High School Formals

To date or not to date

23 January 2012 by admin in Formal Planning, Homepage, Latest

By Kate

Usually one of the first questions students ask each other when preparing for their formal is "Who are you going to go with?" As the big night approaches, it's not unusual for someone to panic if they find themselves dateless. But is it really better to attend the formal as part of a couple, or does flying solo make for a better night? Here are some pros and cons for each.

Taking a date

Pros

*  You'll have someone to slow dance with. It's never a nice feeling hanging around waiting for someone to ask         you to dance. Taking a date to the formal will mean (hopefully) that you'll have a willing partner ready to go!

*  A date might make you feel special. It's nice to have someone bring you a corsage, pull out your chair, and link    arms with you as you enter the room (even if it's only to help you walk in your shoes!)

Cons

*  More expensive. If you're taking someone from another school, etiquette says that you should cover some, if           not all, of your partner's formal costs. That means paying for his/her ticket, limousine, taxi money for getting             home or to the after party, and possibly even your date's dress or suit hire. Depending on what the two of you         decide, it could end up making for a costly night.

*  You may end up feeling like a babysitter. Choosing to take a date to the formal means that you will need to             spend a large portion of the night with that person, particularly if they're from another school and don't know           many people there.

*  The dream could be over. Many high school students—particularly girls—have an idea of how their perfect             formal night will go, including their dream date. Taking a partner that steps on your feet when dancing, talks           with his mouth full, or spends the whole night ignoring you could end up being more trouble than he's worth.

Going it alone

Pros

*  Attending the formal solo means that you won't have to worry about entertaining your date all night, and are           therefore free to enjoy your evening in whatever way you'd like. Work the room, spend time with friends, and           disappear onto the dance floor for an hour or two—the night is totally yours!

*  No awkward conversations. If your date is someone you don't know very well, someone you've not been out           with before, or someone you're not particularly interested in, chances are there may be some uncomfortable           times during the night. Without a partner you can avoid having to resort to talking about the weather.

Cons

*  None really! There's not much that a date can add when you've got friends, dancing, and five or six years worth    of high school to celebrate!

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A big thank you to WatervieW in Bicentennial Park for our article image.