Quinceañeras

Treasure Valley Quinceañera | Ana

Collage from the quinceañera service and receptoin

Just a few weeks after taking Ana’s Boise quinceañera portraits, we celebrated her Treasure Valley quinceañera! Festivities began with an early afternoon service at her church. Ana and her court of honor entered the sanctuary. Her court was one chambelan–her older brother–and six damas, who were cousins and friends. For those of you new to quinceañeras, the court is similar to a wedding party. Then the music pastor played a couple worship songs and her head pastor gave a special message. Family presented Ana with a tiara, a ring, and a Bible. Her new Bible happened to have a purple cover that matched her dress! Afterward, guests took photos with Ana.

The reception began in the early evening at a nearby school. Guests enjoyed a delicious taco bar. Quick tangent: as a Boise wedding photographer, I rarely have time to sit down and eat all of my dinner at a reception. I loved the laid-back pace of a quinceañera reception…and getting to eat everything on my plate! Anyway, moving on! Ana danced a waltz with her mother, then with her court of honor. Some of her birthday gifts were traditional quinceañera presents, such as la última muñeca, the last doll, symbolizing her transition from childhood to womanhood. In Ana’s case, hers was an adorable stuffed teddy bear. The bear wore a customary matching dress, which I thought was sweet.

More family dances followed, then Ana and her damas switched out of their dresses into cropped blouses, bejeweled jeans, and boots for el baile sorpresa, the surprise dance. Ana’s top was light purple while her damas wore ivory. Soon, guests of all ages hit the dance floor. The night wound down with Ana cutting the tiered cake and serving her guests.

Happy quince, Ana! I hope you had a fantastic day, even if you don’t love being the center of attention! 😊

Getting Ready

Quinceañera gown hanging from a hanger before the ceremony
Ana gets help with lacing up the back of her dress
Applying makeup before the quinceañera ceremony

Quinceañera Service

Quinceañera enters the sanctuary with her chambelan as part of the religious ceremony
Everyone in the church sanctuary for the quinceañera religious ceremony
Damas sitting on the pews during the service

Here the pastor asked Ana to look at her hand and observe her fingerprint to illustrate how she was created specially, unique from anyone else.

Ana's quinceañera ceremony in the church sanctuary
Ana with her damas and chambelan outside the church

Quinceañera Reception

Multi-tiered purple cake with a bejeweled "15" topper and frosting flowers

El Vals (Waltz)

The quinceañera wipes her eyes as she dances with her mother
Dances at the quince reception

Gifts and La Última Muñeca (the Last Doll)

La última muñeca, a plush teddy bear, wears a matching purple dress

Family Dances

El Baile Sorpresa (Surprise Dance)

Ana and her court perform el baile sorpresa, the surprise dance

Open Dance Floor and Cake Cutting

Adorable smiling girl dancing with her mother at the reception
Ana ditched her purple dress for a lilac top and jeans
The purple cake with its "15" topper and frosting flowers cascading down
The quinceañera cut the cake herself to serve to her guests
Cutting the quinceañera cake
Ana nervously cuts into the next layer of her cake
Ana poses for a picture with the photographer