Featured Quinceañera: Andrea Elizabeth Rojas Date: Saturday, January 24, 2009 Location: Clear Lake City & Seabrook, Texas, USA
Quince magazine asked Mrs. Dalia Rojas to reflect on her daughter Andrea’s quinceañera and the journey her family took to make Andrea’s quince a reality.
rom the moment our daughter, Andrea Elizabeth, was born we knew she was going to have a quinceañera. Not only did her parents know, but our entire families knew. My father was also looking forward to this event, but he passed away a year before Andrea’s celebration. I had the wonderful experience of having a quinceañera so I knew my daughter would have one also. So basically we had been waiting for her quinceañera for a very long time. I clearly remember seeing for the first time the movie, Anastasia, with my daughter Andrea and the moment I heard the song “Once Upon a December,” I knew that would be the song my daughter and my husband would waltz to given that my daughter was born in December. A year before the event, we worked on finding a church, a reception hall and most importantly a priest to help celebrate my daughter’s quinceañera. I wanted Fr. Jeff Scheeler of Cincinnati, Ohio to be the celebrant given that he married us and baptized my daughter at the Rice University Catholic Student Center. Unfortunately, given his demanding schedule he was not available. So we set out to find a church that would be supportive of this very special celebration. That church was St. Clare of Assisi in Clear Lake City. Charles Giardinia of St. Clare’s did a phenomenal job of preparing Andrea and her friends for this great celebration. He brought into focus the meaning and the focus of this celebration. Approximately six months prior to the quinceañera, we set out to Monterrey, Mexico to find the perfect dress for Andrea. In Monterrey is where I found my quinceañera dress and my wedding dress. I wanted to make sure that Andrea wore a dress that looked like a fifteen year old would wear. One of the neatest things about looking for a dress in Monterrey, is the fact that there is an area in town where there are so many shops
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that sell quinceañera dresses that it feels as though you are walking through a catalog. Finding Andrea’s dress proved to be a little more challenging than we expected. It took us a day and a half to find the dress, but once we saw the dress in the showcase we knew we had found it. Shopping for a dress turned out to be a family event. Andrea’s grandmother, aunts, and second cousins all went along to find the perfect dress. It was great bonding time for my daughter and me. Once we found the perfect dress, we were all so very overjoyed because walking in Monterrey in July is not always a very pleasant experience due to the heat. As I talked further with my cousins, one of them mentioned having a theme for Andrea’s quinceañera. After thinking about it, we decided the theme for Andrea’s quinceañera would be butterflies, not only because it is a sign of a new beginning, but because Andrea is a competitive swimmer and her best stroke is the 100 yard butterfly. Shopping in Monterrey was a great experience because around the same area where we found Andrea’s dress, there was another section, where there was an entire block of print shops.
U.S. Quinceañeras Facts and Figures The Hispanic market today is the most rapidly expanding market in the United States In 2007, $400 million was spent on Quinceañera parties Families spend an average of $4,000 to $5,000 on a Quinceañera The U.S. Hispanic teen population will grow 18% by 2012, with 400,000 Hispanic girls turning 15 every year (Facts and figures provided by mediabuyerplanner.com and portada-online.com
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thing to happen to it. Shortly after Andrea was done dressing, her friends arrived as well as the limousine. They headed out to the church and soon after the ceremony began. It was a beautiful ceremony officiated by Fr. Dominic Piston. Andrea’s friends marched in and we escorted Andrea to the altar. There were several gifts that were presented to Andrea at the church. The gifts were presented by women who have had a strong influence on Andrea’s life. The gifts presented to her were a rosary, Bible, a candle, a rose, crucifix and a medallion of which each has a symbolic religious meaning. Andrea also presented a It was there that we ordered Andrea’s invitations that were printed in both English and Spanish, prayers for the church, custom napkins and custom candy boxes. We ordered everything we needed and within a month we returned to pick up our order embellished with pink butterflies.
weekend. We had the church rehearsal and a pizza party for Andrea, her friends and out of town guests at the church reception hall. Saturday morning, Andrea, Andrea’s friend Cassandra, and I headed out to the hair dresser for a 7:30a.m. appointment. My husband and a group of friends headed
bouquet of roses to the Virgin Mary and prayed for guidance and spiritual growth. As we escorted Andrea out of the church, she was greeted in true Mexican tradition with a Mariachi Band. The traditional “La Negra” song greeted our daughter as she left the church. It really is exciting to hear that song.
