In many ways British Prom Night is the over-excitable younger sister of the fabulous American Prom. The USA have been enjoying Prom Nights for generations and they do it very, very well.
When your parents finished school chances are they had a very simple Leavers Disco in the school hall. Prom Night only really arrived in Britain in the last decade … but it’s getting bigger and better every year.
While the frocks and the photos, the tuxedos and the transport are all now just as common in Britain as America there are still differences between us and our sassy American cousins.
In the USA it’s normal for a boy to ask a girl to the Prom and then pay for not only his tux but also the Prom tickets and the transport … yes, even if it’s a limo. Now, that’s a lot of money. Our lucky boys have no such expenses to consider – British girls pay their own way. Going ‘Dutch’ spreads the cost for everyone and, if you do the asking, you don’t have to worry about paying for him!
It’s also a Prom Night tradition in America for the boy to buy the girl a flower or ‘corsage’ to wear with her dress. This is picked out and ordered weeks in advance and often colour matched to the girl’s dress. Again, this is not currently done over here.
A Prom Night date is essential in American High Schools whereas we Brits are very happy to go without a date in a big gang. In fact, it’s often much more fun that way. Another tradition we are currently ignoring is electing a Prom Queen but we can see this one arriving soon.
After-Prom parties are a big part of Prom Night for Americans. Going on to someone’s house for the rest of the night or even away to the coast for the weekend are popular with the Senior Prom set (over 18’s). However, we Brits seem to prefer the pre-Prom Party – gathering at one house, getting ready and leaving all together in a dazzle of flash photography is Brit Prom at its best.
