What was prom like in *your* decade?

[DisneyDreamer2504]

Junior prom, 2003, held at a local library (fancier than it sounds). There were no prom-posals. If you were dating, it was assumed you'd go together, if you were not dating you might ask, but most people just went stag in a group. Renting limos was uncommon, but people tried to come in something unique, like a tractor, classic car, or my sisters brand new red mustang convertible. No food was provided at prom, and it wasn't common to go out to eat before either. I think the mother of one of our group made us dinner. After parties weren't really a thing either, though different groups would go to someone's house after, more like co-ed slumber parties. I remember my bf taking my hair down, and trying to figure out how there were like 4 dozen bobby pins in it!

Overall, it wasn't any more of a big deal than any other dance thoughout the year.

Eta: I forgot my families tradition! Each of my sisters had a dress specially made for them for their junior prom. I did too, but mine ended up being terrible, so I never wore it, and borrowed a dress from someone the day before! However, I had an awesome dress when I went my senior year, and it totally made up for it.

 

[DeaverTex]

Senior prom, 1969, Houston Independent School District. There was no junior prom in those days. If you didn't have a date, you didn't go to the prom because tickets were only sold in pairs. No outside dates or non-senior dates without special permission.

There were no limousines, prom groups, or all night parties. Well, there were a few all-night parties, but they were all two-person. A couple of those parties had a follow-up party about nine months later. Ah, the era of free love and no AIDS!

I wore a rented tux with a white jacket -- the height of fashion at the time, at least where I was. She wore a floor length very pale beige dress with sparkles on the bodice. No sleeveless or off-the-shoulder because it would have gotten her sent home. The orchid corsage went on her bodice, and her mother wanted me to pin it on. I was fine with that, but her father wasn't. Darn. Her mom did her hair, and no nail polish. I did my own hair.

We got out of class at noon to get ready, and after I picked up my tux, I spent the rest of the afternoon polishing my 1964 VW beetle, inside and out. It was a thing of beauty. No idea what my date did all afternoon.

The prom blew chunks, but that was to be expected and I've described it on these forums before so I'll spare you. Let's just say that nobody danced except some of the older teachers, since the music was pure 1954, just like the crappy band. The highlight of the evening was running into a buddy before the prom started, and going to dinner with him and his date at a posh (and pricey!) Japanese restaurant.

Everybody changed for the after-prom party at a rented hall. Since it wasn't an official event, there was no dress code. Out came the crop tops, sandals (strictly prohibited otherwise by the school district dress code), miniskirts and hiphuggers. My date wore a pantsuit that would have done Hillary Clinton proud, and I never found out why she didn't girl up a little more. I wore my khaki "safari suit" with a wide-collar shirt and a neckerchief. Cut us some slack, it was 1969.

 

[WendyDarling]

And there was always the guys that had the tails, top hats and canes. Too cool!

I remember thinking my date was so cool because he had an ascot. Woohoo! Hahahaha (1993)

 

[Jaya]

My mid-west high school proms were in the early 60's. Prom was free, because we held fund-raisers all year.

Long dresses, frequently made by your mom, almost always modest; anyway, hardly anyone actually had anything to show off. Heavily-boned long-line strapless bras that cut off your blood circulation and most of your breathing. Long white above-the-elbow gloves with buttons that were extremely difficult to put on and take off were de rigueur. Hair done in elaborate French twists or beehives. Corsages pinned onto the shoulder of the dress or worn on the wrist. Really uncomfortable high heels that matched your dress or were silver or gold. Boys wore white dinner jackets with a black bow tie; also a boutonniere, which was provided by the girl. Very few guys wore tuxes.....those were for weddings back then.

No limos. Hopefully, the guy could borrow his dad's car (lots of guys didn't have their own cars back then) or you could double-date with someone who DID have a car. Last choice was to be driven to and picked up from the prom by a parent, but that really embarrassing and to be avoided at all costs.

The guy came to your house to pick you up and get a picture taken by your mom as he pinned the corsage on. Moms got all teary and dads did a lot of glowering at the guy, suspecting the worst of him.

Our proms were always held at the same nice ballroom that my dad had had his prom at. Entertainment was a live band, hopefully with musicians somewhere under the age of 60 and dancing was decorous (and if it wasn't, the chaperones were on you like a duck on a June bug). The liveliest thing was the Twist and that's hard to do to a foxtrot. Punch and cookies were served and there was a lot of bragging about the punch being spiked by the usual suspects. I doubt that it really was. The chaperones/Gestapo/All-Seeing-Eye would most likely have put a stop to THAT. Nobody, but nobody, went stag in those days. You had a date or you didn't go.