At first we thought that we, the family, could decorate the reception hall, but the more we thought about it, the more we knew that there would be so much going on the morning of the quinceañera that we decided to hire a professional decorator. That was probably one of the best decisions that we made. We indicated to her what we were interested in and she ran with our ideas. Two weeks before the quinceañera, we went to the reception hall to get a clear understanding of the layout of the tables and how each table was going to be decorated. The weekend of Andrea’s quinceañera was so exciting. A few days before the event, it was exciting to go to the airport and begin picking up family members that were coming to the celebration. I will never forget when one of my cousins flew in from Tampico, I was working with the printer for the church program and she called me to let me know that she was at the airport waiting for me. I had mistakenly understood that she was arriving at 9:00p.m. and not 9:00a.m.! Having family members stay with us at our home was just great! It was a reminder that you are in a celebratory mode. Two of my neighbors graciously offered their spare bedrooms to us, but we managed just fine. Friday evening, kicked off Andrea’s quinceañera 3 | Quince Magazine
to the reception hall to help the decorator set up tables. After Andrea and I finished with the hairdresser, Cassi, did our make up in our home. Once we were done, Cassi and I helped Andrea get into her beautiful quinceañera dress. I remember when we evacuated for Hurricane Ike I took her dress with us to make sure nothing happened to it. The dress had come from afar and we did not want any-
The reception did not start until late in the evening, so after the church ceremony, family and out of town guests were invited to our home for lunch. While Andrea and her friends sat down for lunch, family and out of town guests were invited to ride in the limousine which was a real special treat for them.
It was a great time to take a break and play basketball to ease the stress of the day. Following lunch, the kids went on a limousine ride around town. When the time came, they returned to be taken to the reception hall. When we all arrived at the reception, Andrea, her parents and brother walked in and again were greeted by a mariachi band. Following the grand entrance, Tom Permetti, a close family friend gave a beautiful speech and his appreciation of being part of the festivities and blessed the food so that the reception could begin. Having a bilingual Master of Ceremonies, Mike Lutomski, was also great. He truly helped organize the entire evening festivities. As the guests dined, the mariachi band continued serenading the crowd and then the crowd was treated to a violin soloist by Dr. John Romanko. That entertainment was a special treat. When the reception was ending it was time to make Andrea’s grand presentation to society. She was escorted in by her parents and her brother. Before Andrea danced a waltz with her father to the music of “Once Upon a December” her father switched her flat slippers to her new high heeled shoes as a symbol of her becoming a young lady. As a parent, standing by and watching this event, you can’t help but get a knot in your throat. It was a beautiful waltz and
Andrea really did look like Anastasia! After she
could be done better so that the next time we plan
waltzed with her Dad, her escort danced two more
a major event we know what to do.
songs with her. It was just awesome!
In true Mexican tradition, we hosted another
After the waltzes, the dance began. The kids had
reception the following day, where we served
a wonderful time with great music, balloons, silly
tamales and pozole. Family, friends and out of town
string, etc. As the night went on, the cake was sliced
guests were invited once again to come and enjoy
and everyone enjoyed a delicious piece.
the festivities. I believe that everyone who came tru-
There was a lot of planning that went into this
ly had a great time. Today, all of the memories sit in
event. There was a lot of help from family, neighbors
a curio cabinet in our formal dining room. Andrea’s
and friends to make the event as successful as it
tiara, church gifts, shoes, and bouquet are all in this
was. The whole time I was thinking what would my
curio so the day she marries and leaves our home
Dad say and that helped me plan a lot of things. A
these mementos will be given to her and the tradi-
week later our family had a debriefing meeting to
tion can be passed down.
discuss what we liked, what we didn’t like, and what
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Remembering my Quince … 25 years later Quince magazine’s Editor, Maria de la Luz Gonzalez, presents us with a special look back at her quinceañera. s I approach my 40th birthday I have been
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looking back at the significant times and events throughout my life. One event in par-
ticular brings me special memories and warm feelings – my quinceañera. It took place in the summer of 1986. I remember this summer well because I had just survived my freshman year of high school, we had family visiting from Michigan, The Karate Kid Part 2 was in theaters and Ralph Macchio posters were splattered all over my bedroom walls and my father was laid off a week before my quince. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. (I find it a bit ironic that 25 years later we are in the midst of another economic slump and that Ralph Macchio is still making pop culture headlines, thanks to Dancing with the Stars.) Despite the financial blow we sustained so close to my fiesta de quince I remember lots of laughter and fun times due to my close relationship with my sister, the camaraderie among my damas and chambelanes, and all my family members descending upon our home and my aunts’ homes as the special day approached. I was surrounded by family
Quinceañera Feature: Maria de la Luz Sarabia Date: July 19, 1986 Location: Houston, Texas, USA 5 | Quince Magazine
and friends and that made the summer of ’86 so special. I was not very hands on in the planning of my quince. My mother took the lead in planning the quinceañera as most mothers do. The truth is at age 14 most girls do not feel empowered to make major decision making…. All we care about is the color scheme, who will be in the court of honor and the music. (Am I right?) I remember telling my mom I wanted a pink dress for myself and my damas. She found and bought my dress during a trip to Monterrey, Mexico. She also found the neighborhood seamstress who designed and made all the damas’ dresses. I do remember telling my mom that I wanted my damas to carry Spanish fans so I take full credit for making that decision. I also remember my decision to have the chambelanes wear grey tuxes since I loved the pink & grey combo color scheme. Looking back at the pictures of my quince I am thinking I went overboard on the pink – perhaps I should have added a little grey to the damas as well. I now realize I did make some small yet significant decisions on my quince but my mother was the one who found the church, the hall, the music, decided the menu, ordered the invitations, made
the guest list, gathered padrinos (my dad helped a lot in this area), & found the neighborhood cake making lady. I do remember my cake…it was amazing! I remember going to the cake lady’s home and the delicious samples she made for us. My mother and I made the joint decision to purchase the cake made up of individual cakes that were tiered and connected with pillars, stairs and other props. The whole cake set up took up the length of a 6 foot table with a “champagne” like fountain in the middle of it. And the best part was that each individual cake was made of different flavors. There was chocolate, vanilla, lemon, strawberry, pineapple, coconut cake…you name it - we had it! That cake was amazingly beautiful and a huge hit at the fiesta.
