Greek Wedding 2? Anyone? But when you see Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, it seems so idyllic. It’s a special time. Carpe Diem…you will not pass this way again.
I didn’t go to prom. It wasn’t my kind of thing and I certainly don’t regret it. I think a bunch of us had an alternate ‘prom’ and played D and D all night; that was our idea of a fun time.
“My question is this: Do you regret over not going to Senior Prom?”
I did not go to senior prom. I have never regretted it, nor even thought about it.
I went, but I had to literally sit here and think for a few minutes about who I went with. Big impact that made.
It only feels like a big deal at the time. Once you graduate and move on, it’s irrelevant. IMO.
At my high school, only “dating couples” went to dances. I had a twin sister who always had a boyfriend during high school–she went to almost every dance while I stayed home. ( I really didn’t mind. I’m an introvert, not much of a dancer, hate crowds, so it never seemed that appealing.) Vague memory of being asked to a military ball in college, but the guy was too wild and crazy for me, so I said no. And I once (under pressure from roommates) asked a guy to a dorm formal in college, and he said no–which was a relief, tbh.
Of my 6 siblings, I think only 2 went to prom. My H. otoh, was Mr. Rent-a Date, and went to several proms at his school and others. (Sorting through boxes after his parents died, H found some of his HS dance photos–one of them he said he didn’t even remember who the girl was or what school it was at.) His own senior prom was cancelled due to a dispute about what band(type of music) to have.
I have 3 sons and 2 daughters who have gone through high school so far. The 2 girls both went to senior prom–both with groups, one with a date within a group. Both groups had more girls than guys. One D went to junior prom with a big group of girls/no guys. One son went to senior prom because he and a junior girl (who were just friends) both wanted to go with a group of choir/theater kids who were all going as couples, so they agreed to go together. I like how my kids’ school does prom. Anyone can go, and most go with groups. Unfortunately there are many more girls who want to go than guys. Sometimes I’ve wondered where all the guys are, but I think that girls this age are just more mature than the guys and more interested in dating/dressing up/dances, etc. The guys seem younger, many still want to hang out with their guy friends. Two of my sons did not go, had no interest at all.
OP, you are brave for at least asking. There has got to be a girl who wants to go with a date who hasn’t been asked. It is sad–my neighbor’s D did not go, and she was really hoping to be asked her senior year. She is a nice, and very attractive girl! So many guys are sitting at home. . . My D went with her boyfriend, and she said she had a better time last year with her group of girlfriends! (bf has social anxiety). Nice photos, though.
But truly not anything you will think about missing out on years later if you don’t go.
I went to mine and thought it was dull. I could have skipped it. You won’t be missing anything if your school is a medium to large high school where you don’t really know everyone in your class. OTOH, if you’re in a small high school, where most people are friends or at least not enemies, it might be a good idea to go solo. My daughter did that her junior year (she’d just broken up with her BF) and had a great time. Going solo or in a group was very normal for their small high school. Both kids had dates their senior year, but went in a group.
BTW, I told my kids they were expected to say yes if anyone had the courage to ask them to prom, unless the person asking was a serial killer or rapist or some type of jerk. It takes guts to put yourself on the line that way, and shame on those girls for not respecting you. You sound like a great guy and in a few years, whether or not you went to prom will mean nothing to you.
Neither one of my sons went nor cared a thing about it (both were homeschooling, though one of our groups did a prom). They have seen cousins/friends go, etc. Still no concern or FOMO as far as I can tell.
I didn’t go to prom. My dad was upset that I wasn’t going and tried to force me to ask a guy I knew a couple of years older to go with me. I refused. I regretted not going at the time because it was just one of many unhappy social experiences for me during high school–not because I really thought the experience itself would be great.
My D did go along with a couple whom she knew well from an EC. She ended up having a great time because a guy she’d known since kindergarten went too. He asked her to dance every fast dance. They had a lot of fun. One of her classmates who went with a date actually told her she was jealous because her date was only willing to dance a few dances and later tried to “paw” her.
So, if it doesn’t cost a fortune…I’d recommend you go if going alone is socially acceptable at your school. There are almost always more girls who go alone than guys who go alone, and I’m sure some of the girls there will be happy you went if you pay any attention to them.
One thing…do you really not like to dance—or do just feel awkward because you don’t really know how? If it’s the latter, go on youtube and search for dance steps for beginners. Do what my D’s friend did—just ask the girls to fast dance and don’t grind.
Our D went to JR prom and the HS’s SR prom after she was no longer in HS (having been asked to leave after JR year). She went with a date in a big group of friends where everyone got along—all the guys and girls in the large group. They had an all girls sleepover afterwards. I believe they had a nice time.
S did not go to any proms. He was a bit sad about it at the time but ended up being too ill anyway (due to chronic medical issues), so we and he were relieved he didn’t have to force himself to attend because he had a date even tho his body needed to be in bed. His engineering college had proms and balls, but to the best of my knowledge he never attended any there either. He’s never expressed any regrets.
H never went to proms and I did attend several. Both of us are OK with how things worked out and have no regrets.
I grew up in a strict church and was not allowed to dance. When I was a senior, my parents paid for my boyfriend and me to go out to a very nice restaurant and a show afterwards. I did regret not going at the time, but I know my parents were doing what they thought was right.
