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What is a Quinceañera?

A Quinceañera, the Hispanic equivalent of the American Sweet 16, is the day young girls dream of. It is the day they turn 15 and get to wear a gorgeous ball gown and have best friends join them for a party to remember.

But what exactly is a quinceañera and what does it entail?

A quinceañera is a celebration that marks the transition of a young girl into womanhood. This coming of age celebration is seen in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Central America, and South America and ranges in traditions and ceremonies. There are too many variations to count, but here are the basics of this big occasion:

© Depositphotos.com/LondonDeposit

The Planning
Like a wedding, the quinceañera–the birthday girl–decides the type of party she would like. Does she want a lavish, wedding-esque party or would she prefer a vacation with friends? Ultimately, parents and family members help make a young girl’s dreams come true on this important day.

If she chooses a party, then there are a couple of things she must decide on. She chooses a color scheme, her “court,” and events. She also decides, with her parents, on the guest list, the food, if there will be a religious ceremony, the party favors, the decorations, and so on.

The best way to describe it is a princess’ wedding to herself.

The Details
Since this event is very family oriented, the quinceañera’s parents and godparents play a major role, but her friends get to join in on the fun as well.

A quinceañera’s court consists of chambelanes (like groomsmen) and damas (like bridesmaids). They are usually made up of close friends, siblings, and cousins. They are used to introduce the quinceañera to the guests. She also chooses a chambelan de honor or escort of honor who serves as her “date”– usually a boyfriend or brother.

To continue the princess theme, the birthday girl chooses a dress in her colors with a matching tiara.

© Depositphotos.com/BST2012

The Party
The celebration begins at the church where the quinceañera receives a blessing that will follow her through her transition into adulthood. She then goes with her court to take pictures while the guests head to the party venue for the meal.

When she arrives at the venue, her court enters and begins to dance, showing off their outfits. She is then escorted by her chambelan de honor and dances with her chambelanes. A toast is given by her parents, with words of wisdom and usually tears all around.

She then shares a special moment with her father. A common cinderella-style tradition is of a father changing his daughter’s flats into heels to signify her transformation into a young lady.

They have a father-daughter dance and then she dances with family members.

Like a Sweet 16, a Quinceañera employs many traditions to make a young girl’s birthday very special. The party may not last very long, but the memories will last a lifetime.

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Video Game Theme Party Favors

If you are throwing a video game themed party, you need something memorable for those little gamers! Wedding and Party Network has the top five party favors for a video game themed party.

1. Chocolate Coins
As every fellow gamer knows, always collect those coins! Chocolate coins will be a yummy reminder of the fantastic party.

2. Fake Mustaches
Everyone will want to look like their favorite plumbers–Mario and Luigi. See who does the best Mario accent!

3. Pacman Cookies
You can make sugar cookies and use icing to make Pacman's eye and mouth. They will be a huge kick to arcade lovers.

4. Joystick
Lollipops make great joy sticks. You can also make cakepops with red icing to make them look like joysticks too!

5. Game Over Bags
Make sure to put all their goodies in a bag that says game over. It will make the perfect end to your bash!

Check back with Wedding and Party Network for more great party favor ideas and tips!

 

 

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Top 3 Halloween Parties

The pumpkins and the candy corn have arrived at your local store, which means the clock is ticking for the Halloween party planning. Wedding and Party Network has the top three Halloween Parties that will have your guests begging for this yearly tradition!

A Sweet Tooth Social
Typically the goal of the night for your little ones is to get the most candy! So, why not turn your home into a sweet shop? Set up games and contests where they win special tickets that let them "purchase" from the sweet shop. From spookylicious cupcakes to a yummy candy bar, your kiddies will have their fill of trick-or-treating. Finish the night off with a classic like It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown or Hocus Pocus.

A Spooky Soiree
Adults can have just as much fun as the kids! Turn your home into a swanky cocktail bar where ghouls and witches mingle and drink devilish brews. Set a dress code, such as a black tie event with masquerade masks or even Victorian wear with the powdered wigs. When you decide a dress code, get really creative and include an appropriately-themed three-course meal and everyone must remain in character (or no dessert)!

A Haunted Affair
Want to give those horror movie lovers a spook? Turn your home into a haunted house! The older kids won't expect their parents to remain in character. Put together a maze in the backyard and have a theme for the party, such as an asylum or a carnival. Set up a whole storyline–or even a murder mystery–and finish the night off with a bonfire.

This year, make your Halloween party one to remember with these top three party ideas! Check back with Wedding and Party Network for more great party tips.

 

 

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Throwing a Star Wars Party

Whether it's a 10th birthday or a 21st birthday, you are never too old for a Star Wars themed party. Wedding and Party Network has your top tips for throwing a fun galactic bash!

Food and Drinks
Get creative with fun Star Wars puns. With Hans Rolos, Pincess Lays, and Vaderade, you can create a fun snack table that will crack lots of smiles. For the main course, make burgers with Leia's Buns or Jabba Hutt Dogs.

