Asheville – Quinceanera is a traditional Latin-American celebration for a girl’s coming of age. The history is so old that it is unclear when or where it started, but what is now celebrated in the Western Hemisphere appears to be a mashup of Spanish and French traditions with pre-Columbian Native American traditions.
The fifteenth birthday was important because that was when girls became eligible for marriage. In Latino communities in the United States, quinceanera has lost some of its traditional meaning, but it’s still cause for a big celebration.
Locally, Brian Valdes helps out with his father’s quinceanera business. He said his father, Jou, used to be a bartender, and “one day somebody asked, out of nowhere, if he would do a party for them.” He obliged and really enjoyed it, so he made the effort to learn how to throw better parties and where to purchase quality products.
He has now been in business for seven years as Decoraciones Valdes. One location is at Smiley’s Flea Market in Fletcher, and the other is at 1240 Brevard Road. Brian’s brother, mother, and stepfather are employed in the store; Brian just pitches in.
While quinceaneras make up most of the store’s business, Brian said they prepare parties for communions, confirmations, baptisms, weddings, graduations, and birthdays at any age. The only catch is that the Valdeses need a six-month lead time.
For a quinceanera, it all starts with the dress. Although there aren’t many quinceanera shops around town, Brian said Decoraciones Valdes is rather unique in letting customers try on the different styles. The store works with a manufacturer in Mexico who sews everything in the theme colors, with the specific design elements dreamed up either by the Valdeses or their customers. As with a wedding, the quinceanera will have damas (bridesmaids) and chamberlanes, all in formal dress designed to match the theme.
The ceremony includes several symbolic items, all of which match the theme and colors of the event. The quinceanera wears flats to the event, where she will receive her “first” pair of high heels. She is also presented with a tiara to show how precious she is in the eyes of her father and her Heavenly Father. Other accessories include either a doll or a teddy bear wearing a dress that matches hers and a decorated bottle. The toy represents childish things, and who gives it to whom varies among subcultures.
Decoraciones Valdes isn’t a venue. It takes parties on-location. The Valdeses can transform a space beyond recognition with tablecloths and skirts and fabric for wrapping chairs, as well as draping walls and ceilings. Then, they make a special chair for the guest of honor. It’s kind of like a throne on which the quinceanera sits and poses for photos with all her invites.
Glittering backdrops and floral arrangements from local organic growers may be added. Bringing it all together with a sense of other-worldliness is the colored lighting, with splashes of color for mood and special effects for the dance floor. Brian invited readers to check out their Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok pages for photos and videos.
Decoraciones Valdes doesn’t retain a DJ on staff, but they can arrange for one or work with the customer’s DJ. DJs have their own pricing, but it’s usually two-tiered, depending on the size of the event. Brian said some come with huge TV screens for displaying photos of the girl’s childhood, and others come with robots.
“Come again?”
“A lot of quinceaneras will want a robot at the party. Around 8:00 or 9:00, they go around handing out things like balloons. It hypes things up.” Brian said it is very common now for DJ’s to either own or rent robots—not locally, though. The Valdeses work with DJs from Greenville to fill robot requests.
The Valdeses can help to any degree with catering. They won’t cook a meal, but they can make the cake and even stack one wedding-style.
The Valdeses sell packages but let customers pick and choose and tweak things to their satisfaction. Pricing depends on the theme. We’ve had Cinderella, Frozen, forest, Hispanic, and rustic. Each package is different and depends on the number of people at the party.” Jou has connections for all the outsourced services, and he handles all the pricing.
Brian said, “A lot of people were doing quinceaneras, but Dad saw not many were doing something elegant, something beautiful that people are going to love. Dad has a way of making designs for everybody to enjoy and have fun at a party.”