In quinceañera traditions, the sponsors who help organize or pay for the celebration are called padrinos.
Padrinos is the plural of padrino, meaning godfather or sponsor; padrinas is the corresponding feminine plural in some usage. In a quinceañera context, padrinos may be relatives, family friends, or other trusted adults who contribute money, services, or ceremonial items.
Their role varies from one family to another. Some sponsors help with the dress, cake, music, venue, or religious arrangements, while others give a gift or participate symbolically. There is no universal rule that every quinceañera must have padrinos.
Padrinos are different from the court of honor. The court may include the celebrant’s friends or relatives who accompany her during the ceremony and dances. The terms are sometimes mixed up because both groups can appear in formal photographs and programs.