I need help with a party invitation my daughter received.

And since this is the only site I frequent (I usually lurk in GD or LBN or the Massachusetts forum), and since Democrats are by virtue of their party affiliation, smarter than most, I thought I might pop over to the lounge for some cultural education.

My daughter was just invited to a quinciera (sp?) for a girl she goes to school with (friendly, but not friends). I understand that this is a big affair, and that my daughter needs to dress appropriately (I assume that she should dress as though she were attending a wedding, yes?). What I'm not sure of is what an appropriate gift would be. This is someone she has just recently become friendly with. I'm very excited for her - what a great way to learn about other cultures! But I really don't know the first thing about how much to spend, or what type of gift, or even what this particular girl likes. I feel so ignorant!
I hope one of you savvy DUers can give me some advice.
Thanks in advance!

time for a girl turning 15 in that culture. It's a rite of passage, a coming-of-age ceremony.

I don't have any particular gift ideas, but I wouldn't stress about it. Use your daughter as a good "test marketer", is SHE likes the gift idea, her friend probably would, too.

Good luck and I hope your daughter has fun! :hi:

a debutante ball or "cotillion"

Since you don't know them that well I'd stick with something neutral like a bracelet she can exchange. :hi:

nice thing to do, if it's in your budget.

A bracelet from a nice department store would be nice... Have your daughter help pick it out, so that it's something that SHE would like, right?

I knew I came to the right place!

http://gomexico.about.com/cs/culture/a/quinceanera.htm

It's a detailed explanation of the ceremony, though the subject of gifts doesn't appear to come up.

I got some information, but it was mostly for the girl, not the guests. This is very helpful.

friendly.

Jewelry is always appropriate, regradless of how close the guest is to the honoree.

I remeber them being a great deal of fun. Aah, the good ol' days.

and I'm glad to help initiate a stroll down memory lane for you! I'm so glad my daughter is going to have experiences that I was never exposed to (irish-catholic from the northeast - never even heard of calimari until I met my italian husband!). I just want to make sure she's not completely clueless!