“Yes, a court of honor is a tradition worth having, and, yes, you should have one,” says Ally Gutierrez. “However, clearly communicating what that means for the friends and family you are asking to commit is a must.”
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I had the opportunity to visit with Ally about all-thing regarding Courts of Honor and gather wisdom from her 14 years of experience working with Quinceanera’s and her Courts. Here is what I learned:
QS: What is your role with/in planning quinceaneras?
AG: I specialize in teaching the Surprise dance and the formal waltz for the Quince Court
QS: What is the reason for having a Court of Honor?
AG: It Symbolizes the love and support shown for the Mis Quince Anos. These are your loyal family members and friends that have been in your life for a long time. These are the same people that one day you may ask to be a bridesmaid or a groomsman in your wedding. The Court of Honor is a special group of individuals that are the closest to the Mis Quince.
QS: Who are ideal candidates to consider for a Court of Honor?
AG: Family first! brothers, sisters, primas, primos. Always ask your blood family first. Then reach out to your best friends.
QS: Can you have too many or too few size-wise?
AG: In a traditional Quinceanera the goal was to always have 15 couples. Which is a lot! When I had my quince in 2002, I had 15 couples which was 32 people including myself in downtown San Antonio, TX. Nowadays, it’s common to see any number in the quince court. I’ve seen some with two couples and I’ve seen some with 18 couples here in Abilene, TX.
QS: Are there ages best suited for the role? Like can a younger sibling or cousin be in it?
AG: A younger sibling can have a special moment with Mis Quince, such as a special fun solo in the surprise dance, or a sweet slow dance together. But being in the actual court of honor, no. The best ages to be in the court of honor are ages 13-16. This is a good age and they’re able to catch onto choreography pretty quickly.
QS: Do you have suggestions for how to ask someone to be in your Court of Honor?
AG: Oh, I love this question. When asking someone to be in your court, always be over-prepared for this. First, print out everything that you have selected, a picture of their dress with its costs and the shoes you need them to buy. Include a picture of what you want their hairstyle to be.
Be over-prepared for this and here’s why. When you’re asking them at first, of course they say YES, they’re flattered. However, if their parents can’t afford it, then at least you know in the beginning and not one month until your quince. Ask me how many times I’ve seen this. More than you know. So, my advice is to be OVER-PREPARED when asking your court. Give them the full cost up front and a schedule of events leading up to the quinceanera date. OVER-PREPARED is best when asking someone to be in your court.
QS: What should a quinceanera expect from her Court of Honor?
AG: She should expect them to support her and her decisions for her special day. It’s her day! The Court of Honor’s job is to keep her calm, happy and low blood pressure. Attend the rehearsals, purchase your outfits on time, schedule your own haircuts and hair appointments. Don’t make your burdens become hers because she has enough going on. It’s also the court’s job to diffuse any and all drama. In short, if there’s a problem, get an adult, not the Mis Quince. In the end, the court’s job is to make sure she’s having fun and is relaxed.
QS: What should the Court of Honor expect from their Mis Quince Anos?
AG: They should get a schedule early enough from Mis Quince so they can plan accordingly for their rehearsals. She should also include the deadlines for purchases for the court that need to be made. For example, Oct 1st – last day to order vest and tie. Deadlines should be provided that allow the order time to 1-3 months before the quince.
The Court of Honor should also be at the head table with Mis Quince, and they get served before everyone else. The court is also a part of the toast and will have toast cups provided. Lastly, the court should have fun transportation, like a limo, provided when it comes to transportation from the church to the hall. The court should expect Mis Quince to also be a part of their future Quinceanera.
QS: What’s the average expectations cost-wise for the Court of Honor member?
AG: It can range anywhere from $70-$400. Most Mis Quince girls have their court order a dress or their guys a vest and tie from Amazon. But they still need shoes, a haircut for boys, and a hairdo, manicure, pedicure for girls. The last quince that I worked at was all girls. Each girl spent a minimum of $300.00 for the dress, the heels, manicure, pedicure and hair. Then they changed from their dress into jeans, boots, and a t-shirt. Some had to buy cowgirl boots, which can run anywhere from $120-$400.
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