How many damas and chambelanes? Court sizes and what they cost

The traditional court has seven damas and seven chambelanes, plus her chambelán de honor, for 15 young people in all. Many families choose a smaller court, such as three to five pairs. Each dama's dress typically costs about $180 and each chambelán's outfit about $150.

How many damas and chambelanes does a quinceañera have?

The traditional court has 14 members, seven damas and seven chambelanes, plus her chambelán de honor. With him, that's 15 young people next to her.

The U.S. Catholic bishops' page on the quinceañera describes her as often accompanied by fifteen young men and women of her choice. Today many families choose a smaller court, and the size is up to her and your budget.

Can she have a smaller court?

Yes. Many families choose three to five pairs, and some have no court at all. The waltz and the surprise dance work with any even number of dancers.

• A full court: seven damas, seven chambelanes and her chambelán de honor.
• A smaller court: three to five pairs, plus her chambelán de honor.
• Chambelanes only: she dances with a group of chambelanes, and her girlfriends help her get ready.
• Damas only: her friends do the surprise dance with her, and her dad or her chambelán de honor dances the waltz.
• No court: she dances the waltz with her dad, and the family and padrinos take turns with her.

Plan the same number of damas and chambelanes, so every dancer has a partner in the waltz. The guide to damas and chambelanes explains each role in the court.

How much does each member of the court cost?

A dama's dress typically costs about $180, in a range of $160 to $200. A chambelán's outfit typically costs about $150, in a range of $130 to $170. These are national numbers from Su Quince's 2026 data.

Her chambelán de honor needs an outfit too, at about another $150. The choreographer is one fee for the whole court, typically $800 to $1,000, so a smaller court doesn't lower that line.

Who pays for the court's outfits?

Each dama's family usually buys her dress, and each chambelán's family usually pays for his outfit. Those amounts sit outside the quinceañera's family budget.

Some host families pay for the whole court, and others split the cost with the court's families. If you're paying, add the court's total to your budget. For seven pairs, that's about $2,310 before her chambelán de honor. The quinceañera cost guide has the rest of the family's budget.

How do you choose the right number for her court?

Start with the friends and cousins she can't leave out. Then check that number against your budget and your rehearsal calendar.

1. Have her list the friends and cousins she wants next to her in the photos.
2. Count the pairs, and add her chambelán de honor.
3. Multiply by the outfit prices above, and decide who pays.
4. Check that every family can make 6 to 12 weekly rehearsals.
5. Ask the hall how much room the dance floor has for the waltz.
6. Pick a backup for each spot, because plans change in a year.

Every pair adds two outfits, two families to call and two people who have to make every rehearsal. If the list keeps growing, a smaller court with steady dancers is easier to rehearse.

What about hired chambelanes?

Some families hire chambelanes from a dance company that brings trained dancers and a routine. These companies quote one price for the group, so ask for the quote in writing with the number of dancers, the rehearsals and the outfits it includes.

Hired chambelanes can pair with her damas, or dance with her alone. Ask how many rehearsals they hold with the damas before the day.

What does the court do on the day?

The court usually goes to the Mass with her, poses for photos with her and walks into the hall before she does. At the party, the court dances the waltz and the surprise dance and sits together near the head table.

Some dioceses have rules for the court in church. The Diocese of Fort Worth's guidelines ask that the court not walk in as paired couples at the Mass, and give the example of the court lining the aisle as she comes in with her family. Ask your parish before the court rehearses its entrance.

When should she choose her court?

She should choose her court about eight months before her quince. The families then have time to plan for the outfits, and the choreographer can be booked about seven months out.

Rehearsals usually start two to three months before her date. The quinceañera planning checklist shows when to order the dresses and reserve the outfits.

The court page in the free Su Quince planner lists every dama and chambelán, and each rehearsal has an RSVP link, so you know who's coming before practice starts.