Lifestyle
Prom-Proofing: 9 Ways to Guarantee an Amazing Prom Night
Since it’s early conception in the 1800s, Prom (short for Promenade), has become a rite of passage amongst teenagers all over the world. It is a celebration of the transition from childhood to adulthood, and unlike other formal events or balls put together by older members of the community, this is the first time the youth are allowed to plan every aspect of the event for themselves. Yes- there are other adult chaperones, usually school faculty, that supervise and mediate this planning, ultimately confirming or vetoing all final decisions. However, prom has become a highly valued aspect of youth culture, because for the first time in their lives, the kids are really at the helm. Teens look foreword to prom because it is the first taste of the freedom coupled with responsibility. Mommy and Daddy are no longer responsible for selecting the party theme, décor, music, food ect., and though sometimes regarded as a decadent, frivolous tradition, prom is actually a great final exercise in organization, teamwork, and group compromise, for the Juniors and Seniors entrusted with throwing an amazing evening.
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Though high school is long behind me, I vividly remember counting down the days to my prom. This countdown did not begin at the beginning of the school year, I had been crossing off days in my calendar till my projected date of my first prom night, since middle school. While other girls fantasized about their future wedding dresses, I compulsively watched teen focused, romantic dramedies, rewinding and re-watching the always climactic prom scenes. I even had a collection of prom dress cutout collages of poofy, princess, prom dresses from magazines, like Seventeen and Teen People, storing it safely in a special keepsake box. I treasured my prom dreams, wanting each detail to be perfectly planned, before ever entering high school.
I didn’t have an older sister, so I looked to my older, wiser cousin as a mentor and confidant, for all things girl. Whenever the subject of prom would come up, she would remind me that going to prom is not as exciting as it was hyped up to be, “You will spend hours getting all fancy to take a bunch of pictures, only to look back at pictures ten years later, and regret every styling choice you were once so confident about. Upon arriving to the prom, you will want to dance, but quickly realize your feet are killing you, because dancing in heels is much harder than it looks. Your date will inevitably do something to annoy you, no matter how long you have known him prior to this evening. The DJ will then conclude the night, probably playing Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin (the least romantic song ever), but you will feel obligated to awkwardly sway with your date, in a poor attempt to slow dance, under the low lighting of a petering disco ball.
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At this point in the night, you, your date, and your peers will all reek with the stench of sweaty, hormone riddled, body odor, but politely pretend not to notice each other’s sweat stained taffeta and chiffon. Whatever students thought they were slick about hiding their underage alcohol consumption, will out themselves by either acting a fool, crying, or vomiting on everyone else. You will attempt to go to a hopping after party with all the “cool kids”, but this will inevitably get busted up by police, within fifteen minutes of your arrival. All in all, prom is a pretty anticlimactic evening. Even if you decide to compensate for the lackluster night, insulating this societal milestone with another personal one (aka succumbing to cultural cliché and giving up your V-card), you are going to be doubly disappointed. Just trust me on THAT one.
This isn’t to say the night can’t still be enjoyable or memorable. Not saying that at all. I’m just saying, having this high level of expectation and taking the whole thing too seriously, is going to leave you disappointed. Don’t buy into the hype.”
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Of course, my cousin’s brutal, bubble bursting honesty, made me sink into a puddle of hypersensitive, pre-teenage hysterics, however after completely neglecting to follow her advice at my Junior Prom, I realized she was right. What I expected to be a magical night of wonder and romance, ended up being riddled with unnecessary teenage drama and angst; my expensive couture gown ended up covered in mysterious stains, I could only bare walking in heels for a total of three minutes, ruining my pedicure. My date refused to dance at all, and later ditched me to hook up with someone less prudent and “more cool” than I. Also, while walking barefoot in the dark, I stepped on chewed gum that had been submerged in a puddle of vomit. It was a HORRIBLE night.
Fortunately, I knew I had another chance to do it right with my Senior Prom, and I actually had an amazing night! The secret to salvaging my prom experiences was easier than I thought. This is how I turned everything around.
1. Don’t obsess over your dress!
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When shopping for a dress, don’t wait till the last minute and buy something on impulse. You may realize you actually do not like it at all, and it will be too late to make an exchange. At the same time, do not get so hung up on buying the perfect gown, that you choose something so far in advanced, you end up not liking it by Prom Night. I have a friend who bought her Junior Prom dress during Sophomore year, and not only did she lose weight, no longer fitting the dress, when Prom rolled around, she realized she hated the color and the silhouette she once loved so dearly. It was just far too trendy and no longer suited her anymore. It ended up being a huge waste of time and money, so do yourself a favor and don’t even start looking at dresses until at least two months before. Pick a dress that you feel comfortable in. Don’t get hung up on brand names and price tags, choose something that genuinely suits you and your personal style. Confidence is the best accessory one could ever wear, so as long as you feel beautiful, I guarantee you will look beautiful.
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2. When it comes to your hair, be sure to plan ahead how you intend to style it.
If going to a stylist, book the appointment as soon as possible, and bring in reference photos to help your stylist achieve the exact look you are imagining. Also the week before prom is not the time to impulsively make a drastic change to your hair’s color and cut. If you are wanting to make a bold change to your hair, doing it before prom is a major risk with potentially disappointing consequences- if don’t like how it comes out, you will be obsess about it all night long. If you plan to DIY your hair, don’t try to get too crazy either. You can build off of styling methods you are already familiar with to create a timeless, elegant look.
3. No one is ever too cool to dance!
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I don’t care if you have a date or going stag, dancing at Prom is an absolute must, if you want to have a truly fun night. If you sit out the whole night, you will regret it later, so cut loose, get down, and bust a move.
4. Bring your bestie or go with a group to prom, instead of a formal date.
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I know it’s tradition to invite your romantic interest as your date, but I can tell you from experience, the pressure to entertain someone of romantic interest can be a lot, especially if you are the one on the position of extending the invite for your school. If you are in a romantic relationship already, it’s totally understandable to want to invite him or her, but make sure your relationship is in a solid, positive state before doing so. This night is about you and you, so you can’t worry about what other people may or may not be thinking. The best way to drama-proof your evening and ensure an incredible time, is to surround yourself with your true friends.
