7th July 2016
For most people, prom is something they've always looked forward to. The idea of splashing out on a nice dress to wear for a couple hour is appealing. They've grown up exposed to multiple examples of how amazing prom can be.
Curry, for a starter, at a prom, where people are wearing expensive dresses and suits.
I can't make this up.
The rest of the night was a blast though. I know I made it sound very bad, and it was indeed very bad, but we all made do with what we were given. Luckily the DJ played some really good songs which made everyone go up on the dancefloor. I also got some really nice photos with my friends.
19. Prom
For most people, prom is something they've always looked forward to. The idea of splashing out on a nice dress to wear for a couple hour is appealing. They've grown up exposed to multiple examples of how amazing prom can be.
I was one of these people.
Before my prom, I was so excited to spend a day getting ready and treating myself, to partying the night away. I bought a puffy red sparkly dress, very high heels, new makeup and myself and a couple friends hired a limo for the night. From my experience watching high school musical, I had high expectations of how the evening was going to be.
Problem number 1: my hairdresser was hella late.
For some reason, my hairdresser was late coming to my house. I decided to save some time and do my makeup, putting on a lot of sparkly eyeshadow and mascara. When she did arrive, I told her that I wanted it to be curled. My hair is already very curly, but also frizzy and messy. I wanted neater ringlets, however she had only brought straightners. To straighten my hair and then curl it with the straightners, she needed to brush through my ringlets.
This was a painful process which took half an hour (and I cried all my makeup off).
In the end, my hair fell down my shoulders in big poofy ringlets, which is exactly the opposite of what I originally wanted. I shrugged it off and hurried into my dress and shoes.
We had a set time to arrive to my friends house and get the limo to prom, and I was very late (because of the hairdresser).
I decided to just let go and have a good time.
Problem number 2: the traffic and heat.
I had never been in a limo before, and I was very excited to be driven around in one for a short time. The limo itself was very lovely and we all sat comfortably inside with some drinks and music. I had made a banging limo playlist weeks beforehand containing mostly sing songs, but because of the rush, my phone was on very low battery. This was mainly a problem because I wanted to take photos and remember the night. Nevertheless we had fun singing.
In films when watching the prom happen, you always forget that it's actually held in the summer, meaning that it gets very humid. It was hard keeping my hair flat and my makeup from spoiling.
We were also a tad late arriving because of the 4pm traffic.
When we did arrive, our head of year almost rushed us inside, but we were able to see our families who had come down to see us (and had been waiting whilst we were stuck in traffic). I got some nice photos and was ready to go in.
Everything was lovely inside - balloons were strewn about and there was a photobooth which you could take free photos in with props. I did manage to grab a couple of those.
Next we all sat down ready for food.
Problem number 3: the food (which I'm sure gave everyone food poisoning).
I hadn't eaten much all day because I didn't want to look bloated in my dress and I paid for a 3 course meal at the venue. Keeping in mind, I'm a vegetarian, they brought out meat curry for the starter.
Curry, for a starter, at a prom, where people are wearing expensive dresses and suits.
Of course, I didn't touch it. They only brought out the veggie curry 5 minutes before they served the main meal. The vegetarian option was okay: spinach and ricotta ravioli in a cheese sauce. I still think there was something in it as I was very ill the next day.
For the meat option, people were served half a corn on the cob, a chicken breast and a bit of bacon.
I can't make this up.
Also I didn't see any of the sweets we were promised for dessert.
The rest of the night was a blast though. I know I made it sound very bad, and it was indeed very bad, but we all made do with what we were given. Luckily the DJ played some really good songs which made everyone go up on the dancefloor. I also got some really nice photos with my friends.
It was fun to dance and sing with everyone altogether for one last time. There are definitely some things I would've changed, but looking back, I was very happy to just be with my mates.
Things may not turn out how you want them to but there's no use wishing for a different outcome or comparing yourself to others experiences. We should be grateful and realise how lucky we are. I accept now that the venue was pretty terrible, but at the end of the day, I was with all of my best friends and we had a blast.
I am very grateful to my friends, my parents and family.
But seriously, screw Botleigh Grange Hotel...
