IN GENERAL

• Don’t drink and drive
• Do make all entrances with your date
• Don’t walk ahead of or behind your date.
• Do use the word’s “Please” and “Thank You.”
• Do help someone who may be in trouble, for you may be in his or her position in the near future.
• Don’t forget to tell your date how beautiful or handsome they look.
• Do go with the girls or guys if you don’t have a date (think of it this way, “less stress, more fun”)
• Do be on time.
• Don’t keep a nervous date waiting.
• Do be the first person your date sees when he knocks on the door.
• Don’t forget your dates corsage or boutonniere.
• Don’t fish for compliments.
• Do accept compliments with a polite “thank you” (rather than, “I don’t think so”).
• Don’t say anything you’ll regret in the morning.
• Do think before you speak.
• Do save a few extra minutes for your parents to take pictures and wish you on your way (after all they got you this far in life).

MEN

• Do escort your lady whenever appropriate.
• Don’t enter a room before a lady unless you are turning on a light for her.

IN DRESSING

• Do try on clothing, accessories, and make-up at least one week in advance.
• Do test hairstyle trial prior to the big day.
• Do wear a shawl with a strapless dress.
• Don’t wear rings over your gloves.
• Do wear bracelets over your glove.
• Do wear your best smelling perfume or cologne (but don’t OD on it).
• Do have your dress in your house the night before the big day.
• Don’t run to the store to pick up your dress the day of prom (unforeseen delays could have you arriving after closing)
• Don’t show your dress to your date before prom.

THE CORSAGE AND BOUTONNIERE

• Do share the color of the dress so that you may match the boutonniere, tuxedo vest, and corsage to it.
• Do ask a member of the opposite sex (your mother? your father?) to help you pick out the corsage or boutonniere.
• Do ask a lady if she would prefer a wrist or pinned corsage.

AT THE RESTAURANT

• Ladies:
  • Do follow the headwaiter to your table when being seated; your date should follow behind you.
  • Do go to prom with a date that will pull out your chair.
• Men:
  • Do walk behind your date when being seated in a restaurant.
  • Do pull out the chair for your lady.
  • Don’t seat yourself while a lady is standing.
  • Do stand when a lady stands to excuse herself.
  • Do check your ladies wrap or shawl for her at the restaurant or dance.
• Unisex:
  • Do wait for everyone to be seated before starting your meal.
  • Do take manageable bites.
  • Do not speak with food in your mouth.
  • Don’t make a fuss over items you don’t like.
  • Do remove your gloves during dinner
  • Don’t remove your gloves at anytime other than dinner.
  • Do use the proper silverware. Usually you start using the fork and work your way in.
  • Don’t use the wrong bread plate (your plate is to your left).
  • Do turn your salad fork upside down on the salad plate when you are finished.
  • Do turn your coffee cup upside down if you do not want coffee.
  • Do put your napkin on your lap.
  • Don’t put your napkin on the table until you are finished eating.
  • Do place your napkin on the back of your chair if you are leaving to use the ladies’ or men’s room.
  • Don’t forget your cash.
  • Do wait until everyone is finished before leaving the table

IN PRIMPING:

• Do go for the eau naturelle make-up look.
• Don’t spray hair spray anywhere other than in the bathroom. (remember the alcohol in hairspray can damage rhinestone jewelry and sequin dresses)
• Do observe yourself in the privacy of a bathroom mirror.
• Don’t observe yourself constantly with a compact mirror in public.
• Don’t refresh your lipstick more than one time at the restaurant table.
• Do reserve using your powder for the ladies’ room only.

IN HEALTH:

• Do go to bed early before the big night.
• Do drink eight glasses of water a day to prevent bloating.

AT THE DANCE:

• Do reserve the first and last dance for your date.
• Do dance with others when asked.
• Don’t abandon your date the entire night.
• Do take dance lessons if you can’t dance.
• Don’t carry your cell phone.

IN TRANSPORTATION:

• Don’t drink and drive.
• Don’t lock your keys in the car.
• Do keep a separate set of car keys.
• Don’t forget to turn off your car lights.
• Do bring .50 cents for a phone call home in case a good date goes bad or the car breaks down.

END OF THE NIGHT:

• Do say, “thank you for the lovely night.”
• Don’t expect even a kiss and hopefully you’ll be happily surprised.