While your manners receive scrutiny every day, they will receive a good deal of attention from more people in the time leading up to and during prom. Your prom is an once-in-a-lifetime event. You will want to look your best and make a good impression on your date and your date's parents. Etiquette isn't what your mom fussed at you about when your grandmother came to visit. It is about using proper social skills. It doesn't just consist of using the right fork at dinner or holding the door open for your date. Prom etiquette involves how to make and accept invitations, making proper financial commitments, choosing prom attire, and as mentioned above, how to treat your date's parents.
Most boys rent their tuxedo. If your prom is formal, a black tux is the standard. Fashion tuxes come in many colors, but the basic black looks great on everyone and is usually the least expensive to rent. Remember a prom is not a time to make a comic statement. Your date and her parents will positively not be amused if you show up at their doorstep in a tuxedo t-shirt or formal black shorts. If you wish to be creative and stand out at the prom, consider adding a splash of color with a vest, cummerbund and/or tie that will match the color of your date's dress or wear a top hat and carry a cane.
For the typical prom, girls will need to obtain a formal evening dress. Purchase price of a new prom dress can easily exceed $150.00. As your parents will probably contribute to your prom expenses, sit down with them and take a realistic look at what you are willing and able to spend for a prom dress. Alternatives are out there, such as resale shops and stores that rent dresses for proms. You might consider borrowing a dress from an older sister or other family member. A number of organizations throughout the United States and Canada exist to provide prom clothing and accessories to girls who can't afford them.
BoysGentlemen, you will be responsible for purchasing a corsage for your date. Remember to ask your date in advance what color her prom dress is so the corsage flowers and ribbon colors don't clash with her dress. If you don't know what color might go with her dress you can't go wrong with white roses, baby's breath, freesia, stephanotis, or carnations. Also be sure to ask your date if she'd prefer a wrist corsage or a pin-on corsage. Her outfit will usually dictate which would be best. If you only have a certain amount to spend on flowers, talk with the florist. They can help you stay within your budget.Order the corsage at least one week ahead of time. You will need to pick up the corsage from the florist the afternoon of the prom, so allow time to do that. Put the corsage in the refrigerator at home until it is time to pick up your date. (A suggestion here€¦ If you want to make a favorable impression on your date's mother, consider ordering and bringing her a small bouquet of flowers.)To put on a wrist corsage, turn the inside of your date's left arm up (if your date is left-handed, she'd probably prefer you put it on her right arm) and slip on the corsage. By doing this, gravity will keep the flowers hanging upside down and from being damaged.Pin-on corsages are placed on your date's left side with the flowers pointing up and the stems down. Hand it to her and let her pin it on herself. If you see she is having problems, you may offer to help if you are comfortable doing so. Guys€¦if your date is thoughtful enough to provide you with a boutonniere, wear it. GirlsLadies are responsible for obtaining a boutonniere for their date. Traditionally,this is a carnation or rose. The boutonniere is pinned on the boy's coat lapel, making sure the pin is under the lapel. Like corsages, the boutonniere should be ordered from a florist at least a week in advance. You will need to pick up the boutonniere from the florist the afternoon of the prom, so allow time to do that. Put the boutonniere in the refrigerator at home until your date arrives to pick you up.
Stay Safe. Enjoy the prom night experience. Don't drink or do drugs on your prom night. Stay sober. And don't get in a car with a driver or anyone else who has been drinking. (Better yet, take away their keys.) Have some cab money just in case. You want to remember this evening as a special night in your life, not a tragedy that could have been avoided.