Want to be featured in Without a doubt the best part of my quince was my court of honor which was comprised of my sister, cousins, old friends, new friends and even people I really didn’t know – my cousin Geno’s dama was his actual girlfriend who I had never met but she wanted to be in the quinceañera so I said yes! I had a court of 23 plus my chambelan. I remember going with them to get fitted for their dresses or tuxes, rehearsing the Venetian Waltz we performed during the dance, and the closeness we all came to have by the time my quince rolled around. The ceremony took place at Annunciation Church in downtown Houston. We picked this church because after searching throughout the city it was the only one that had a date available close to my birthday of August 18. So we had to celebrate my quince a month early but we were ok with that. We had a beautiful ceremony, I loved walking down the aisle with both my parents at my sides and I remember the resounding echo due to the amazing acoustics of the church. Every time we drive by downtown or go to an Astros game (the ballpark is across the street from Annunciation) I can see the peaks of the church and it always puts a smile on my face. That church has held a special place in my heart for the past 25 years. The reception was held at a local neighborhood hall. I remember we had close to 400 people show up – way more than expected but my parents managed to seat everyone. I was pretty oblivious to the logistics of the actual fiesta. I just remember the cake, performing the waltz, the norteño band and having fun! Looking back I realize the hard work my parents did to plan, execute and pay for my quince!! As 14 and 15 year olds we do not realize the significant impact an event like a quinceañera has on a family, on finances, even on our parents’ marriage or relationship. Our parents and family go through a lot to sacrifice for us quinceañeras on this special day so we should never lose sight of that. I want to finish remembering my quinceñeara by sharing the funniest moment of my fiesta which occurred on the morning of my quince. Unbeknown to me, my dad had forgotten to buy new dress shoes and as he was getting dressed he realized how tattered his shoes actually were. My mother was mortified at the thought that my dad would have to wear them since there was no time to go shopping that day. As my parents were walking to the car to head to the church a man approached our front gate and said he was selling some
QUINCE Magazine?
Quince Magazine is currently looking for quinceañeras to feature in its upcoming issues. We want to hear from you if: You’ve had a quinceañera in the last 3 years Have a unique story to tell about your quince fiesta Are beginning your quince planning and would like for us to chronicle your journey
Contact the Editor of Quince Magazine at mdgonzalez@hispanicmeetingstravel.com to submit your name and information. A Quince Magazine staff member will follow up with you to work out the details of your feature. Placement on the magazine’s cover is the sole discretion of the editor and is not guaranteed.
shoes if anybody wanted to buy them. My dad quickly asked to see them. He couldn’t believe they were black dress shoes in his size!! “Ya la hiciste Ruben” my mom said to my dad as she paid the passing salesman. God was truly looking out for us on that special day…25 years ago.
