Quinceañera Industry Booming in Texas

By Michael Lopez

It looks like we know where to shoot the next season of Quiero Mis Quinces. According to Fox News Latino, Texas is fast becoming the quinceañera capital of the U.S. With its now-famous Quince Expo, a growing Latino population and a wide variety of vendors, the state is helping this timeless Latin tradition thrive.

The Latino Bridal & Quince Girl Expo is held in five Texas cities each year, attracting more than 6,500 people to its recent show in Dallas. Featuring hundreds of vendors, the event unites families with dresses, hairtsylists, DJs, choreographers, and even horse-drawn carriages.

“Even during a bad economy I haven’t seen a drop in business,” said Raymond Macias, of Unique Promotions of Dallas. "There are so many quinces in one weekend that some churches hold mass for as many as 10 young women at one time."

According to Macias, families often spend as much as $60,000 for the one-night event. Dinners can go as high as $10,000 and DJs can often cost thousands more.

Fans of Quiero Mis Quinces are well aware of that. Memorable quinceañeras from past seasons have included fashion runways, decked out limousines, and even giant coffins in the middle of the dance floor. Obviously, none of that stuff comes cheap.

These dances have become so popular that new quince-centric businesses have opened to cater to the industry's growing clientele. Entrepreneur Oscar Mendoza recently opened Elegancia Formal Wear near Dallas, a dress and costume store dedicated to the quniceañera craze.

“There aren’t any other stores that cater to Latinos and quinceañeras in this area, so I might as well take a chance,” he said.

Other businesses, such as Coreografia Quality, have opened to teach routines to the birthday girl.

“We’re not cheap,” Coreografia Quality’s Daniel Sepulveda said. “We demand anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000 per night.”

And that’s not all. With such trailblazers as QMQ’s Rene, it’s quite possible that quinceañeros could become the next big trend. Perhaps it's time to start investing in Texas tux shops, too.

Have you noticed an increase in quinceañeras lately? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Cultura, Hot Stuff, Quiero Mis Quinces, Quinceaneras, Texas