y11 Prom - arriving, after prom etc

[TeenAndTween]

Would anyone who has been there done that be willing to explain a bit on how proms actually run? ('Leafy comp', not city central if it makes a difference). Prom is in out of town hotel/conference centre location.

Arriving
Does everyone have fancy transport?
If you are early to arrive no one sees your transport, but if late then you don't see everyone else's.
If there is a 'time' on the invitation, is that the time you aim for, or earlier, or later?

At the prom
Level of supervision?
Smuggled Alcohol?

After prom parties
I've heard about them, not sure what they might be expected to entail?
Does 'everyone' go to one?

Any info much appreciated!

[TeenAndTween]

Anyone?

[Mindgone]

I think you can choose your own 'level'!

One of mine shared a limo with friends, the other's two best friends came over to ours first and we took photos and had a little drink, then I dropped them to the prom in my very ordinary car, and they enjoyed the fun of watching the others arrive. They just weren't fussed at all!

Ours were at school so lots of supervision. Previous years included one glass of wine each, but now this has changed to alcohol-free. I guess some would try to smuggle it in, but risk being thrown out if caught.

Mine both went to after prom parties at the homes of good friends, whose parents I knew. There was alcohol involved, but mine weren't daft with it. I picked each of them up around 2am, because I'm not happy with the combination of young teens, alcohol and sleepovers! I prefer to supervise my own kids.

It's all great fun for them, enjoy it!

[RaspberryLemonPavlova]

Rural secondary school. The country venue was down a narrow road that actually prevented the use of stretch limos as they couldn't access it!

It was alcohol free, with some fancy non-alcoholic cocktails available. I haven't heard any stories about smuggled in alcohol. Lots of staff present.

No after prom parties in DSs circle, (half of which at least is girls).

[OddBoots]

I'm watching this as ds has his prom this year too, he's not one for social convention (ASD) so it is handy for me to know what's usual. He has picked his suit, it is bright blue.

[StrangeGlue]

Probably half and half on fancy transport.

Event on school property so no alcohol.

Went to after party at friends house until midnight. Was not allowed to 'on the park' after party

[SecretSquirrels]

Rural comp here, venue at school so heavily supervised.
No one allowed in early. Arrivals queue until gates open and they can make an entrance in front of large crowds and photographer.
The least ostentatious is a smartly polished dad's car.
The after party...... in a field on someone's farm.

[purplegirl16]

My dd's prom (all girls school) was in a local golf club function room. Girls invited boys from other schools if they wanted to. Transport really wasn't a big deal, everyone's parents just dropped off. From what I've heard there was a bit of alcohol smuggled in- and lots of it at the after party but after all of those exams they deserve to have a bit of fun!!

[SugarPlumTree]

From listening to friends last year deal here (very mixed intake ) was local football club. Couldn't get in early, everyone watched as arrive and photos taken by photographer of each car. Alcohol not really I don't think but was at after party which was all night camping in someone's grandparent's field . Ater party was specific to that year though and no similar mutterings yet for current year 11plus school weren't hugely happy about it but was out of their control. Local police had been notified though and did come along at points to keep an eye.

Did see one of the boys next morning as he turned up in suit at playing field near school and staff had to call an ambulance for him well out of it and very confused. They were very heavy on the emphasis to ambulance staff that although he was close to school premises he legally was not a pupil. Muttered conversations were going on through walky talky, my dog thought it most exciting and had to be swiftly removed before disgracing herself as was all happening by my car.

[cricketballs]

A a secondary teacher witnessing lots of proms it usually tends to go with a few groups get together to have a fancy car to arrive in - but not all. A fair few will have had pre-drinks and some will smuggle in dirinks into the venue; they then have bus/taxi etc back to a pre-arranged party where the drinks are in full flow...

[TalkinPeace]

Hi Teen
depends on the venue - either the grand arrivals are at the venue or at the school prior to set off
lots of them gather up groups - DDs gang had a double decker that to 40 of them last year
some do simple, some do flash
BUT
the final decisions are taken at Costa after the GCSEs

get your DD to look up last years' pictures on FB - it all starts to make sense then!

NO booze on site - lots at after parties !

[TeenAndTween]

I can't see DD being part of decisions in Costa. Hence why I don't want to accidentally help her arrange the 'wrong' thing for prom ...

Looking up the pictures on FB is a good plan. We did pay close attention to last year's pictures in local paper too.

Thanks for all feedback.

If there is a time on the ticket, what time should you actually arrive?

[Clavinova]

No experience of proms but there will probably be some video clips on YouTube.

[BackforGood]

It's a bit of a 'how long is a piece of string' question.

It was my ds who has had his, and the answers were :

No, everyone doesn't have hired transport - lots of people dropped off by parents or a taxi

ds's "time" was '7 for 7.30' or whatever it said - it implies you aim to arrive at first time, but won't be sitting down until 2nd time - they all had an official photo taken as part of the ticket price, so needs to allow time for that. I know some 'do's will have an aperatif first.

Supervision is high, and it's laid down to them strongly in school beforehand. They know the bar staff know they are all U18, and the teachers who go instill in them it's about being able to have the venue for future years too, not just their reputation.

No after prom parties that ds or his friends were invited to, anyway here.

HTH

[musicnightelf]

My DCs school organises coaches to take everyone to/from the prom venue. Very few pupils choose to hire a limo or 'fancy' car but this is often sneered at by the majority.
We have had them over beforehand for pictures and a glass of champagne and send them off. A few people have tried to sneak in alcohol in the past and been given the train fare by teachers to leave immediately
After prom consisted of entire year and friends from other schools in a field drinking and staggering home on the first train in the morning.

[grendel]

At our (fairly rural) comp, everyone arrives in some kind of style. Last year there were quite a few vintage cars, some classic sports cars, VW Campervans, a massive horsebox, horse and carriage, wheelbarrow, butchers bike (with girlfriend somehow balanced in the basket), a classic Bedford truck, a beat-up white panel van blasting punk music, ... Basically no-one arrived in their mum's car, but not everyone came in something expensive and flashy.
All the cars pull up one by one at the end of a red carpet, and then the occupants parade down the red carpet into the school looking like film stars while the onlookers take photos and coo about the dresses. I'm quite hard-hearted usually but I was actually quite choked up when I went to check it out last year, everyone had gone to so much effort and everyone looked great and it was such a special event. (It's DD's turn this year so I was busy making mental notes)

No alcohol at the prom, but then apparently they all go on to various parties afterwards. DD has not been invited to the cool kids party but will probably go to one organised by one of her own gang anyway.