Girls getting ready at our house for homecoming?

[lattemomof3]

I have a freshman DD, so this is new territory. She invited 4 friends to come to our house to get ready for the homecoming dance. They will come here from cross country practice and get ready, then go to another friends house for class pictures with their dates. Parents are invited to tag along there to take photos, then they'll head to the dance.

My question is- is there anything I need plan ahead for to help the girls get ready? We have 3 bathrooms so I'll clean those beforehand, I think I'll need to have dinner for them, they won't get another chance to eat. Any ideas? Or any other fun things you have done? I have to get ready to teach Sunday school but I'll be back to check in later. TIA!

 

[Laura66]

Are all the parents meeting then at your house for pictures?

When we hosted getting ready/pictures we always had lots of appetizers and drinks and snacks for the kids and their parents.

 

[lattemomof3]

No, the girls are just getting ready here, then parents and kids are meeting at one of the freshman grandparent's home for pictures. So maybe there will be food there? I still think I'll need to feed them something, they are starving after cross country and probably will be to busy socializing/taking pics to eat much at the other house. I thought I would invite the 4 other girls moms to come over if they wanted to have an appetizer and sneak a few pics of the grills getting ready. I can honestly only think of one mom who will want to come, it's her dd's first dance also, the other 3 moms have been there done that many times so will probably just head over to the house where pics will be taken.

 

[sk!mom]

AWWWW...my DD18 just left home for college and these are the times I miss.

Ok nostalgia over. I would have some light not messy finger type food. My DD and her friends would have wanted a Chick Fil A nugget tray, a bowl of grapes, cheese cubes and some crackers, bottles of water- both plain and flavored. They also loved to get ready at DD's bf's house whose mom would make mocktails.

My DD and her friends would eat light before because they always went for a midnight dinner/breakfast after dances.

Enjoy! These are fun times!

 

[sk!mom]

No, the girls are just getting ready here, then parents and kids are meeting at one of the freshman grandparent's home for pictures. So maybe there will be food there? I still think I'll need to feed them something, they are starving after cross country and probably will be to busy socializing/taking pics to eat much at the other house. I thought I would invite the 4 other girls moms to come over if they wanted to have an appetizer and sneak a few pics of the grills getting ready. I can honestly only think of one mom who will want to come, it's her dd's first dance also, the other 3 moms have been there done that many times so will probably just head over to the house where pics will be taken.

I would avoid having too much of a "presence" when they're getting ready or they'll choose another house next time. I have done the mom's sip wine and visit and then snap a few pics when they come downstairs.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have a freshman DD, so this is new territory. She invited 4 friends to come to our house to get ready for the homecoming dance. They will come here from cross country practice and get ready, then go to another friends house for class pictures with their dates. Parents are invited to tag along there to take photos, then they'll head to the dance.

My question is- is there anything I need plan ahead for to help the girls get ready? We have 3 bathrooms so I'll clean those beforehand, I think I'll need to have dinner for them, they won't get another chance to eat. Any ideas? Or any other fun things you have done? I have to get ready to teach Sunday school but I'll be back to check in later. TIA!

I can only speak for my prom--but we all got together at a friends house. There may have been some snacks, but I don't recall and wasn't counting on it. We brought all our own supplies. We just needed the space. We had dinner plans, so no need to feed us.

What are their dinner plans?

 

[Laura66]

I would avoid having too much of a "presence" when they're getting ready or they'll choose another house next time. I have done the mom's sip wine and visit and then snap a few pics when they come downstairs.

This! They'll call u up if they need you! I'd have plenty of finger aps/snacks and drinks though! (Great suggestions for those in the PP)

Have fun!

 

[Art 1]

I have a freshman DD, so this is new territory. She invited 4 friends to come to our house to get ready for the homecoming dance. They will come here from cross country practice and get ready, then go to another friends house for class pictures with their dates. Parents are invited to tag along there to take photos, then they'll head to the dance.

My question is- is there anything I need plan ahead for to help the girls get ready? We have 3 bathrooms so I'll clean those beforehand, I think I'll need to have dinner for them, they won't get another chance to eat. Any ideas? Or any other fun things you have done? I have to get ready to teach Sunday school but I'll be back to check in later. TIA!

Have plenty of food and leave them alone. That's what I did anyway.

 

[Happy Snowman]

I think the snack food idea is perfect. Maybe set something up in your daughter's room if there is space, otherwise the kitchen. Make yourself comfortable in the living room with a book or whatever and be available to help if necessary. Have some extra hair stuff on hand, take out your sewing kit just in case--maybe a few bandaids they can toss in purses if their shoes give them blisters--then just enjoy the chatter and excitement from the girls!

