Here's the inspiration behind the float

A good friend’s mom was a judge.  Learn more about the festival and how much fun she had by checking out what she wrote.

Picture courtesy of Nick Nguyen

What is a Filipino Debut?  It’s actually a lot like a Quinceanera, not surprising since Spain colonized the Philipines, only it’s celebrated when a girl (called a debutante) becomes 18 instead of 15.  It includes a big party, a big dress, and like a Quinceanera, the girl has her own hand-picked court of 18, 9 males and 9 females, who perform a traditional classic waltz.

Picture courtesy of Mylene Ann

There is an “18 Roses” dance where 18 males dance with her after presenting her with a single rose.  Plus there is the typical “Father and Daughter Dance.”

The debutant also picks 18  “candles,” or females who have “helped light her way through life” to give short speeches of birthday wishes.

Picture courtesy of Mylene Ann

And at the end of the night, our debutante gives a short speech, too, sharing her life experience and expressing her gratitude to her beloved guests.

Picture courtesy of Bernise8

I love “coming-of-age” parties.  I think they really help us make transitions through life.   No wonder so many cultures have them.

Gifts, clothes, shoes, and makeup are all donated by local merchants.  This year, the party, which is being held on April 17th, aims to get into the Guiness Book of World Records for the world’s largest quinceañera.

Check out these excited girls getting to view some of the dresses that have been donated for the big day.   Seriously, the models look like real-life princesses!

Hugo is one of the main photographers for both Quinceaneras Magazine and My Quince Magazine, so he says 99% of the Quinceaneras he shoots end up in print.

His photographs are both gorgeous and one-of -a-kind.   He uses eye-catching backdrops and interesting props to show off his clients, and he designs his pictures so they look like professional modeling shots.

And to top it off, he’s a really nice guy who takes pride in his work and understands that to be a great Quinceanera photographer his job is to make his clients look and feel like princesses.

Here are some “modeling shots” from his Quinceaneras’ Signature Photo sessions…

And his breathtaking Quinceaneras in their gowns…

So if you live in Southern California, are having a Quinceanera in the near future, and have the goal of being famous someday, start by hiring Hugo.  He’ll give you your first taste of stardom.

Christine and Jacob under the big trees in Topanga Canyon

How did she do it?  With a “can do” spirit, by finding people who were willing to work within her budget, and by enlisting everyone she knew.

First, she found an outdoor restaurant in a magnificent setting called Inn of the Seventh Ray, that was flexible on cost. They have no alcohol license, so it was beer, wine, and champagne for everyone.  Plus, they bake their own wedding cakes so there were no cake cutting fees.

She hired a cute, bubbly, actress friend of her sister’s to be the MC and DJ, gave her a laptop with prerecorded songs, a script, and let her do her thing.

She used officiant, Matthew Linzmeier, who was a friend of the family’s.

Her mother took a flower arranging class and became the florist.

She found a college kid named Andrew Lee, studying photography and used him as her photographer.

She called in a favor with a graphic artist friend of DKNG who designs band posters, and had him design their invitations in the form of posters.

Their invitation designed by a graphic artist who does band posters

Her husband’s mother made the cake topper.

And since Disneyland is a special place to both Christine and Jacob, Christine blew up vintage Disneyland posters, had them printed at Shutterfly, and used them as table themes.

Christine said it wasn’t the fanciest wedding, but that wasn’t what they were after.  They wanted something beautiful, meaningful, and personal.  And that’s what they got.

Her one splurge… her $3,000 dress because who doesn’t want to look like a princess on her wedding day?

Well, if you live in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area, now there’s a solution.  Donate it to the Priceless Gown Project.

This is an organization that provides free formal wear to girls who want to attend their prom but can’t afford a dress.  Last year they outfitted over 500 girls by setting up a boutique at the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor and over 200 volunteers came out to help.

I was talking to Leslie Collier, the director of the program, and as she was describing the process to me — how each girl works one-on-one with a volunteer to help find the right dress  — I was blown away.   She said many of these girls don’t have a mom to go shopping with, so the relationship with the volunteer is an important one.  Not only are these volunteers providing fashion advice, but they are also there to provide mentoring, information, and connection, something many of these girls really need.

So if you live in the Baltimore or DC area and you’ve got a dress or some time to give, I can’t think of a better way than the Priceless Gown Project.