G O   I N   G R O U P S :
Most students find the prom a lot more fun if they go in a group. Couples can share a car, and several cars can go together and arrive at the dance at the same time. This way you can sit together at the same table and enjoy each other's company all evening. Remember that the earlier you arrive, the better your chances will be of finding an empty table where you can all sit.

P R E - D A N C E   P A R T Y :
You may want to get together at one person's house to take pictures and have hors d'oeuvres. This gives everyone an opportunity to get a good start on the evening. It will also give some parents a chance to make a fuss over all of you. They will probably be having as much fun watching as you are.

E N J O Y   T H E   D A N C E :
Sometimes students don't spend much time at the dance, but just show up for pictures and leave. These are the ones that really miss out on the fun. This may be the last time you will be seeing a lot of the people you have spent the last four years of high school with. It may be the biggest party you will ever attend where you know so many people in attendance. Enjoy it, dance, have a great time! You'll remember it when you look back years later, and it will be a good memory.

A F T E R D A N C E   P A R T Y / B R E A K F A S T :
You can plan to have an afterdance party and breakfast at someone's house. Sometimes it is a bit anti-climactic to just go home after the prom, so plan to go to someone's house. You can play games, watch videos, and eat breakfast. Again, a group of friends will make this a fun option after the dance.

K E E P   Y O U R   P A R E N T S   I N F O R M E D :
It is important to let your parents know what you are going to do on Prom Night. In fact, they often like to be involved in the shopping, planning, and arrangements you will be making as you prepare for your prom. Remember, this may be the first time that a generation of parents have a real frame of reference when their children are attending a high school prom. They probably either went to their own prom when they were in high school, or remember people talking about it after the fact. Either way, they will be living vicariously through you a bit as you are preparing. They may even have more fun than you in helping with all of the arrangements. So humor them. If they want to help choose a dress, corsage, or help to plan a pre-dance party, let them. They may even embarrass you a little going overboard with pictures, inviting friends over to see how "cute" you look, or some other weird thing that only a parent can do!

Or if you have parents that just seem to worry about everything you do, you can help with this problem as well. The fact that they worry about you has a lot less to do with their trusting you than it does with trusting everyone else out there on the highway at 2:00 a.m. In order to ease your parents' minds, you may want to call them as your evening progresses. They might be relieved to get a call from you when you arrive at the dance, or when you are ready to come home. They worry because they love you and care about what happens to you. So be sure to call if you are going to be late! If your parents get angry with you on Prom Night it could ruin all of the fun you have planned--so keep them informed. Most parents are reasonable if they know what you have in mind.

B E   P R E P A R E D :
There are a few things you should think about when going to a high school prom:

1. Take a little extra money for any emergencies you might encounter.
2. Take a camera along to take pictures of each other. (The chaperones will be more than willing to help with this job.)
3. Take care of your belongings. Don't leave valuables on the table or in bathrooms. Even if you think you know everyone at the dance, it would be very sad to lose a camera or your money just because you were careless and left it sitting around unattended.
4. If you have a cellular phone, take it with you in case of an emergency. You could call your parents or the police if you really need to if you get stuck on the highway.