Well, it's finally here! The year that my PRINCESS ROYALE, CHANDLER-MICHELLE, celebrates her first ROYALE BALL. I am so excited! So much to do and prepare. Mr. La Petite Plume and I were disappointed at first because we, as Hispanics, have a traditional "Coming Out " party, when a young lady turns "15" years old and is presented to society. We call this a "Quincenera". We waited fifteen years for this major event in our little girls life. This is a formal ball where we as parents present out little girls to society as young women. There is a religious ceremony at church where the Priest will bless the "Debutant" and welcome her to society in her new role as a young woman, and her court will walk down the aisle first, then the birthday girl, for those who wish to go through this ceremony, and a full court of young ladies and young men, friends of your daughter, help to form this formal affair. They will usually wear formal gowns that coordinate in the theme colors chosen by the Birthday Girl, and the young men wear tuxedos. It is basically all of the same preparations for a huge wedding except their is no groom:) Then there is a HUGE BALL usually at a banquet hall, where the Father will take off his daughter's slipper and replace it with a high heel shoe, and she dances with her dad. It is a very emotional and teary moment. Many "Quincenera's have a choreographer teach the court the Waltz and a few traditional dances from ones native country to preform at the "Ball", for the pure enjoyment of her guests. The "Debutante" may choose to have a "slide show" of herself from her infant years all the way through her 15th birthday. Most young ladies will change from their formal gown to a shorter party gown so that she can dance the night away! It takes almost a year to 18 months to plan. Just like a wedding.
Well here is the sad news... After waiting fifteen years for this special event and planning so many special surprises for my Princess, she lowers the "BOOM" on us and tells us she wants to have a 'SWEET SIXTEEN" instead!!! She is now 15 years old. This is it. If she doesn't have this moment celebrated in the "TRADITIONAL" way, she will miss this opportunity forever!
Being the understanding parents that we are, we are now planning a SWEET SIXTEEN for April of 2011. She did decide to incorporate our traditions of the Sweet 15 into her now Sweet Sixteen, so that her father and I will not be too sad. She will be taken to church by a "HORSE AND CARRIAGE", in White:)
So during the course of this year I will be keeping all of you up to date with the planning of this huge event:)) I will be posting a few formal gowns and asking for your help in choosing the perfect gown for our Princess Royale. Also the tiara, shoes, cake and I think I will be making the invitations myself, what do you think:) All in glass!
We will be taking all suggestions for any of the above and we need the perfect song for our Princess to dance with daddy:) Please send me all of your suggestions:) My Mother-n Law will be coming from Colombia, my husbands native country, and will be singing to her, as she is a Professional singer, what a treat! And my very close friend "Gloria Gaynor" will be invited and I know that Chandler -Michelle will want her to sing, "I WILL SURVIVE". I think this will be the appropriate song for me that night!
That is the question... WILL I SURVIVE THIS ONE LONG YEAR OF PLANNING AND CHANDLER-MICHELLE'S CONTINUOUS CHANGES!!!
I know that I can count on all of you to help us narrow it all down!!
Image: Google
Dress: Justin Alexander
