Patch Picks: Pre-Prom Planning

You have your dress and your date knows the color. Congratulations, you’ve chipped the tip of the prom iceberg, but you still have to contend with all those layers beneath the surface.

There’s the dress, yes, but then there’s the hair, nails, corsage, boutonniere, limo, restaurant reservation and after party.

Feel prepared now?

This week, we’ve compiled a Patch Picks that will help you guarantee you are prepared for prom.

Limo–Check the License

No longer just for weddings, the limo is a popular choice of transportation for prom, but choosing to arrive in style is not as simple as booking the first company listed in the phone book.

Limousine operators in Michigan are required to be licensed, carry sufficient liability insurance and undergo annual safety inspections on all their vehicles. However, just because you’ve seen the company advertise its services, does not guarantee the operator is licensed, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

To find out if the limousine service you plan to use is licensed by the state, visit this website. If you do not see the limousine service listed, it is likely that the operator is providing service illegally and should not be hired.

These limo services are based in Macomb and licensed by the state:

Brentwood Limousine Inc., 20125 25 Mile Rd., Macomb, MI, 586-749-6525

Elite Limousines LLC, 49718 Julie Dr., Macomb, MI, 586-226-0386

Flowers–A Corsage for Her and Boutonniere for Him

When opting for the traditional corsage and boutonniere, keep in mind that both parties require a certain level of communication.

, 51202 Romeo Plank, Macomb, MI, 586-677-7673

• Even high-def phone photos may not provide your date with an exact color swatch of your dress, so find a strip of cloth near the hem you can cut off to use as an example. 
• Allergies are running high this spring, and you don’t want to send your date into anaphylactic shock, so work together on selecting the flowers and other items used in the creation of your corsage or boutonniere.
• A corsage can be attached in a variety of ways, so check with your date on whether she wants to wear the corsage on her wrist, ankle, dress or swept up in her hair in a fancy updo. Tell the florist this preference and they’ll know what to do.
• Order your flowers at least two weeks in advance. The florist is going to have hundreds of prom orders in addition to regular orders.

Dinner–Reservations a Must 

If you want to arrive at prom before the dance is over, make a reservation for dinner. While Olive Garden is always a popular pre-prom spot, most locations don't take reservations, so with a party of eight or more, you could be waiting for hours.

Also keep in mind the 18 percent gratuity most locations add for parties of eight or more. Make sure everyone has a $20 bill and $5 in ones. This saves loads of time when it comes to splitting the check and figuring out the tip.

20333 Hall Rd., Macomb, MI, 586-226-8838

, 18411 Hall Rd., Macomb, MI, 586-228-4961

The Whole Shebang–Hair and Nails

Appointments, appointments, appointments. You can certainly save money by electing to do your own hair and nails, but if you choose to go professional for prom, make sure you set up an appointment several weeks in advance.

Know what you want going in. Bring a picture of the do you're interested in to show your stylist. Nails can be done the day of, but to save time, booking a manicure earlier in the week will leave cushion time when you're running late the day of prom–and you will run late.

, 15377 Hall Rd., Macomb, MI, 586-566-0040

After Party

Whether you elect to party into the wee hours of the morning at a friend's house or see how cool you look bowling in formal wear, figure out the after-party plan prior to prom night.

While leaving from one location and coming back to another has been done, it helps if the original meeting location is the same as the after-party location. Upon arrival, you can drop off your bag of casual wear (should you not want to spend all night in heels or a tux) and know that it will be there when you return.

And if your group elects to go out, there is always at and Cosmic Bowling at Imperial Lanes. Ice skates and bowling shoes have a way of spicing up formal wear.