In college, they knew I went to my dorm’s formal dances, but I guess they thought I just sat and watched everybody, ha.
I never went to prom, or any other dance for that matter. I think my school actually discounted the ticket for a couple vs. buying two individual tickets (“stag” vs. “drag,” and no, not that kind of drag!) - I know they did that for other dances. What an awful idea - “Not only are you a loser because you can’t get a date, but we’re going to charge you extra for the privilege.”
My daughter went to prom last year, and will this year, with a group of friends. She has a good time, and actually won an Xbox One as a door prize at afterprom last year. Now THAT"s a reason to go!
@1Dreamer, it would have been much worse if your mom had eaten your lobster even though she hated it! :-&
Yes, that’s brave that you asked!
Do you have friends that happen to be girls? What about that group of eight 9 (or is it nine) that you mentioned? The daughter of a friend of mine had a “girl group” of six girls that agreed that none of them would go to prom with a date unless ALL of them had dates. They didn’t, so they all went with one good-friend boy who was the official “date.” The photos were so cute of the boy in the center, and the girls leaning in to kiss his cheek. Could you do something like this?
I had fun at my senior prom. I found out after the fact that our son did not go to his senior prom. He had no interest. Hasn’t made a whit of difference in his life. Go if you want to or don’t. In the scheme of things, proms don’t matter.
@poblob14 , ha! True. The funny thing is that she’s thin and not a big eater. Her favorite pieces of chicken are the wing and the back. She’s also the type to save/hide food for me so my father wouldn’t find it first and eat it without thinking twice. That she would get up in the middle of the night and eat the ENTIRE thing was both surprising and funny. After my initial shock wore off, we shared a good laugh about it. 
I think if you didn’t like the idea of prom and didn’t want to go, then you would not regret missing it. However, I get the impression from your post that you do kinda want to go even if just for the experience of trying it out.
I did go to my senior prom, but my class (a generation ago) was a bid odd in that few of us really dated. Our prom was more like a big party sandwiched in between lots of smaller groups going out to various dinner parties and the after-prom parties at various homes. I asked a casual guy friend who I knew would make a fun date. We grouped up with about 8 or 10 “couples,” only one of whom were actually dating (and are now married). It was a fabulous. Why? Because no one had any expectations that it was going to be the most romantic night of our lives or that it was some prolific experience. We ate at a Chinese restaurant and everyone shared their fried rice and entrees. We met up at the venue and walked in together in a somewhat silly fashion. We were goofy. We stayed sober. Afterward, we met up with more friends, went back to someone’s house, and watched stand-up comedic routines until dawn. (To this day, I associate Eddie Murphy’s “Raw” with prom.) No one got drunk. No one made out in some hotel room party. We just had innocent fun, and it was a blast.
If you want to go, I suggest you find some guys and talk to the eight girls about just having a night out as friends. Maybe spend part of the time with just guys and part guys-and-girls. Be goofy. Be casual. Don’t try to impress anyone. And, if you find that the actual prom is a drag, go get some pizzas and sodas and watch Netflix together in your sweats (oh, yeah, I left out the part that we all changed into casual clothes about 5 minutes after we left prom).
Oh dude, don’t give it another thought. I went to maybe a dance or two in high school, and didn’t like it, and never went back, and NEVER regretted it. It was not my scene. And not because I was shy or nerdy; it just wasn’t my thing. I was, as they say now, doing me. You do you. I mean, think of it, if everyone was eatingMexican food, and you didn’t like it after trying it, why would you force it on yourself? You wouldn’t. You’d happily eat your pizza and Panda Express, and not look longingly at their menudo, BECAUSE YOU DON’T LIKE IT. You do you, and wear you happily and proudly.
It is really not an important thing in life one way or another, so have no regrets whatever you choose, and there is no right choice. (I don’t mean your question is not understandable, though.)
Does prom sound like fun to you, or is it just something you think you’re supposed to do? Not everyone likes the same thing, and it’s definitely true that not everyone likes prom. If it’s not your thing, skip it without a second thought. On the other hand, if you want to go, then I second the numerous parents who said go with some friends.
I was too shy to ask a girl to prom back in HS and have always felt I missed something. I convinced S1 to go wanting him to not have that same regret. He asked a girl from his XC team, went with a whole bunch of track and XC kids, and had a great time. D went with a group of friends, two who had grown up in India and were not allowed to date so the others turned down any boys who asked. I have threatened S2, a senior this year, that if he does not get a date on his own I will buy tickets and send him with his mother.
Kudos to you for being bold enough to ask without having the pre-approval that I hear goes on. Do you have any female friends who would work as a wingman, ask around to gauge your chances? If you want to go even a little bit, find a way to make it happen.
Honestly, I’ve never cared about it. I try to escape from the drama whenever possible. As long as there isn’t a lot of drama, it would probably be really fun! Some girls might be too nervous to go with a boy- I’ve said no before because of that reason.
I didn’t go to prom and didn’t care.
My D debated about going with friends but finally decided it wasn’t worth the money. She never voiced any regrets and she is now a college junior.
What she did attend, and had a blast, was the post-graduation party held by the school. They had motorized toilet races! I was jealous.