What Makes A Night To Remember?

Rachel Ingram, Chloe Greer, Rylee Mitchell, Hannah Sheffey, Aimee Griffiths, Theresa Copenhaver, and Keira Deal pose for a photo in front of the mountains at Caldwell Community College on April 12th, 2025. Although the evening was quite chilly, it was certainly one to remember for so many people. Photo Creds: Mrs. Carrie Ingram

Chloe Greer, Photo Essay Desk Lead

A school year at Watauga High is accompanied by events, games, productions, and countless traditions. Nearly all upperclassmen students anticipate one exciting event most out of the year, and that is prom. Between all of the pretty flowers, fancy outfits, good food, and a night full of dancing, prom never fails to be one of the most enjoyable events of the year. While it may be full of fun and dancing, a lot of planning and preparation go into the perfect night. 

To many girls, one of the most important parts of prom is finding the perfect dress. Each girl is looking for something that is unique to them, but equally beautiful. There are many different stores and outlets to choose from when it comes to picking your perfect gown. Senior Liliana Lemus has a lot of opinions when it comes to prom dresses.

“I’m really picky with my prom dresses. I like a simple silhouette with an intricate pattern, or like something cool to go along with it. Like a bow or something that is the centerpiece of the dress,” said Lemus. “I feel like for Homecoming, you can kind of go more full out with sequins and sparkles and fluffiness, because it’s a shorter dress. But when it’s a longer dress, I feel like less is more.”

Oftentimes, it seems as if prom dresses that are located in department stores or boutiques end up being much more expensive than one may like to pay. Senior Marley Woolard usually shops online in order to secure a beautiful, affordable fit.

“I’m getting my prom dress from Windsor online because it’s really cheap, and it’s really cute,” said Woolard. “I think expensive prom dresses don't make your prom experience any better.” 

While searching for the perfect dress is an essential part of one’s prom experience, making sure all of the other festivities for the evening are fun and unique is equally important. For some folks, a big group full of all of your friends can make the night everything you had been hoping for and more, but others might enjoy a simpler, tight-knit group, creating a more quaint setting. 

“I prefer a small group, because if it’s with everyone that I am close with, it just makes the experience 10 times better than if you were in a really big group,” said Woolard. 

Senior Kylie Eldreth enjoys the fancy festivities that often accompany prom night. Food is one of the best parts of a school dance, and making sure that the food is delicious is something that is  important to many students. 

“I have always loved eating at a nice restaurant before dances because it’s fun to go out and spend time with friends on such a special night!” said Eldreth. “This year our group is planning on going to Cobo so I'm super excited to continue the tradition. It’s a little bittersweet since it’s our last dance, but we plan to make the most of it and enjoy one of our last senior events!”

Whether you have a date, or are just going with a group of friends, having the perfect florals is a tradition that plays an important role in prom. As the years go on, corsage, boutonniere, and bouquet prices just keep rising. Affordability is important, as well as creating more memories for the night to hold. Lemus hopes to enjoy a quaint evening by participating in fun and creative opportunities this prom season.

“Last year, we made our own bouquets, so that sounds fun to do again. Maybe, like, having  a little party, a little bouquet-making session. I think that would be pretty fun,” said Lemus. 

Since Prom is near the end of the school year, a fun night is what most people may need. Senior Abbi Clark enjoys the break that prom provides from all of the stress of the end of year.

“I think the best part of prom is getting ready with my friends and getting to have a fun night away from the stress of the world, and party!” said Clark.