Welcome to Show the Receipts, a new series where we ask interesting people to tell us exactly how much it costs to get something done. No matter what the task, we track every single dollar from start to finish. Next up: planning a quinceñera.

For many young girls, puberty is marked by milestones and traditions, such as getting a driver’s license, turning “sweet 16,” and attending prom. For many Latin American families, however, there is the Quinceñera, which is celebrated on or around the 15th birthday.

A quinceañera celebrates a girl’s transition from girlhood to womanhood. The celebration usually includes both a religious mass and a social celebration with family and closest friends, including food, cake, music and dancing.

Not surprisingly, a quinceñera is a high-profile affair that is often compared to a wedding in terms of the planning and costs of hosting and executing the event. For this reason, many girls and their families plan these celebrations well in advance.

Alva Olvera, 37, had a unique experience planning her daughter Neftaly’s celebration, which ultimately had to be split into two events due to the COVID pandemic: a church ceremony and lunch at home for just the family, and a larger celebration a few months later at a traditional venue.

“Planning this event was stressful because of the added cost,” Olvera tells PS. “But it was such a bonding moment with my daughter, and I’m so grateful to be able to do this as a mother.”

Read on to find out the full cost breakdown.

Task: Planning a Quinceañera
Profession: Housewife and mother
Location: Houston, Texas

The receipts

Venue: 17,500 US dollars
A dress: $6,400
Live band: $8,000
Hair and makeup: $900
Photography: 1,700 US dollars
Invitations: $700
Catering and cake: 1,900 US dollars
Centerpieces and decorations: $750
Mariachi band and dancers: 1,900 US dollars
Gifts for guests: $750
In total: 40,500 US dollars

How I did it

Olvera definitely put a lot of effort into Neftaly’s quinceñera, and the pandemic certainly didn’t help keep costs down, but she believes it was worth the splurge in many aspects to make her firstborn daughter’s milestone as memorable as possible.

PS: How far in advance did you start planning your daughter’s quinceañera?
Alva Olvera: I started planning when Neftaly was 13, for her 15th birthday in 2021. We started by visiting the various quinceañera exhibitions that are often held here in Houston. My budget was originally about $10,000, which was about what my family spent on my own quinceañera in 2002, and times and expenses have certainly changed since then.

PS: What surprised you most about the cost of the event?
AO: The biggest problem was that we had to plan two events due to the pandemic. Following the religious ceremony in 2021, we hosted a small lunch at our home for family members only (50 people total) to comply with social distancing guidelines, and in 2022, we hosted a larger party with all of Neftaly’s friends with a total of 250 invited guests. I know I’ve gone over the top on many things, so I wouldn’t say my expenses would be anywhere near normal even without these circumstances.

PS: Was there a particular item that you thought was worth spending more money on?
AO: Shopping for her dress with my mom and daughter was a bonding moment for all of us and although it was one of the biggest expenses, it was definitely worth it. Neftaly ended up choosing a custom made rose gold dress with two crowns and matching pillows for the church ceremony. There were also accessories included including a necklace, bracelet and earrings as well as matching toasting glasses and a box to store gifts and gift envelopes.

Neftaly enjoyed this part of the planning process so much that she began modeling for the designer of her dress. She especially enjoyed reliving the experience of trying on other dress styles she liked while searching for her own dress.

PS: What advice would you give to other families planning future quinceañeras?
AO: By giving yourself plenty of time to start planning and saving for expenses, you can avoid unexpected costs and budget overruns while still planning an unforgettable event that’s worth the effort.

Final thoughts

Olvera again admits that she went out of her way for Neftaly’s quinceañera, as she likely will for her two younger daughters, who are now 12 and 6, respectively. Many of the additional costs associated with Neftaly’s celebration came from having two events due to the pandemic, and some costs were added by rescheduling.

“I know I did a lot of things ‘extra,'” says Olvera, “but I would advise anyone to take their time when planning a quinceñera because in the end it will still be a big financial expense.”

Emilia Benton is a freelance health and wellness journalist with a passion for telling diverse stories and amplifying underrepresented voices. In addition to PS, her work has been published in Runner’s World, Women’s Health, Self, Outside, and the Houston Chronicle, among others. Emilia is also a 13-time marathon runner and a USATF Level 1 certified running coach.