Spring is in the air, and as the number of flower buds and symptoms of seasonal allergies increases, so does the number of “promposals.” With both junior and senior prom just around the corner, prom-fever is high. There’s not only the stress of what to wear and who to go with, but also the stress of how to ask someone to prom, too: a proposal to prom, or a “promposal.”
Depending on the relationship and whether it is to go to junior or senior prom, the formality of the proposal varies. A “promposal” to senior prom tends to be a little bit more formal and extravagant.
“I think for senior prom, there’s more of an obligation for a special promposal. Senior prom is a bigger deal: the red carpet and everything is a lot more special. Junior prom is, I think, a little bit more casual,” said sophomore Sarah Moen.
A lot of thought and creativity goes into some of the promposals. Many of them make their way onto social media like Facebook and Twitter. Some ask with a poster board with words similar to “_____, will you go to prom with me?” written out, or even just “PROM?”
Other seniors took advantage of the Monfort parking lot. Senior Joe Finkelstein surprised Alex Zweiner by decorating her car.
“I got a bunch of balloons, crayons, Hershey kisses, and Easter eggs to shower Alex’s car with love after asking her mom to drop off an extra set of keys. Although promposals definitely cause a lot of anxiety for both the asker and the asked, it all paid off to see the excitement in my date’s eyes when she saw the car,” said senior Joe Finklestein.
Some others also decide to go all out and create an extravaganza to make a request that was extremely difficult to refuse. Senior Luke Rizzo asked sophomore Casey Lynfield to Gambol during the spring pep rally on April 11.
“During the days leading up to pep rally, Luke told me that my friends and I were signed up for an event but I was really confused because I hadn’t signed up for anything. My friends and I ended up being called up for the Hula Hoop event, everything seemed really casual and normal. During the event, I heard one of the MC’s talking about a problem. Luke had a microphone and said he knew what the problem was. Then he walked up to me and said, ‘The problem is this girl hasn’t been asked to prom yet!’ I was completely clueless the entire time and was so surprised,” said Lynfield.
Another unique promposal involved senior Matt Brandes and senior Kim Byrne. Over the summer, Brandes broke Byrne’s gummy bear lamp. Byrne asked Brandes to have it fixed so he made it his responsibility. Months later, he had it fixed and presented it to her as his promposal to Gambol.
“I had no clue Matt was going to ask like this. I had asked him to fix my lamp a while ago and he had never gotten around to giving it back. One night, he was driving me home from a friend’s house and it was dark. We walked outside, and the lamp was sitting on the porch, lit, with ‘Kimberly will you go to prom with me?’ on it. I was totally and completely surprised. It was so cute and so sweet,” said Byrne.
With these special and extravagant promposals, there seems to be an increase on the stress to asking someone to prom. However, the situation proves the saying “it’s the thought that counts” to be true. Prom has a tradition of being a memorable and special time, especially for seniors. It’s a fun way to wrap up your high school career, plus it’s tradition.
“I think promposals are really cute and such a nice, simple way to show someone you care about them. It’s such a sweet gesture that can make someone feel really special,” said sophomore Casey Lynfield.
For all of you out there looking to ask someone to prom, don’t feel pressured to put on an extravagant show. Asking someone to prom is a sentimental experience that shows you care about that person: make it thoughtful and have fun.