Here is a simple recipe for Yoda Soda:

  • Green Hawaiian Punch
  • Lime Soda
  • Lime Sorbet

Games
For the little ones, create a Jedi training camp in your back yard. Put together an obstacle course and make each Padawan a Jedi certificate. For the older crowd, play Star Wars Bingo with any (or all) of the Star Wars movies. Really put your knowledege to the test with some Star Wars trivia.

Are your friends hardcore fans? Act out the movie instead of watching and record it. Your rendition of Star Wars Episode III could go viral!

For Adults
Have your guests choose their allegiance (Jedi or Sith) and make themed drinks for each team. Turn Star Wars bingo into a drinking game and spike the Yoda Soda.

Don't forget the cake! You can make two different flavors–chocolate for the Sith and vanilla for the Jedi.

No need to hide your love for this Sci-Fi favorite. Let your geekiness show through this fun themed party and prove to your friends that you are the ultimate Jedi master!

For more party themes, check out the Wedding and Party Network Celebrations Blog.

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Book Themed Party Favors

Throwing a book themed party, but don't know what favors to give your guests? Wedding and Party Network is here to help! Whether your theme is centered around a specific book, a library theme, or even just a book trading party, these five favors are prefect reminders of your get-together and can work for all ages.

1. Bookmarks
Readers are always in need of page markers. Get creative and choose bookmarks that represent your party. Having a book themed bachelorette? These heel bookmarks a perfect girly gift that make great keepsakes of the night.

2. Book Plates
Personalized or designed, book plates are great to make sure that your favorite book is returned to you if you lend it to a friend or if lost.

3. Crafts
Create unique crafts out of the pages of old books you can find at your local thrift shop. Make origami flowers or pinwheels and use them as party favors for your party. You can even make your party invitations using book pages!

4. Gummy Worms
This yummy snack can bring a couple of laughs with special packaging. Label the goodie bag "Book Worms" and your guests can eat their special treat while delving into a new paperback.

5. Book
What's a book party without a book? You can give your guest the latest best seller or a favorite childhood book. Have them pass it on to another person once they are finished.

Check back with Wedding and Party Network for more great party tips and ideas.

 

 

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Fall Party Themes

The end of summer marks the beginning of a new season. This fall, keep up the festivities with Wedding and Party Network's top five fall party themes.

Caramel Apple Party
Caramel apples are a popular fall treat that can be made in many ways. Have your guests make these sweet treats with a candy apple buffet. Set up different caramel types to dip and an assortment of candies and nuts to decorate the apples. Add a Halloween tradition and have your guests bob for their apple.

Homemade Pie Party
Like a cookie exchange, have friends bring a small homemade pie and hold a competition for the best tasting pie. Give out a prize to the winner. You can also go a different route and have friends in teams bake a pie together. Have some beginner bakers show their hidden talents.

Smores Bonfire Party
A bonfire is an autumn staple, but shake it up with a smores buffet. Every one knows the three basic ingredients for smores, but try using an assortment of treats to make this smores party unique. Try cookies instead of crackers, peanut butter or white chocolate instead of the normal Hersheys, and a festive Peep instead of a plain marshmallow.

Pumpkin Carving Party
Get the season ready with your own mini pumpkin patch in your backyard. Choose a couple of pumpkins from your local grocery store and get your friends and family to play ring toss to choose their pumpkin. Hold a pumpkin carving or decorating competition and everyone can take their pumpkin home as their party favor.

Day of the Dead Party
Make a party out of this hispanic tradition that celebrates life. Decorate with colorful paper-cutting banners, ma skull head cookies, have a face-painting booth, and tell the story of the Day of the Dead. Make this party in October just in time for the upcoming movie, The Book of Life.

All of these themes can be family-friendly or tweaked for an adult-only affair. Liven up a fall party with anyone of these themes for a fun holiday season. Check back for more Wedding and Party ideas and tips.

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Labor Day Party Ideas

Labor Day weekend is the chance to celebrate the end of summer and get the last rays of sun. But how do you spice up the long weekend festivities without making it a usual grilling gathering? Wedding and Party Network offers these tips to make your Labor Day weekend a unique engagement.

Ice Cream Social

Make your event a child-like affair with an ice cream bar. Enjoy a frosty dessert before trading it up for hot chocolate. Use apothecary vases and glass decor bowls to fill with toppings. Go the extra mile and consider making your own ice cream. Offer variations to your lactose-intolerant friends by making homemade ice pops. You can use molds or simple paper cups to make your very own popsicles. Your guests will love the DIY touch.

Seafood Boil

Ditch the burgers for lobster with a sea food boil or clam bake. No need to dust off the grill; you can do this all in a sand pit or in your own kitchen. Give your party a sea theme, regardless if you celebrate on the beach or the backyard. Make some fruity cocktails and you are all set to a last-minute summer getaway without leaving the state.

