PROM 2010

Prom has evolved into an elaborate weekend full of activity.  When I was a teen, Prom meant getting dressed up fancy, boutinnieres and corsages, eating dinner at a nice restaurant, and going to the dance.  And sometimes on the less innocent side, an hotel room after.  Or, at least, I assume that is what it was, based on the experiences of others.  I was never asked to Prom.  Or to any other school dance, for that matter.

Nowadays, all of the above mentioned is true, but there is the added element of a 'day date' as well.

Day dates range from the outrageous and expensive (bungee jumping or trail riding) to the simple and managable (playing games in a local park).  The point is to get to together and do something casual and fun before the formal festivites begin.  Sometimes the 'day' date is held on Friday evening, leaving time on Saturday for chores and/or hair and nail appointments.

But I am here to tell you about Helena's Prom experience.

They held their 'day' date on Friday evening.  Their group of six couples gathered at the house of one of the boys to have pizza and soda, play ultimate frisbee, and watch the Jazz game.  While this group of twelve 16-17 year olds were upstairs, there was a group of 13-14 year old boys in the basement playing video games.  The parents?  Out on adventures of their own!  I can't imagine leaving my house full of teenagers, even good kids like these!

On Saturday evening, Helena let me do her hair about one hour before Connors expected arrival.  She was super nervous!  She was to the point that she said she didn't want to go anymore.  I managed to get some good photos of her while we were waiting for Connor despite her nervousness.

The couples drove in three seperate cars.  Helena and her date, Connor, went with Nick Clark and his date, McKinzie Payne in Nick's dad's (very nice) car.

When they did arrive, Nick was driving his father's (very nice) car and Connor walked up to the door to pick up Helena.  She struggled a bit to pin the boutinniere on his jacket, but Nick confessed later that his date's mom pinned his for her.  After taking a few more photos, they were on their way.  Please notice the beautiful picture of her corsage!  He went to the same florist that we did and their flowers matched perfectly, even down to the ribbon!

The rest of this narrative was related to me by Helena when she got home at midnight.

First, the group went to the American Fork amphitheater for photographs.  One of the other kids in the group has a parent who is a photographer.  This was great news!  I don't know yet if we need to pay him for prints, but we were saved the photographer's fee.

Next, the group went to Justin's house (another boy in the group) for dinner.  Each boy was responsible for one part of the dinner.  For instance, Connor was in charge of dessert (strawberry shortcake).  Justin's little sisters and their friends dressed up like waitresses and served the dinner.

I was really happy to hear of this dinner arrangement.  One of the biggest obstacles facing boys who would like to ask girls to prom is the cost of it all.  This was a low cost, but very fun solution!

After dinner, they went to the dance, which was being held at the Utah Valley University ballroom.  Fortunately for Helena's group, she knew exactly where that was.  We walked past it every time she performed in a ballet at UVU.

She came home SO happy!  I am so glad that she had this opportunity!  I am not sure I would have allowed her to go to prom if we lived somewhere else.  It is a great relief to know that her date and all of the other kids in their group date hold the same standards.  Oh.  And that Helena and Connor are just friends.  No romance.  Just fun in a group setting.