Do not forget that accepting an invitation to a prom also represents a personal financial commitment.You are responsible for your grooming costs and purchasing or renting the prom wear.

■Prom Wear

You should get some information before you prepare your dress for the prom.Pick your dress in accordance with the form of your prom.Find out ahead if it is going to be a formal,or semi-formal,or special themed event.Tuxedos for the guys and long formal gowns for the girls should be appropriate if the prom is to be a formal one.When the prom is to be a semi-formal affair,it is proper for the guys to wear coats and ties while the girls being in short dresses.You need to research the theme and choose the appropriate dress when your prom is a themed one.For example,it might be the in-thing choosing the letter jackets for the guys and poodle skirts for the girls with a prom theme of“The 50’s”.

Most boys rent their tuxedo for the formal proms,and a black tux is the standard.Fashion tuxes may come in many colors,but the basic black looks great on everyone is usually the least expensive to rent.Remember that a prom is not a time to make comic statement,and it is not amusing for your date and her parents if you appear at their doorstep with a tuxedo T-shirt or formal black shirt.If you want to be creative and outstanding at your prom,you may consider adding a splash of color with a vest,cummerbund and/or tie,which will also match the color of your date’s dress,or consider wearing a top hat and taking a cane.

Girls need to obtain a formal evening dress for the typical prom.The price of a new prom dress can easily exceed $1500.00.Maybe your parents will afford for it,so sit down with them and take a realistic look at what you are willing and able to spend for a prom dress.Otherwise,there are many resale shops and stores which usually rent prom dresses.It is also a good ideal to borrow a dress from your older sister or other family members.In some western countries,there are also many organizations which can provide prom dresses to the girls who can not afford them.

■Flowers

The boy/gentleman is responsible for purchasing a corsage for his date.Never forget to ask your date in advance what color her prom dress is so that the corsage flowers and the ribbon colors would not clash her dress.You can’t go wrong with white rose,freesia,carnation or baby’s breath if you don’t know what color might go with your date’s dress.Also remember to ask your date if she’d prefer a wrist corsage or a pin-on corsage.Her outfit will usually dictate which would be the best.If you can not spend too much for flowers,ask the florist to help you to stay within your budged.You’d better to order the corsage at least one week before the prom.You will need to pick up the corsage from the florist in the afternoon of your prom,so allow time to do that.It’s a good idea to put the corsage in the refrigerator at your home until it is the time to pick up your date.(Don’t forget to buy a bouquet of flowers for your date’s mother in order to make a favorable impression on her.) You may turn the inside of your date’s left arm up and slip on the corsage.(Of course,she would probably prefer you put the corsage on her right arm if your date is left-handed.) By doing so,gravity will prevent the flowers hanging upside down and being damaged.Pin-on corsage is placed on your date’s left side,with the flowers pointing up and the stems down.You may hand the pin-on corsage to your date and let her put it on by herself.If you may offer help if you see she is having problems and you are comfortable doing so.If your date is thoughtful enough to prepare a boutonniere for you,wear it.

The girl/lady is responsible for providing her date a boutonniere.Traditionally,this is a carnation or rose.The boutonniere is pinned on the boy’s coat lapel,and make sure the pin is under the lapel.The boutonniere,just like the corsages,should be ordered a week in advance and put it in refrigerator until your date comes to pick you up.

■Photographs

Typically,there is a professional photographer taking pictures for the couples at prom.These pictures usually take the flower arch or the prom decorations as a background.According to the rules,these pictures can be available as singles or as part of a package.Although this is an item that can be paid for by either the boy or the girl,you’d better discuss sharing the cost with your date because some of the photo packages might be very expensive.If the information of photographs is available in advance,the couple should discuss and decide what picture package they would like and each pay accordingly.And this should be done ahead of time to avoid any awkwardness of difficult decision-making at the photography order table that evening.This may reduce the chances of uneasiness or embarrassment for all concerned.