Take a Girl to Prom

Some people spend their whole year getting excited for prom - and understandably so. Prom is an opportunity for people to celebrate the end of the year and to spend time with their friends and date. Taking a girl to prom can be overwhelming, especially if you haven't done it before, but it will be more than worth the hassle.

Steps

Asking Your Date and Making Plans

  1. Ask the girl. The first step in taking a girl to the prom is also the hardest: you have to ask her to go with you. You can do this simply, by pulling her aside between classes, or more elaborately.
    • If you’re not crushing on anyone at the moment, consider asking a close friend to prom. You already know you’ll have a good time with her.
    • If you don't want to go with anyone in particular, you can also go with a big group of your single friends.
  2. Consider a promposal. If you feel up to the challenge, ask a girl to the prom with an elaborate promposal. Promposals should be fun and creative, so try to find a fun and personal way to ask your date to join you.[1]
    • Try covering her bed with balloons that read “I have a big question to pop…will you go to prom with me?”[2]
    • Make her a sign out of legos that reads, "Lego to Prom!"[1]
    • Have a pizza sent to her house with writing on the box, reading "Is this too cheesy or will you go to prom with me?"
  3. Decide if you want to go as part of a group. If you or your date have close circles of friends, you may want to team up and go to prom as a group. You may also run into a situation where you and your date disagree on which group to go with. Be a gentleman and let her choose.[3]
    • It ultimately doesn’t matter which group you go with. You’ll see your friends at the prom either way.
    • If you choose to skip the group, that’s okay too. It just means you and your date will have more time alone.
  4. Decide on transportation. Depending on who you're going to prom with, you may want to take a limo. You may also want to skip the limo and take separate cars. Talk it over with your date and your group and decide what works best for your vision and your prom budget.[4]
    • If you need to accommodate a large number of people, school buses and party buses are also great options.
    • Pick a point person to collect all the money and make all the arrangements. Make sure you get them your money on time.
  5. Rent your tux. Most proms are black tie, which means renting a tux is a necessity. Talk with your date and find out what kind of dress she’s planning to wear. Then look for a tux that goes with that theme.[5]
    • It’s not necessary to match your vest and tie to your date’s dress. You’re better off going with a neutral color, like navy blue or black.
    • Rent your tux early. There are only so many rental places and they run out quickly.
    • Remember to pick your tux up on the correct day and return it the day after the prom.
  6. Buy a corsage. The corsage is a small arrangement of flowers you’ll give to your date to wear on her wrist or dress. The arrangement should match her dress, so ask your date to give you a color swatch of what she plans to wear. Bring that swatch to the florist when you go to buy your corsage.[3]
    • Florists get incredibly busy around prom, so order your corsage at least two weeks prior to prom.
    • For bonus points, ask your date if there’s a style of corsage she likes. Ask her to send you a picture, then give that picture to the florist to use as inspiration.
  7. Make dinner reservations. Some proms include dinner as part of the experience, but some don’t. If your prom doesn’t, plan to make dinner reservations for your group. Figure out how many people will be attending, then look for a restaurant that can accommodate your party.[3]
    • Generally, the good restaurants fill up fast, so try to make your reservations at least three weeks before prom.
    • The restaurant you choose should be nice (not a chain restaurant) and something everyone can enjoy. A steakhouse or Italian restaurant is usually a good bet.

Getting Ready for Prom Night

  1. Get a haircut. Girls spend the days before prom pampering themselves and you should do the same. Make an appointment for you and your friends to get your hair cut at your local barber.[3]
    • You might also spring for a straight razor shave if you feel like you need it.
    • Make your hair appointment for the morning of your prom.
  2. Dress for prom. Plan to spend an hour getting yourself prom appropriate. Take a shower, brush your teeth, comb your hair and put on your tuxedo. Put on your tuxedo in the following order: tuxedo shirt (followed by cufflinks and studs), pants, shoes, vest, cummerbund, bowtie and jacket.[3]
    • If you have additional accessories, like suspenders, don't forget to put those on as well.
    • Ask your mom or dad to help you tie your bowtie.
    • Make sure you have everything you need: check for tickets, the corsage, cash and mints.
    • If you’re going to an after-prom party, you may also want to bring clothes to change into.
  3. Pick up your date. Arrive on time (and in a clean car)! Expect that your date will still be preparing, so take some time to make small talk with her parents. When your date walks in, compliment her, then slip the corsage on her wrist.[3]
    • Make sure you pose for any pictures your date's parents want.
    • Thank her parents before leaving and make sure you're clear on what time your date is supposed to be back home.
  4. Take your pre-prom pictures. Pictures will either happen at your date’s house or, if you’re going with a group, at a friend’s house. Be cooperative and smile for all the pictures. And make sure you thank the host before leaving.[3]
    • When posing, place your arm behind the small of your date’s back and let your hand rest on her waist.
    • Take some goofy pictures too. This is a big milestone, so have fun with it.

Dancing the Night Away

  1. Enjoy dinner. This is a sophisticated night, so be on your best behavior. Show up on time and alert the restaurant if your party is running late. Pull out your date’s chair if you can. Be mindful of your table manners and tip generously before leaving.[3]
    • If you’re going with a large group, ask everyone to bring cash. It will accelerate the payment process enormously.
    • Pay for your date’s dinner. It’s the considerate thing to do. If she refuses, split the bill.
  2. Party all night. You finally made it. Now, all that’s left to do is enjoy yourself. Dance with your friends, dance with your date, take pictures and video of the evening - whatever it takes to have a good time, do that.[6]
    • Take plenty of pictures, but don't spend the whole evening on your phone or you'll miss out.
    • Be attentive to your date. Don’t abandon her to run off with your friends the whole evening.
  3. Dance like nobody's watching. Prom is a dance, so it goes without saying that you'll be doing some dancing. Don’t worry about how you look – the only thing that matters is cutting loose and making the most of your evening.[7]
    • Expect to dance most of the fast dances in a large group.
    • For slow dances, hold your date however feels comfortable (and appropriate).
    • If someone asks you to dance and you're not interested, a simple "No thank you" will suffice.
  4. Take part in after-prom festivities. Some schools offer after-prom parties, but if yours doesn’t, you’ll need to find an alternative means of entertaining yourself. Stay away from drugs and alcohol – there’s a strong chance that the choices you make on prom night can end up on social media and come back to haunt you. [3]
    • Feel free to lean in for a kiss, but do not pressure your date for sex. Be a respectful gentleman at all times.
    • For a fun after-prom activity, build a bonfire in someone’s backyard (safely). Or stay up all night and make breakfast the next morning.

Tips

  • Don’t put too much pressure on the evening. Prom will be fun no matter what, so don’t stress yourself out over-planning things.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 http://mashable.com/2014/03/21/instagram-promposals/#ePnGUC1S0OqJ
  2. ↑ http://www.seventeen.com/prom/news/a29014/adorable-new-ways-to-ask-someone-to-prom-2015/
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/04/02/a-young-mans-guide-to-prom/
  4. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/09/prom-2013-10-misconceptions-about-prom_n_2839784.html
  5. ↑ http://patch.com/illinois/orlandpark/10-prom-tuxedo-rules-from-one-who-has-seen-many-guys-do-wrong
  6. ↑ http://www.etiquettejulie.com/blog-media/modern-prom-manners
  7. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/15/10-ways-to-make-prom-less_n_2680400.html?slideshow=true#gallery/280764/8
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