The group that traditionally accompanies the celebrant in formal quinceañera activities is the court of honor.
A court of honor is made up of friends or relatives selected by the quinceañera and her family. Members may participate in the entrance, formal photographs, choreographed dances, and other public parts of the celebration. Depending on the family and region, the court can include young women, young men, or a mixed group.
The court helps turn the birthday into a communal presentation rather than a ceremony focused only on one person. Its members often wear coordinated formal clothing, although the style and degree of matching vary. Some modern celebrations use a small court, while others omit one entirely.
The court of honor is sometimes confused with a wedding party because both groups may enter together and wear coordinated outfits. A quinceañera court, however, belongs to a fifteenth-birthday tradition and does not signify a marriage. Its purpose is companionship, ceremony, and celebration.