Florida Trip - Our first Quinces Ball

Our week trip to Fort Lauderdale was primarily to help our niece, Camila, with her Quinces coming-out affair/ball. The main ballroom at the Marriott Hotel was the site for the formal occassion. We spent our first three days, assisting Cami's parents with their last minute arrangements. Cami had already posed for the formal picture below a week before we arrived. This framed photo was on display outside the ballroom doors. Since the theme for the Quinces was "A Venetian masquerade ball", Cami & 16 of her high school friends had been practicing waltzing for almost a month on the week-ends with a hired dance instructor. Cami had chosen teal & gold for her colors. The next picture shows part of the table settings. There were 20 tables of ten settings in the ballroom for the 200 guests. Each centerpiece was unique & designed by Cami's godfather, Eladio, who is a florist. We watched him construct the centerpieces the day before.

The men all wore tuxes & the women formal gowns. I borrowed a gown from my sister-in-law, along with shoes & purse to match. She and I went for a manicure & pedicure the morning of the ball. This was my very first manicure or pedicure in my life. I felt quite pampered.

Cami waltzed with her Dad, as well as two high school partners, at the beginning of the evening.

A delicious dinner followed. Then Cami had relatives & friends light the 15 candles around her cake before the D.J. began the dancing that lasted until nearly 0100 a.m.

Here is Jerry, Louis' brother and family. Natalie, the older daughter, flew down from Welsley in the Boston area, to attend her sister's Quinces. Jerry & Nancy are both physicians practicing medicine in Fort Lauderdale. Camila is a Sophomore in High School.