Viviana Retana

Home Made Bouquets

As a pianist played a tune, Raquel Torres-Retana and David Retana walked down the aisle at St. Hilary Catholic Church in Pico Rivera, Calif. Behind them, wearing a white dress and holding a rose and hydrangea bouquet, their youngest daughter, Viviana Retana, made her way to the front of the church, where the priest was waiting. The day that the family had been eagerly awaiting was finally here: Viviana was celebrating her quinceañera.

The Gown

After the Mass which took place on Feb. 18, Viviana and her court went to San Gabriel Mission — a picturesque location about nine miles away that is a popular choice for quinceañeras — to take photos with her court.

One of the reasons why she chose that location was because in the past she has performed there and because she thinks the architecture is beautiful.

“That’s also where my mom went to high school, so I just feel like I'm connected to San Gabriel,” she said.

Comfort

Viviana only had two damas and two chambelánes. Her court wore black lace dresses and all-black tuxedos.

“As much as I love tiffany blue, it just doesn't look good on people so might as well just use black. Even though it did look like they were going to a funeral, they looked nicer than I expected,” Viviana says.

Small Court

The reception took place at The Pico Rivera Golf Club. Guests sat under chandeliers and were served beans, rice, salad and fajitas.

Instead of having a waltz or a surprise dance, Viviana showed off her folklórico skills.

“I've been dancing folklórico since I was three years old,” she says, “and I'm still hanging till this day." Viviana says that dancing signifies who she is, “It’s been a part of my life since I was a baby.”

For Viviana and her family who reside in Whittier, Calif, it was important to stay within their budget of $3,800 -- $500 more than her two older sisters had. Most of the budget went toward the banquet hall, Viviana says.

Her godmother helped pay for the table decorations, which were a tree with tiffany blue flowers at the bottom and crystals dangling from the branches. Her godmother also helped with the candy table.

Father-Daughter Dance

One of Raquel’s friends did Viviana’s makeup and another did her hair. “So then we start our network, our family and our friend network of who can help up save money, and the community comes together,” Raquel explains.

Viviana wanted to have a photo booth at her celebration, so her parents allowed her to take money from her own personal savings account. “That was kind of like my little present to myself to save my parents expenses,” she says.

Culture and religion played a big role in Viviana’s celebration. It was important for her mother that Viviana and her sisters have a strong connection to their Mexican culture.

“They are American, they were born in this county, and they are going to be part of our American society,” Raquel says. “But I'm going to give them as much of their heritage as I possibly can.”

Raquel says that she is glad that her daughters appreciated that having a quinceañera wasn’t just about having a party: “They understood that it’s about our culture, it’s about our religion, it’s about our spirituality, it’s about being a woman.”

No Waltz

Since it was also a day to celebrate being a woman, Raquel did not want Viviana to be accompanied by a chambelán de honor.

“It was about them as women and being strong women and asking for guidance,” Raquel says. “And being able to stand on their own and walk themselves into that church and get their blessing as women, independent.”

Viviana says that one of the most memorable parts of her celebration was the religious ceremony. Viviana appreciated that the people that were the closest to her were there as she was blessed.

“Although I don't really go to church that much when I should, but it just really meant a lot because I had this whole service just for me,” she says.