Prom was over by 11:00 and if you didn't have to be home really early, you went out for food afterward. Absolutely no prom nights spent at the beach or anywhere else......behavior like that would have got you married by the next week. Nevertheless, there were always a few pregnancies each year that could be traced back to the aftermath of prom.....weddings were held in July with both grandmas insisting loudly 7 months later that the BABY WAS PREMATURE! even if it weighed 10 pounds at birth.

 

[mhfrau]

Senior prom, '83. Wore a long, poofy dress bought from a bridal store. Boyfriend wore dove gray tux with tails. Rented a limo with our best friends who were also dating and got totally drunk before we got to the venue. The actual prom was like a cheesy, early 80's, typical New Jersey wedding reception with dinner, and then dancing with a DJ. Left early and drank more till the limo rental was done. The 4 of us crashed at my house and then went to the shore for the weekend and stayed in adjoining rooms and drank some more. I think a lot of Molson beer and Seagrams 7 was consumed that weekend!

 

[lizabu]

It was 1992. The theme was "Heaven is a place on Earth". They decked out the gym with gold paper stars hanging from the ceiling. I was a rebel and wore this black strapless cocktail dress I found at a flea market. It was very Madonna like. I did my own hair and nail. I just remember thinking it was really lame. We hung around to get photos taken and took off to the after party.

 

[aprilgail2]

Reading the other prom thread made me realize we sure didn't do much in the '80s . Fancy dress and hair, but no professional nails or tanning. No limo, no "groups", parents took pictures in the backyard. Dinner out somewhere "nice" before the dance (which was in the school gym, that we had spent all afternoon decorating, with a live band). Postprom at the local VFW, then driving around/getting in trouble until dawn.
QUOTE]

1980- fancy dress, limo, hair done- no need to have dinner before because the prom venue always has a sit down dinner (its just like a wedding even back then). There was a live band. Post prom was mixed- some went to a hotel, others to NYC in a limo and went to a club and some went to the beach and partied until sunrise- from there the next day was always driving to Six Flags!

 

[powellrj]

Ours was a jr/sr prom. I had mono and missed the jr prom because I was in the hospital with an enlarged spleen!

I did go to my senior prom. I took my now DH as my date. He was in college, but came home for the weekend! He wore a brown tux and I had a yellow qiana knit dress.

This was in the 70's before people tanned, had your nail and make-up done, rented limos and all the other things people do now.

We took Dhs chevelle, ate at a local italian place, went to prom at a seniors center, had a party at a classmates house and then went out for breakfast at sunrise. It was a fun night!

 

[disney4us2002]

1982 - my best friend did my hair. No nails, tanning, or limos. My date & I had dinner out with all my friends and their dates but I can't recall where. The song was definitely Journey's Open Arms. I cannot remember the theme of prom but I'm sure I helped decorate the school gym. After prom we all went to one of my friend's house and then had breakfast at HoJo's at like 5am?! Does anyone remember HoJo's?

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Junior Prom - 1982 - I wore a frilly pale blue Gunny Sax dress! My date wore a navy blue tux with a pale blue shirt. Picture at my parents' house. Fancy dinner out, no group, just us. The prom was at a country club. Was supposed to meet up with another couple at Denny's afterward but they had a fight so only the guy showed up!

Senior Prom - 1983 - I wore a dusty rose colored dress. My date wore a wine colored tux. Pictures in my parents' living room. Again, fancy dinner, just us. Dance at a different country club. Met some friends at the same Denny's afterward.

I went to both proms with the same guy. Married him 5 years after high school. Had our 26th wedding anniversary yesterday!

 

[Donnainnj]

