Roses, chocolate, balloons, and four letters that spell out a word every girl wants to hear. No, it’s not love; it’s Prom. While Prom is the cliché, symbolic, and often most memorable experience of one’s high school experience, many girls rank the way their significant other asked them to Prom as just (if not more) important as the dream night. Of course, this puts a lot of pressure on the guys, but hey, here are some ideas.
Between picking out the perfect dress and spending a little too much time shopping for shoes, girls still find the time to fantasize about the perfect way their date could ask them. Senior Sally Sa said her fantasy Prom proposal would consist of her boyfriend creating a scavenger hunt to the places they have been on dates before, leading up to him popping the question. Most girls are looking for something creative and completely out of the blue. “I would just really love it if it were to be spontaneous and unexpected. A big surprise. It’s much more exciting that way,” said Senior Ajae Reyes.
A tip to guys pondering the way to ask a potential date: be original. There’s the typical “Prom?” poster, a bouquet of roses, a box of chocolates, and about a million other clichés proposals guys can rely on, but most are aware that stepping out of the box gives them a few extra points, and may guarantee a yes. “My boyfriend [Senior Carlos Sanchez] asked me to Prom in the cutest way ever, and I was literally so surprised! He created a pop quiz that the whole class participated in and wrote a final extra problem on the quiz asking me to go with him,” said Junior Reid Atkins.
Although Sanchez didn’t have to worry about his girlfriend declining his invitation in front of their entire class, many guys aren’t so lucky. Proposals in front of a group of people are brave, sure, but risky. Safe ways to ask that secret crush to Prom include asking alone, or only in front of very close friends. “I went to Marina Varano’s birthday party wearing a t-shirt that said “Prom?” with a jacket over it so she couldn’t see, then gave her a t-shirt that said “Yes” as a birthday present, and I unzipped my jacket as she opened it. Not too wild but I think she liked it,” said Kevin Windt.
There are countless ways to cutely ask your date to Prom, but there are just as many creepy ways one should avoid. These are the proposals that will guarantee a no, so be sure to steer clear. If a guy is so inclined as to ask a complete stranger, it probably would be smart not to be excessively creative and bold; leading a random girl on a scavenger hunt through the school or broadcasting a Prom proposal on the PA system is a tad bit creepy and will most likely be shot down in a hurry.
Likewise, a guy who gets one of his friends to ask the girl for him, because he’s too shy will be thought of as, well, too shy, and probably not the most fun Prom date. And most definitely, the guy who stalks a girl on her way home and surprises her the next day when she opens her door is a classified creeper extraordinaire and will most likely end up with a restraining order instead of a night dancing at Prom.
Whether a girl is simply fantasizing or a guy is going all out asking, or even if it’s just a quick question, Prom proposals will be remembered. Whether you go the traditional or original route is up to you; as the old saying goes, “It’s the thought that counts.”