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Verizon's My Fabulous Quince Contest Offers Teens the Opportunity to Win a Quinceañera of Their Dreams Latin Music Hottest New Artist, Prince Royce, to Perform at Grand Prize Winner's Party
From July 1 through August 31, teens across the United States will have the chance to enter to win the Quince of their dreams as part of Verizon's My Fabulous Quince contest. Eligible teens from 13 participating cities and surrounding areas (Los Angeles, San Diego, Fresno, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Tampa, Miami, Albuquerque, Secaucus, Chicago and Washington, D.C.) can participate by submitting an essay online or at Verizon Wireless My Fabulous Quince expos. For details, visit: http://www.myfabulousquince.com. Thirteen winners will receive an all-expenses-paid Quince, as well as a college scholarship and Verizon products. “At Verizon, we recognize that our customers celebrate different types of traditions. The Quince tradition marks a coming of age milestone for a young lady and has long been celebrated by Latino families across the United States. Although generally celebrated for girls, there are more 15-year-old boys celebrating this cultural event,” said Elva Lima, executive director of community relations and multicultural communications at Verizon Wireless. “This contest will give a young lady or man the Quince of their dreams. We encourage teens of all backgrounds to join us by participating in My Fabulous Quince.” Contest Entry, Selection Process and Prizes Following the contest entry phase, 20 finalists will be selected from each of the 13 participating cities. From September 8 through 22, 7 | Quince Magazine
consumers can vote online or text in their vote for their favorite finalist. The finalist with the highest number of votes will win the grand prize, consisting of an all-expenses-paid Quince for up to 200 guests, a $5,000 college scholarship, three Verizon smartphones and an exclusive performance by multi-platinum recording artist Prince Royce who will sing his greatest hits including: "Stand By Me," "Corazon Sin Cara" and "Mi Última Carta." “I'm excited to be part of Verizon's My Fabulous Quince and to be able to make one of my fan's dreams come true,” said Prince Royce. “Growing up, I enjoyed going to Quinceañeras, and this time around I'll have the chance to share that special moment with the grand prize winner.” The top finalist in each of the remaining 12 cities will receive a first prize package, which includes a Quince for 100 guests with all expenses covered by Verizon, as well as a $2,500 college scholarship and a Verizon smartphone.
Quince Expos and Prince Royce Meet & Greets Teens and their families around the country will also have the chance to get up close and personal with Prince Royce at the My Fabulous Quince expos at select Verizon Wireless stores and through the new Prince Royce app, available to Verizon Wireless customers. Quince expos and Prince Royce meet-andgreets will take place in the following cities. For times and event details, visit:
Quince Expos & Prince Royce Meet-and-Greets
Oxnard, Calif. July 9, 2011 Chula Vista, Calif. ......July 10, 2011 El Paso, Texas ..........July 16, 2011 Albuquerque, N.M. ....July 17, 2011 Houston, Texas ..........July 23, 2011 San Antonio, Texas ....July 24, 2011 Tampa, Fla. ................July 30, 2011 Hialeah, Fla. ..............July 31, 2011 Secaucus, N.J. ........August 6, 2011 Gaithersburg, M.D...August 7, 2011 Irving, Texas ..........August 13, 2011 Chicago, Ill. ..........August 20, 2011 Fresno, Calif. ........August 27, 2011
http://www.myfabulousquince.com. Expo attendees will receive tips on how to plan a Quince celebration on any budget, as well as exclusive offers from local vendors. In addition, attendees can donate no-longer-used wireless phones to HopeLine® from Verizon to help support victims of domestic violence and help protect the environment by disposing of wireless phones in an environmentally sound way.
Attendees who make a donation to HopeLine® from Verizon will receive a VIP pass, which will guarantee them access to meet Prince Royce at the My Fabulous Quince expos. The Prince Royce app with the latest Prince Royce news, audio, video and information on the My Fabulous Quince contest and expos is now available to download from Android Market™ for Verizon Wireless customers with 4G
Dioselyn Maximo is crowned the Verizon My Fabulous Quince 2010 winner.
LTE Android™ smartphones and select 3G Android mobile devices. For more information about Verizon's My Fabulous Quince, including contest rules, eligibility and Quince expos, please visit www.myfabulousquince.com. About Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless operates the nation's fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 104 million total wireless connections, including more than 88 million retail customers. Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications and Vodafone. For more information,
Dioselyn is surrounded by her family and friends after winning the 2010 Verizon My Fabulous Quince Con-
visit www.verizonwireless.com. About Prince Royce Breakthrough Latin recording artist Prince Royce has exploded into the mainstream with his fresh urban approach to traditional bachata music, fusing Tropical Latin with contemporary R&B and pop rhythms. Royce's selftitled debut album, released in 2010, has been certified double platinum, while garnering a 2010 Latin Grammy® nomination, three 2011 Premio Lo Nuestro Awards and four 2011 Latin Billboard Awards. "Prince Royce" became the #1 Latin album in the country, more than a year after its release, marking an unprecedented achievement for a developing Latin music artist. Royce's first single, a bilingual bachata cover of the 1961 Ben E. King classic, "Stand By Me," reached the #1 position on the Billboard Tropical Airplay chart; and his second single, "Corazon Sin Cara," written by Royce himself, fared even better, shooting up to #1 on Billboard's Latin Songs chart. The artist has had two sold-out tours in Europe, one in the U.S., and has been invited by Enrique Iglesias to be a special guest on his fall 2011 tour of North America. Royce has recently entered into an exclusive, long-term, worldwide recording deal with Atlantic Records via a joint venture with Top Stop Music to release his next albums in English and Spanish.
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