It happens every year like clockwork. Masses of teenage girls spend ungodly amounts of money on dresses they’ll only wear once and hairstyles that will droop in five minutes and be out of style in five years.
Teenage guys suddenly have to know how to coordinate (heaven forbid his tux clashes with his dates dress!), and the difference between wrist or pin on, and rose or carnation, or else.
Parents are bribed, pleaded with, or downright tortured to extend curfews, give up plastic, or offer homes for loud after hour bashes that wake the neighborhood. No, it’s not another episode of “My Sweet Sixteen”. This experience is called prom, and if you’re a teenager, your prom can be one of the greatest nights of your life.
That’s right I said it. It CAN be. As a high school student I attended 5 proms, 2 Homecomings, 2 Christmas dances, and a few ROTC Officers things ( thanks to my high school boyfriend). Please allow me to share my tried and true tips for making Prom a night to remember.
- ASK him
Yes ladies. It can be as simple or complicated as you want to make it, but ask. Not sure if he feels the same way. Gage it. For the guy that goes to your school that you sort of talk to and have a crush on, a line like “Can you believe prom is only (time) away?” could be all you need to get the details.
“But it’s guy’s choice…” I hear. Okay so a dude from your same school may not be the best way to go in those situations. Broaden your circle. How about that guy friend that doesn’t go to your school? Or maybe a cute coworker (as long as your work isn’t the date police or have one of those can’t date corworkers rules)? Go to church? How about one of the guys in your age group? The list can be endless.
If you still don’t have a date, get in a group with your girls. Chances are at least 2 or 3 will be in the same boat, and you all can skip the added pressure of impressing a guy.
Just don’t make your prom about chips and a remote, whatever you do.
- Plan, plan, plan
If the planning process involves you, and it should, be an active part. Don’t be afraid to speak up about what you’d like to do. Just be sensitive to what others in the group may want to do as well. Especially if you’re in a group, the night is not all about you, it should be about the best time for EVERYONE. While on the subject of planning….be minute about details because you also need to……….
- Budget, budget, budget………
And bring extra cash. One Sadie Hawkins dance, we actually hired horsedrawn carriages to drive us up to a park in the foothills. What my friend who made the arrangements failed to tell the rest of us is that if we were late, which our group was, the carriages charged extra for waiting. An extra 20.00 in fact. While 20.00 is not a big deal, there was not an ATM nearby that I could run to if I didn’t have enough cash. (I had to do that later, before dinner). Horse carriages are considerably less than limos, and some restaurants tack an automatic gratuity to parties of a certain number. Not to mention a myriad of other expenses that could creep up depending on your plans. Budget concerns are also a good reason to ………
- Think outside the box
When I went to Homecoming my junior year, the guys did not take us to a fancy froufrou restaurant. Instead they took us to a secluded spot where they had a picnic table set up with candlelight and sandwiches. This was honestly one of the best pre dance dinners ever. We didn’t have to deal with overpriced menus, and lines with other dancegoers. It was just our group, and it was laid back, and it was very nice. We ate on a hilltop overlooking the city.
Another blast my friends and I had thinking outside the box was our senior year, going to junior prom, which was girls choice at my high school. Instead of renting a limo, we rented – get this – a U-Haul!!!! No one else had a U-Haul that night and it was great. No, our dresses were not ruined. We borrowed furniture to sit on and it was cool to have our whole group hanging out back there.
5. Roll with the punches!
Not everything will be picture perfect. If it is then congratulations. However for the rest of us, there will be little bumps here and there.
For example, my senior year, despite my pleading, for senior prom, my date wore an Elmo tie. Instead of throwing a tantrum and refusing to be seen anywhere with him, we had a pretty good time. I can honestly tell you no one else wore an Elmo tie.
And last but not least – don’t forget to have fun. Make it a night to remember. Now go knock ’em dead!!!!!!!!!!!!
