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Make your Prom Night Special!

Go with the flow.
Well, it's a strange-but-true fact that sometimes even the most anticipated events don't unfold according to plan, and even on Prom Night your evening could be in need of a gentle nudge in a fun direction. Don't leave your good time entirely up to chance or think that it's all about looking great. Bring along your Secret Weapons: Imagination, Enthusiasm and Planning!

Get The Conversation Going: Good conversation is probably the key to fun. You know all the regular subjects you talk about at school. But why not venture off the everyday path with some more unusual topics? Ask your date or go around your group and pose silly, deep or thoughtful questions. The goal is to get your date or your friends talking, laughing, interacting and letting go.
Here are a few examples:
· Would you rather be a rock star or a movie star, and why?
· If you could be any animal, which animal would you be?
· What would you do with a million dollars?
· If you could travel to any one country, which one would it be, and why?
· How would you change the world?

Plan a dinner: Make a list of at least three places to go to if the dance begins to drag. Do you know of a coffeehouse or fun restaurant where you could go for dessert, tea or coffee or a soft drink, or a fun pizza place? If it's a place you've never been before, check out the hours and the prices beforehand to make sure it'll be OK.

After Prom Know-how: Plan an "afterparty" at someone's house. Arrange beforehand for plenty of snacks and sodas, or plan to order pizza (check to see how late the pizza parlor delivers!) Bring videos and CDs. Come up with some group party games, like Charades or Telephone (you can find books of party games at the library or a bookstore) -- the goofier, the better. Remember, it's better to plan too much fun than too little.

When the clock stikes 12:00am! Some cities have late-night or midnight movies. Check into what's playing where and at what time so that you'll have that information handy. A showing of a just-out feature or "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" can be a great standby activity. ***Remember to Check your local curfew laws and see if they apply to you and your guest***

Don't forget that camera! Have a few "throwaway" cameras ready at the Prom to create some fun moments. You can ask your date or your friends to pose for some fun -- not serious -- "Glamour Shots."

Some old standby's you shouldn't forget: Your dinner might contain lots of garlic or onions, and it's going to be a long night. Be prepared with gum or breath mints, and bring enough to share with your date or friends.
Prepare for the worst, (or inconveinence). Always bring extra cash for emergencies, including change for the phone or a telephone credit card -- even if you carry a cell phone.

No one asked you to the Prom yet!?  Dont Panic!, follow our guide to snagging that Prom date!

Debates rage over whether it's OK for a girl to ask a boy out on a date. Some experts say, Of course! Others feel that only the male should do the asking. It's our opinion that boys generally have a very clear idea of who they dream of going out with, and if you were the one you'd probably know it by now - EVEN IF they seem shy.
But if you choose to ask here are some great tipsto follow:
• Be Prepared For Rejection. Boys don't always respond well to being pursued. Sometimes, like girls, they freak out and run the other way. Sometimes, like girls, they aren't particularly nice when they turn someone down! In fact, even the absolute kindest rejection in the world can really, really hurt. If you plan to ask a boy to the Prom, be prepared to receive the wrong answer . . . and live!
• Have A "Plan B." Don't put all your emotional eggs in one basket; make sure you have a plan to fall back on, such as going with a friend or friends, or asking someone else. If he doesn't want to go to the Prom with you -- NEXT!
• Mr. Right Now: One great answer to the Prom Date dilemma is to ask a boy who is a friend rather than a romantic prospect. You can say something like, "Since we're friends and I know we'd have a great time, if so-and-so doesn't ask me by (a certain date), would you like to go to the Prom together?" Just don't expect him to pay, buy you a corsage, or kiss you at the big moment. But there are worse things -- like staying home!
• Responsibilities Come With Being The Asker (And you thought this was going to be easy): If your intended date says "Yes," make sure you work out ahead of time who's going to be responsible for arranging and paying for what. Prom tickets, your and his flowers, dinner, transportation . . . You asked him. You are in charge. Unless he explicitly agrees to shoulder some of the load, it's up to you to make sure all of these details are taken care of.
• Group Dates - When not having a date is cooler! Of course, everyone would like to have a date for Prom. That is the ultimate. But we don't always get the whole enchilada -- sometimes we just get to share a plate of nachos. And they still taste mighty good! At some schools, it's completely acceptable to go to Prom in a group. Why not make it a cool thing to do at yours? Whether you get a date or not, you and your friends -- male as well as female -- can shop together, get dressed up together, rent a limo together, dance together. . . Throw a little pre-party just for singles! Serve pizza and Cokes, have a raffle, even play silly games to get everyone laughing. Crown your own alternative Prom King and Queen.

