Before The Prom: Choosing Where To Dine

There are so many things to think about when it comes to planning your prom date! Guys and girls alike have to choose what to wear, and today most couples decide on their dinner location, transportation method, and post-dance activities with other couples as part of a big group. If your assignment is to come up with a dining venue, here are some ideas.

-- Go all out! If money is no object for you and the other couples in your group, then why not make it a really fancy occasion and spring for a meal you ordinarily wouldn't indulge in? After all, you're already dressed to kill and you will not look at all out of place in your town's fanciest restaurant. The trick here is in the ahead of time preparation: not all fancy restaurants have regular accommodations for large groups.

You'll want to make reservations way in advance (even a few months if the place is really popular) and ask if the restaurant can handle a large group comfortably. If they can't, or if they give you a hard time about it, you'll want to look elsewhere. The key to dining high class is not to wait till the last minute, and if you choose this kind of venue, be respectful of its atmosphere and to the other diners.

-- On the other side of the scale, how about renting the party room at a fast-food place? Most of the major hamburger chains and other similar types of restaurants have a special room set aside to host kids' birthday parties. For special occasions such as proms, it's very likely that they will rent it out to you.

You can decorate it any way you'd like and be as loud as you'd like without having to worry. A party room is meant to accommodate lots of kids, even "big kids" and so there will be plenty of room for all. It won't cost you a fortune either, and everyone is guaranteed to like the food.

-- Now that you've considered the two extremes, how about something in between? Most prom couples and groups select a restaurant that strikes a nice balance between the everyday and the fancy pants. These kinds of restaurants are bound to be the busiest on prom night, so try to select a place where not everyone goes.

You'll want to call ahead of time and see if they are accepting reservations because it's prom night. If they are, take advantage because it's a pain to wait around in fancy dress for an hour or more. In order to make eating there a little more special, make up some party favors for your group ahead of time and surprise them by having a gift bag for each of them at their place.

-- How about dining in style at home? This new trend in prom dining is certainly cost effective, and it can be a whole lot of fun and relaxing to boot. As a group, you can plan the menu ahead of time and give out cooking assignments. Better yet, get together early in the day and do the cooking then. Create a candlelit atmosphere, add a touch of soft music, put on the white tablecloths and have a wonderful time!