1985 went to my then boyfriend's prom at the Manor West Orange (great food). I wore a full length blue gown, considering the times it wasn't poofy, he wore a white tux with tails. We went with a couple of his friends with their dates. The other girls were in a hurry to leave and go into the city. We went to Limelight, where I believe the limo driver bribed the door to let us in. The guys paid $20 a head for unlimited alcohol. I think we each got one drink and one of the girls said she had to be home by 11, and we had to leave. (glad I didn't pay all that money for one drink)
I didn't go to my prom, but I did go to a party at my now husbands house. At that time we barely knew each other, and he was dating someone else. After the party my best friends and I headed down the shore with little money and nowhere to stay on Memorial Day Weekend. We had every intention of watching the sun rise over the ocean, but one friends bladder did not allow it. Luckily I had some friends and family down there. Ended up hitting the Seaside Heights beach and boardwalk and going to a local's party in a house by the beach. It was an interesting party with a shore theme including the pool full of sand in the living room.
My older daughter went to her prom with a friend. It was at a local hotel banquet center. Huge thing with a photographer getting lots of candid shots you could order online after. They went as a large group in a friends old converted school bus.
My younger daughter is going to her boyfriends junior prom next week. Another banquet center, again with soup to nuts. A couple of weeks later she has a Naval Ball at her school. At a hotel banquet center. Senior year she will have her own prom. Even shopping with budget in mind we have spent a lot on all the dances she has gone to. (will be 5 by the end of Junior year) Blows my mind what some people are paying for dresses. The 4 dresses we have purchased so far do not add up to the cost of one of her friends. I just can't imagine what they will do for their weddings.
Donna
Donna

 

[mhfrau]

1985 went to my then boyfriend's prom at the Manor West Orange (great food). I wore a full length blue gown, considering the times it wasn't poofy, he wore a white tux with tails. We went with a couple of his friends with their dates. The other girls were in a hurry to leave and go into the city. We went to Limelight, where I believe the limo driver bribed the door to let us in. The guys paid $20 a head for unlimited alcohol. I think we each got one drink and one of the girls said she had to be home by 11, and we had to leave. (glad I didn't pay all that money for one drink)
I didn't go to my prom, but I did go to a party at my now husbands house. At that time we barely knew each other, and he was dating someone else. After the party my best friends and I headed down the shore with little money and nowhere to stay on Memorial Day Weekend. We had every intention of watching the sun rise over the ocean, but one friends bladder did not allow it. Luckily I had some friends and family down there. Ended up hitting the Seaside Heights beach and boardwalk and going to a local's party in a house by the beach. It was an interesting party with a shore theme including the pool full of sand in the living room.
My older daughter went to her prom with a friend. It was at a local hotel banquet center. Huge thing with a photographer getting lots of candid shots you could order online after. They went as a large group in a friends old converted school bus.
My younger daughter is going to her boyfriends junior prom next week. Another banquet center, again with soup to nuts. A couple of weeks later she has a Naval Ball at her school. At a hotel banquet center. Senior year she will have her own prom. Even shopping with budget in mind we have spent a lot on all the dances she has gone to. (will be 5 by the end of Junior year) Blows my mind what some people are paying for dresses. The 4 dresses we have purchased so far do not add up to the cost of one of her friends. I just can't imagine what they will do for their weddings.
Donna
Donna

That's where my prom was held! Is that place still there?

 

[Donnainnj]

That's where my prom was held! Is that place still there?

Haven't been there in a long time, but yes it is still there. I have a gift certificate coin my dad gave me years ago, one day we will get around to using it.
Donna

 

[leebee]

Junior prom 1973; back then it was "the prom," not "prom." My mom made my dress and I still like it; it was long, emerald green satin with a cream lace (not underlined!) upper bodice and long, straight lace sleeves. He wore a tux- black pants, white jacket, black vest; bow tie and cummerbund matched my dress. Everybody did their own hair (up-do with cascades of curls- or fake curls called a fall) and nails, and the girls'd all been out in the sun with baby oil for 2 weeks, trying to get tan. We went with another couple and took his car. No groups, no singles; tickets were sold only by the pair. The prom was at the local Holiday Inn and consisted of dinner and dancing with a live band. After the prom everyone changed and went to the beach for overnight.

Senior prom, 1974; same basic gig, same guy. I made my dress- it was a yellow knitted lace, long, with long, sheer, puffy sleeves and cuffs with 6 buttons, plunging neckline with a stand-up collar. (UGH- what WAS I thinking?). Date wore a pastel blue tux, and we went with the same couple. The prom was at a hotel in Boston and included dinner and dancing to a live band. Our prom "song" was Color My World. After the prom, everyone changed and went to the beach. The drinking age was 18 so… lots of beer, wine, mixed drinks at the beach, along with "other things"- after all, it was 1974!

 

[Sandy321]

Well first thing that I remember is there were at least 5 other girls with my same Guinea Sax style dress. Today I hear they register dress so no duplicates. We had dinner at our prom site. There were pictures but I have none. We rented a few hotel rooms and crammed tons of kids in them and drank and partied all night. Drinking age was 18 so most of us were legal.