Keep in mind that dating isn't always as fun as it looks. There will likely be more than a few girls and guys who have ended up on the Prom Date From Hell who are watching you and your group enviously! Being with friends is far from the worst thing that can happen.

Are you ready for your Prom yet???

If the clock is ticking and you still think you have time guess again.  You can still avoid disaster by following this his-and-her prom-prep timeline.

6 weeks:
Get a date. Take the date of your dreams off the market ASAP.
5 weeks:
Plan your prom budget. Last year the average prom cost about $800 per couple. Request a couple of extra shifts at work, or ask mom and dad for a loan.
4 weeks:
Buy a dress. Make sure it fits right so you won't trip over the hem or spend the night adjusting your straps. Rent a tux. Reserve your penguin suit early or you could end up in a last-minute leftover from the '70s. *Hint:* go with a clip-on bow tie. Make a hair/makeup/nails appointment. Act fast: Every girl in town will want to be at the salon the day of the dance. Practice now if you plan to do it yourself so you don't end up with a half-done 'do. Plan transportation. Organize two other couples to book a limo and share the bill with. Or make sure you can borrow mom and dad's car.
3 weeks:
Dinner reservations. If your date will be the only hot dish at your dance, reserve a pre-prom table for two.
2 weeks:
Order a corsage. A wrist corsage frees up her hands and won't mess up her dress. Hint: Take a swatch of her dress to the florist when you order so the flowers match. Order a boutonniere. A boutonniere should not be a bouquet. Two or three small flowers will suffice. Hint: practice your hairstyle and makeup, try on your dress and wear your prom shoes around the house for a few hours.
1 week:  (DEFCON 5)
Get a haircut. Guys, this is your chance to look suave. Shaggy locks don't make a great fashion statement. Confirm all reservations. You also might want to firm up your after-prom party plans.

Prom Day... Don't forget these lil' tidbits...
Prom checklist. Guys: Cuff links, tuxedo studs, cummerbund, tie and dress shoes. Hint: Spring for a pair of black dress socks. Girls: Fill your purse with extra pantyhose and film.
 
 

Hmmm... How much does all this cost?  Well let's see.

Prom tickets ($25 to $200 per couple)
Outfit (her): dress, shoes, shawl/wrap, jewelry, bag, stockings, corsage ($50 to 200)
(Fairygodmothers Inc. dress $0.00)
Outfit (him): tux, shirt, suspenders or cummerbund, shoes, socks, boutonierre ($75 to $150)
Gorgeousity (her): hair, makeup, manicure/pedicure, hair clips, ($50 to $250)
Gorgeousity (him): haircut, shave ($5 to $40)
Boutonniere (her): ($5 to $10)
Corsage (him): ($10 to $25)
At-Prom Photos: $40 to $150 (remember, families will want copies)
Candid Photos: disposable camera or extra film ($10 to $25)
Transportation: limo/rental split with other couples, gas money ($5 to $1,000)
Dinner (if not part of prom ticket): cook your own romantic dinner or go to a nice restaurant. If you're going out, bring $1 bills for coat-check ($1 tip for each coat) and valet parking (around $5 plus $2 tip) ($25 to $125)
Miscellaneous: Souvenirs, etc. ($10 to $40)
 

***Hint: Once you add up all your expenses, divide the total by the number of weeks until prom and you'll know how much to put away each week to pay for everything.***
 
 

Have a dress to donate? Need to contact us? Please send all inquiries to Joyce Jesko