Sponsors who may help provide items or expenses for a quinceañera are commonly called padrinos.
Padrinos is the plural of padrino, a Spanish word related to godparent or sponsor. At a quinceañera, padrinos may contribute money, clothing, decorations, music, a cake, or ceremonial objects. Their role can also be honorary: they may be trusted relatives or family friends recognized for supporting the celebrant.
The practice varies considerably. Some families ask several sponsors to cover separate elements, while others pay for the event themselves and do not use padrinos. A church may have additional expectations if the celebration includes a Mass, but those requirements are not identical everywhere.
Padrinos are different from the corte de honor. The court usually consists of young attendants who accompany the celebrant, while padrinos are generally adult sponsors or benefactors. Neither role is required for a quinceañera, and neither makes the celebration a wedding or a baptism.