Oh my gosh - I had that gunnea sax style dress!

oh, and today, the radio talk show, they were talking about the fact that Prom dates = wedding dates! LOTS of "what in the '50's" um... 70's?

well, I'll confess, dh married his Prom date!!
and of course, we're still married!

(and I saved my gunnea sax dress - I knew at the time, that "someday" it would make a great Halloween costume! )

 

[mommasita]

1986.. We don't have Jr or Sr.

Big Poofy hair, along with dresses. Tans, limos.

It was also wedding like, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Downtown Montreal.. From there we all scattered to local bars, then to different hotel rooms, onto different parents homes for breakfast the next day, and then the local amusement park (la Ronde). I think I slept for a week straight once it was all said and done..

My son graduated last year, and not much has changed.. Except the girls hair seems more flat

 

[E&Cmom]

1986.. We don't have Jr or Sr. Big Poofy hair, along with dresses. Tans, limos. It was also wedding like, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Downtown Montreal.. From there we all scattered to local bars, then to different hotel rooms, onto different parents homes for breakfast the next day, and then the local amusement park (la Ronde). I think I slept for a week straight once it was all said and done.. My son graduated last year, and not much has changed.. Except the girls hair seems more flat

That's how I remember it too. I graduated a year after you '87 and also from the Montreal area ( South Shore). We had our grad at the Ritz Carlton.

Dresses were poofy and shiny, hair was big ( I had an up do) and you couldn't forget the baby's breath for your hair. Lol.

 

[DawnM]

My "prom" was probably very different than many of yours. I grew up overseas and went to a small, private, Christian boarding school.

The Junior class spent months decorating the hall and were sworn to secrecy. There was a theme and everything was done in that theme.

There was no dancing, but we had a very nice dinner, then the Jr. class put on a full talent show for the Seniors.

Everyone had to go, and most had dates. I had a boyfriend (of sorts) each year and went with them.

Dawn

 

[luvsJack]

Ours were pastels-blue, green, yellow with ruffled shirt. My date had red hair so yellow worked well.

My dress had pastel blues and yellows which is why he picked yellow. And we had a couple of guys in top hats and tails with canes. It was so 1970's. We danced to disco music and slow music (Color My World)

yes! Those ruffled shirts! Just thought those tuxes were soooo fabulous. Now I look at pictures and want someone to remind me again why we thought that.

Disco music---anything Bee Gees or the Commodores.

I know we had chaperons but I swear, I don't remember actually seeing any of them. Now parents post pictures all over facebook in the prom of the kids dancing. We would have DIED if our parents did that.

I remember thinking my date was so cool because he had an ascot. Woohoo! Hahahaha (1993)

Guys today just don't know what cool is!! Top hats and tails and ascots! THAT was cool !!

 

[indimom]

1990/1991. Large (for here) rural school.
My junior year I went to two proms (my school and another local high school) with dates. Wore the same hand-me-down bridesmaids dress (royal blue and tea length). Did my own hair. Not sure I even did my nails?

For the prom at my school, I went out to dinner with my date alone, we drove in his uncle's car because it was nicer than his pickup (lol). Prom was a dance in the decorated cafeteria, with snacks and pop. Afterward, we went to an "after-prom" party at one of his friend's house. I was home by 3a.

The other prom was more of a blind date. We went out to dinner with another couple, attended the prom in the decorated gymnasium with a small group (only one other person I knew, lol), and did not attend any sort of after-prom.

My senior year I went stag with friends. I had a knee length dress, strapless. White on top with a big black bow, black on the bottom and super poofy. I'm pretty sure we bought it at Sears or Pennys for about 50 bucks. Again, I did my own hair and nails. Those of us going stag carpooled to dinner, friends with dates had their own plans. We all attended the prom in the decorated cafeteria, and had after prom at my parent's home.

Pictures were taken in front of a cheesy backdrop at each prom, as well as in yards at parent's homes. The blind date prom we had to go to several houses for pictures because two of the people in our group of hour had to stop by both mom and dad's houses and one stopped by their grandmother's apartment.

Some people in my class did go a bit further with their planning, had their hair/nails done at salons, rented limos, etc. Maybe 50%??

There is a high school about 30 minutes from my home where parents wait at the high school for all the kids to arrive, and they have fun coming up with unique cars, trucks, tractors, whatever to make their "grand entrance." Cracked me up when I heard it. And yes, my cousin's daughter wore an orange dress with a touch of camo. Her date had a camo tie. Nothing like keepin it country.