of the event, including all of the decorations, and let your imagination run completely wild when choosing just the right ones for your Quinceanera. Be creative with your selection and try to think "outside of the envelope."

For example, if your Quince will be taking place during the warmer summer months, you might want to consider having some type of tropical or beach theme with island style foods, bamboo, flowered leis, and tiki lights for decorations along with invitations featuring palm trees, tropical flowers, seashells, or maybe an ocean scene. And, a winter themed Quinceanera would need invitations with things like glittery snowflakes or a sparkling snowy scene.

If you have had your heart set on a fairy tale themed Quinceanera, you'll have plenty of elegant options to choose from when picking your invitations. Look for those with castles, crowns, tiaras, horses and carriages, glass slippers, or whatever you associate with being a princess.

Yet another good way to match your Quinceanera theme with your invitations is to use postage stamps that also tie into the party's theme. Ask someone at your local post office about their specialty stamps they have to see if any will complement the invitations you're using.

Unless you are having a patriotic theme, you'll probably want to skip the American flag or Liberty Bell stamps and instead opt for ones with flowers or those used for wedding invitations. You can also order custom made U.S. postage stamps with your picture printed on them for a really personalized touch.

Remember that you don't have to mail every single invitation either. They can also be hand delivered to local guests if you'll be using invitations that are oddly shaped or some that otherwise can't be mailed. And, if you're trying to keep the cost of everything down, consider omitting the R.S.V.P. cards and ask everyone to reply by phone instead.

If you are interested in having a traditional Quinceanera that truly showcases your Latin culture, there are many inventive ways of matching the invitations with the theme. Use bright, vibrant colors that are associated with your culture, such as those in the flag, or you can opt for one or two of your most favorite shades.

Of course, the exact theme of your Quinceanera can be just about anything you like, it doesn't necessarily have to be overly elaborate as some girls do prefer a more understated theme that revolves around one of their particular interests.

Here are some popular Quinceanera themes that you may want to consider:

- Butterflies

- Celestial

- Colors, one or two special colors with white or ivory accents

- Cultural

- Fairy tale, princess

- Floral

- Hollywood, movie stars

- Masquerade ball, Mardi Gras

- Patriotic, western

- Seasonal

If you just can't seem to decide on a certain theme, or if you have a few of your own ideas in mind but aren't able to find the invitations to match, you might want to make them yourself, which is a really great way to personalize the day even more. Using your own computer, a color printer, and either a pre-made kit or blank card stock and envelopes purchased separately, you can use your own imagination to create a set of unique invitations that you know will match the theme perfectly.

No matter what you ultimately decide upon, just be sure your Quinceanera invitations not only match the overall theme, but also reflect the formality of the party so that guests know what to expect in terms of things such as attire. Whatever you choose, just be sure to have a wonderful day with many great memories that will last a lifetime.