 

[Princess_Meghan <3]

I definitely second the sewing kit- I remember when my sister's friend's dress had a tear in it. It was a really quick fix and my mom took care of it with the sewing kit after scrambling to find it!

If the girls aren't going out to dinner with their dates, then definitely have dinner food for them. If they are going out to dinner, just snack foods would probably be good. My mom always had us get ready at our house before formal dances in high school, and those were the things she always did, depending on our plans.

 

[okeydokey]

I would avoid having too much of a "presence" when they're getting ready or they'll choose another house next time. I have done the mom's sip wine and visit and then snap a few pics when they come downstairs.

Yes, just let them be. You can let your daughter know snacks are available if they want them and then snap some pictures and let them go.

This year it is my house, and this is my plan.

For my daughter and her friends, they enjoy the getting ready time more than the actual dance.

And keep some double sided dress tape handy, just in case.

And they will probably all the same bathroom for doing makeup and hair. That is part of the fun.

 

[lattemomof3]

Great ideas! I think our house may be the only chance they get for a meal, they are 15 so don't drive, and we live in a very small town with only 3 fast food places. The house where they're going for pictures may have food, but I'm not sure.

 

[lan3]

I would definitely get food. They will want to eat before they put their dresses on and apply makeup. Get pizza or sandwiches and let them eat before they start getting ready.

 

[OurBigTrip]

Great ideas! I think our house may be the only chance they get for a meal, they are 15 so don't drive, and we live in a very small town with only 3 fast food places. The house where they're going for pictures may have food, but I'm not sure.

True, but they most likely won't want to eat after dressing and before pictures.

I agree with PPs that suggested non-messy finger food.

Other suggestions (from having hosted this type of thing numerous times):

A pile of large towels to drape around the front of their dresses, in case they want one last bite before leaving for pictures.

A package of disposable razors and shaving cream for any last minute "Oh no, I missed a spot this morning" moments.

Needle and a variety of thread colors.

A couple of cheap hairbrushes and combs (it's amazing what they can forget to bring!)

A new, unused tube of mascara and eyeliner pencil (see above)

Clear band-aids

A package of foam eye makeup applicators so that they can share eye color if they choose without sharing the applicators.

Extra cotton balls.

Extra Q-tips

Tweezers.

 

[wenrob]

My DD (just graduated in June) and her friends always had dinner plans beforehand so I'd double check with them about dinner. Non messy munchies and bottled water maybe. Otherwise I just stayed out of their way. I was always the photographer as well so I snuck a few getting ready pics before "real" pics.

 

[Laura66]

True, but they most likely won't want to eat after dressing and before pictures.

I disagree. I've hosted these types of get togethers many, many times. Every single time they've eaten and drank quite a bit. That's why it's wise to have small, finger sized snacks and aps that aren't messy.

 

[OurBigTrip]

I disagree. I've hosted these types of get togethers many, many times. Every single time they've eaten and drank quite a bit. That's why it's wise to have small, finger sized snacks and aps that aren't messy.

Every group is different, but I've personally never seen a situation where the girls are fully dressed and made up, and then want to eat right before their pictures are taken. In my experience, they eat the snacks/finger foods, get ready, and then maybe, a couple of them will want to grab one more bite before pictures.

Just because my experience is different than yours doesn't invalidate mine.

Have a nice day.

 

[Laura66]

Every group is different, but I've personally never seen a situation where the girls are fully dressed and made up, and then want to eat right before their pictures are taken. In my experience, they eat the snacks/finger foods, get ready, and then maybe, a couple of them will want to grab one more bite before pictures.

Just because my experience is different than yours doesn't invalidate mine.

Have a nice day.

No need to get defensive - you stated that they most likely wouldn't snack and I stated that in my experience they did. Every single time.
Not trying to invalidate your advise at all! I certainly believe that was your experience!
I was glad I always gave them the option to snack! The OP can take all of our advise and suggestions and do what she thinks is best!
Thank you for your sincere wishes for a nice day! I will!

 

[DeaverTex]

All this makes me SO glad we had a boy. Mrs. Tex would have been as clueless as me in a situation like this.

 

[lattemomof3]

I think I'll have them eat before they put their dresses on, I would hate for them to spill something on them. One thing I do know is that the girls run cross country and are thin but wow they are always hungry!!I think they could give most teen boys a run for their money in the eating department. Love the suggestions on things to have on hand like extra razors and eye makeup applicators!! I wouldn't have thought of that!!