Quinceañera planning timeline: when to send the save the date, invitations and slideshow
A quinceañera is planned like a wedding, often by a whole family at once. The easiest way to keep everyone calm is to agree on the dates early: when the save the date goes out, when invitations follow, when RSVPs close and when the slideshow has to be finished.
Below is the timeline most families follow. If you already know her date, the party planner works it out for you and adds every step to your calendar.
Twelve to eighteen months before: the big decisions
This is when you book the things that sell out: the church or ceremony, the reception venue, the photographer and the DJ or band. Choose her court (the damas and chambelanes) and the padrinos, and start thinking about the dress, because many gowns are made to order.
It is also the moment to pick her colors. Almost every later decision, from the flowers to the invitation, follows from the palette, so settle it now. Our guide to quinceañera color themes has twelve palettes to start from.
Six to eight months before: send the save the date
Once the venue is confirmed, announce the date. Six months is the usual minimum, and eight is kinder if relatives fly in from another state or country.
A video or musical save the date works well here because it is shared in family group chats, where a short animated clip with her photo gets watched and forwarded. Keep it simple: her name, the date, the city and "invitation to follow".
Three months before: build the invitation website
A website invitation holds everything guests ask about in one link: the mass and reception times, both addresses with maps, the dress code, the hotel block and an RSVP form. Publish it about ten to twelve weeks out so guests can check details whenever they want, and so you are not answering the same question forty times.
Six to eight weeks before: send the invitation
This is the formal invitation. Many families now send a video invitation by text and WhatsApp and print a smaller number of cards for grandparents and padrinos. If you made a website, add its link or a QR code to the invitation so the RSVP is one tap away.
Six weeks before: collect photos for the slideshow
The slideshow is usually the most emotional part of the night, and the photos take longer to collect than people expect. Ask grandparents, tías and padrinos for baby pictures now, and set up one shared album so nothing gets lost in text threads. Aim for a mix of baby photos, family moments, friends and recent portraits.
Three weeks before: close the RSVP
Your caterer and venue need a final count, usually two to three weeks ahead. Put the RSVP deadline on the invitation and on the website, then follow up personally with anyone who has not answered.
Two weeks before: finish the slideshow
Edit the slideshow in Canva, check every name is spelled correctly, and download it as an MP4. Watch it all the way through with the sound on. Our step-by-step guide to editing a quinceañera slideshow in Canva walks through it.
The week of the party
Test the slideshow on the venue screen or projector if you can. Bring it on a USB drive and keep a copy on your phone as a backup. Confirm timings with the DJ, the photographer and the venue coordinator, and then let the family enjoy the week.
A quick reference
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 12 to 18 months | Venue, church, photographer, DJ, court, colors |
| 6 to 8 months | Save the date |
| 10 to 12 weeks | Website invitation with RSVP |
| 6 to 8 weeks | Invitations |
| 6 weeks | Collect slideshow photos |
| 2 to 3 weeks | RSVP deadline, finish the slideshow |
| 1 week | Test the slideshow on the venue screen |
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I send quinceañera save the dates?
Six months is the common minimum. Send them eight months ahead, or earlier, if many guests will travel.
When should quinceañera invitations go out?
Six to eight weeks before the party, with an RSVP deadline two to three weeks before the date.
How long should a quinceañera slideshow be?
Most families keep it between five and ten minutes, roughly the length of two or three songs, so guests stay with it.