Break from the norm and say goodbye to summer with a unique bash. Check back with Wedding and Party Network for more party ideas and tips.

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Top 5 Fall Party Themes

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Cure End-of-Summer Blues with a Back to School Party

Are the kids hanging their heads in anticipation of their first day back at school? Cure the end-of-summer blues with a festive back to school party! After all, what better way to celebrate a new year at school than reuniting with friends and family? This last summer hurrah will lift your child’s spirits as the countdown continues. Here are some creative ways to throw a party that will make the grade:

Offer School-Themed Snacks

To fuel the school spirit, offer snacks that your little ones typically munch on after-school! From the classic “ants on a log” to quirky apple “cars,” these healthy snacks are sure to keep your students coming back for seconds. To add a fun touch, purchase some styrofoam lunch trays so kids can sample their snacks on trays similar to those the cafeteria uses!

Unsure how to recreate these snacks? Here’s how you can do it!

Apple “Cars”
Ingredients: apples, firm grapes, toothpicks

  1. Slice the apple into wedges and trim the core.
  2. For each apple “car”, slice 2 grapes in half widthwise.
  3. Push the pick through the sliced side of one grape half, then through one end of the apple, then finish with the other grape half, sliced side out.
  4. Repeat with the other end of the apple “car” and 2 more grape slices, and voila!

“Ants on a Log”
Ingredients: celery, peanut butter, raisins

  1. Cut the celery stalks in half.
  2. Spread peanut butter inside of the celery.
  3. Arrange raisins on top, and presto!

Play School-Themed Party Games

School-themed entertainment is another great way to garner excitement for the coming school year. Your guests will appreciate these fun party games as a little friendly competition before school arrives.

School Supply Scavenger Hunt – Before your guests arrive, arrange various school supply items such as pencils, erasers, and composition books throughout the backyard and/or room. Come up with a few clever clues that describe the location of these supplies. When the star students arrive, surprise them with this creative scavenger hunt!

Lunchtime Blind Taste Test – Have the kids name that snack in a fun and entertaining blind taste test! Blindfold each participant and have them name the snack that they’re sampling. Have them sample foods such as raisins, Oreos, an apple slice, and pretzels. The “student” with the most correct guesses by the end of the game wins a prize!

Use Back to School “Survival Kit” as Party Favors

What a better way to send your party attendees home than with a useful party favor! Create a back to school “survival kit” out of a pencil bag or a brown paper bag. Stuff Continue reading "Cure End-of-Summer Blues with a Back to School Party" »

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Hosting a Gender Reveal Party

Tips for Hosting a Gender Reveal Party

Gender reveal parties are definitely still going strong. The parents-to-be want to gather their closest friends and family members to share this special time in their life and find out the gender together. It's a special moment to be shared. However, are you unsure on how to exactly plan a gender reveal? Wedding and Party Network has a few tips on hosting this fun party.

Pick a Theme – The first thing to do is pick a theme. There are so many out there like, "Beaus or Bows", "What's It Going to Bee", "Team Pink or Team Blue" or "Lil Man or Lil Miss". Pick one that best suits the couple.

Party Details – Once you have a theme, you can focus on your party details. What type of decorations will you have? Will food be served and how will it match the theme? These are questions you need to ask yourself. You can easily stick with the pink and blue color scheme or you can add fun details to your party depending on the theme.

The BIG Reveal – The most important thing is how will you do the big reveal? You can release balloons, pop balloons to release the gender colored confetti, use silly string, cut cake to reveal the colored cake inside or maybe watch the ultrasound together. Just make sure to entrust someone who will not tell the gender and to find a reveal that fits you.

Start planning your gender reveal party and it is sure to be a big success just by following these simple rules.

7 Tips: Hosting for the Holidays

The holiday season is all about joy, togetherness, and celebration. But let’s be honest—it can also be a little stressful, especially if you’re the one hosting. Whether you’re planning an intimate dinner with family or a lively party with friends, these tips will make hosting for the holidays a breeze!

Hosting 101: Tips for a Seamless Event

Hosting an event can be a rewarding experience, but it requires detailed planning and execution. Whether you're organizing a party, shower, holiday dinner, or just a casual get-together, it's important to ensure everything goes according to plan so that your guests have a great time, and *bonus* you come across as a hosting pro! To make this easier, we've outlined some tips to help you host your next event with confidence.

Winter Wedding Tips

Breaking news… winter weddings are our latest love affair! The days are shorter and the nights are colder, but winter weddings are full of romance and have a uniquely magical essence.

2024 Bid Day Themes

In recent years, these trendy Bid Day themes have made waves on campuses nationwide, combining nostalgia, elegance, and fun into celebrations that are unforgettable and awe-inspiring! This year is no exception, and it's safe to say that we've got a few rush crushes of our own. We've compiled a list of some of our favorite 2024 Bid Day themes that you can take inspo from for your next event.