Adults who sponsor or help provide parts of a quinceañera celebration are commonly called padrinos.
Padrinos is the plural of padrino, a Spanish word for a sponsor or godfather; padrinas is the feminine form in some contexts. Families may ask relatives or trusted friends to contribute to specific elements, such as the religious service, cake, music, or symbolic gifts. The exact responsibilities depend on family and local custom.
The role reflects wider Latin American traditions in which honored adults support important religious or family milestones. In a quinceañera, sponsors may be publicly recognized, but they do not replace the parents or automatically hold a fixed ceremonial position.
A frequent mix-up is confusing padrinos with the court of honor. The court usually consists of young attendants who accompany the celebrant, while padrinos are generally adult sponsors or contributors. Modern families may also fund the event themselves or omit formal sponsors altogether.