With
so many things to remember on Prom night, these tips will help you keep
things running smoothly.
Your
prom will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable events from your
high school years. Prom is an incredible milestone in a teen's life.
Therefore, every detail should be thoughtfully planned out in order
to guarantee a successful and magical evening to remember for years
to come.
Your
Date
Be sure to ask your date early, at least three weeks before the affair.
Girls need time to shop for that special dress and guys need to reserve
and get fitted for a tuxedo. Corsages and boutonnieres also must be
ordered ahead of time. Under no circumstances must a date forget to
bring his date a corsage. You wouldn't want your date to feel unadorned
while all the other ladies are showing off their colorful blossoms.
It is most polite to inquire about the color of your date's dress so
that you can order a corsage that will match or complement her gown
and not clash with it. (You wouldn't want to order a red flower if she
is wearing orange.) The trend is moving away from traditional corsages
and towards wrist corsages and nosegays. A wrist corsage is an elastic
band on a flower that can be worn as a bracelet and a nosegay is a small
bundle of flowers to be carried. A young lady usually presents her date
with a boutonniere, a small flower for his lapel, most likely a rose
or a carnation.
Many of us
have scars to prove that we have been mistakenly jabbed from the pinning
on of a corsage or boutonniere. Here is the foolproof way to alleviate
the drawing of blood at the beginning of your date:
Always place
the corsage on with the flowers on top, just like they grow. Insert
the pin horizontally into the fabric of the dress, back through the
fabric and slide the pin over the stem (around the middle) and then
back through and out of the fabric. This not only holds the corsage
securely, but creates four holes in the dress. Make sure the flower
is pinned in a comfortable place, not too close to her face and where
it won't be crushed when dancing. If a strapless dress is worn, it is
acceptable for the lady to pin her corsage onto her handbag.
A gentleman's
boutonniere should be placed on his lapel at the buttonhole or where
it should be. Holding the flower in place, insert the pin into his jacket,
then up through the fabric and flower stem and back into and out of
the fabric.
Transportation
You and your date should decide together how you will arrive at the
prom — by car, carpooling with others, or by a car service, such
as a limousine. A limousine can be a lot of fun and definitely takes
the pressure off of driving and finding parking. However, don't forget
to factor in the cost of the driver's tip when you call ahead for an
estimate. An average tip is 20 percent of the total bill for the driver.
You may want to get two or three other couples together and split the
cost. If you decide to carpool, be certain you have chosen a responsible
driver and one who has vowed to not consume any alcoholic beverages
throughout the entire evening.
Dinner
It
is customary to go to dinner before the grand event. However, it certainly
does not have to be the most expensive restaurant in town. It can even
be a dinner or potluck at someone's house. Many couples are taking part
in progressive dinner parties. This would involve four different houses:
One for appetizers, the second for soup and salad, the third for the
main course, and the last for dessert. The parents usually enjoy progressive
parties because they can not only be involved in serving the food, but
they always enjoy seeing each couple looking their best in their fanciest
attire. If you decide to go to a restaurant with a group, first make
a reservation and, second, try not to disturb others around you by celebrating
too loudly. You can save your excitement for the dance floor. Remember
that many upscale restaurants will add on a service charge for larger
parties of eight or more. Check your bill when it comes to see if the
tip has already been added. Keep in mind that many restaurants will
not split the bills for each couple. Therefore, the gentlemen should
make the financial arrangements beforehand. It is probably easiest for
each to bring cash. The other option is for one to charge the entire
bill and each gentleman would promptly pay him back.
Dance
This will probably be the most fun of the entire evening. However, many
couples spend so much time at dinner and at the after parties, that
they miss out on a lot of fun at the dance itself. Make sure you don't
cut yourself short of the event that many classmates have spent countless
hours to plan and organize. One of the most exciting moments of prom
is seeing everyone dressed up and looking glamorous and handsome. Remember
to express to everyone how pretty or attractive they look and don't
forget to get your picture taken. These photos will serve as reminders
of your remarkable evening for many years.
After-Parties
This is the part of the evening where creativity will come in handy.
My senior prom year was quite memorable because we went to a friend's
house where her gracious mother and father served an enormous breakfast
for all of us. If no private home is offered, someone in your group
may come up with some unsafe suggestions like the beach, all-night clubs,
or rented hotel rooms. Use your common sense and don't make a decision
that will put you or anyone else in jeopardy. You will undoubtedly regret
it later. Discuss your curfew with your parents and stick to it. Many
parents will be reasonable to extend your curfew time later than normal
for this special occasion.
Once again,
I want to stress the importance of planning and organizing early. Both
you and your date should be involved in the planning. Visualize how
you want the evening to be and follow through on all plans. The earlier
your plans are settled, the less stress leading up to the grandiose
event. Have fun and most importantly be safe!
Kristi Vannatter, an actress and singer
who works for the Walt Disney Company in Orlando, has starred in numerous
commercials and is currently a pageant coach and consultant. Kristi
also is the host of the television show At the Top of Her Game,
airing on Monday nights at 6 p.m. in Florida.
MISTER
LYNN'S ART OF ETIQUETTE
