Mom, It’s Time for the Prom
by
Carmen Cosentino

It’s easy if you preplan. Sure, we know that you aren’t going to the prom; unless
you are a chaperone. But you are really going to be involved. For many of our
young adults, it is a first foray into the formal world, the world of adulthood. There is
so much that they don’t know and the prom can be a great learning experience. And
you have a lot of work to do. . dresses and tuxedos, shoes and limos, pre and post
prom activities and, of course, flowers. Today we’ll try to help you with proper
decisions about flowers.
Going to the florist. Yes, you should visit a florist for flowers for this most important
event. He is good source of fresh flowers, he has the ribbons and the bling and the
knowledge to make it work. To begin with, leave your selection as open as possible.
Your florist is a professional and deals with a lot of such events. If you pin him down
with a very specific want, he will do his best to accommodate you. But, unavailable
flowers, searching for a specific ribbon, and shipping difficulties may lead to a
disappointing result.
So as you plan your visit, try to have a swatch or at least a very good description of
the color of the dress. Know the color of the gentleman’s tuxedo. Is the corsage to
be a pin on or a nosegay or a wrist. More about this later.
Ordering Tips It is important to remember that prom season is also the peak
wedding season. Therefore, popular flowers such as sweetheart roses, white roses
and certain orchids used to create decorative body flowers are in high demand.
Ordering at least two weeks in advance so that there is time to order the necessary
quantities should ensure that you get what you really want. Tell the florist what your
budget is and ask for ideas. An inexpensive flower used in a lovely corsage style can
be just as beautiful as a more expensive bloom. Alstroemeria lilies are a good
choice, as are mini carnations and sweetheart roses. But he will advise what the
best value and style will be on the date of your prom.
Current Trends Styles come and styles go. Over the years we have slid from pin
on corsages to nosegay bouquets and then to wrist corsages and back and forth
again. Today the wrist corsage is queen. Why the wrist? They do well with today’s
dress styles. You don’t have to carry them all evening. And there is so much you
can do with them. There are new, jeweled wristlet, baubles and bangles and wire
you can add to them. And, with all the new and available parts, they are light weight.
Popular flowers: The most popular prom flowers these days are mini (or
sweetheart) roses, Dendrobium and cocktail orchids, alstroemeria lilies, mini
carnations and other small flowers such as cornflowers and freesia. Talk to your
florist about what flower is best.
Boutonnieres: Let us not forget the gentleman. He needs a boutonniere. And his
choices are, as with the wrist corsage, vast. Most popular flowers are roses and
carnation and stephanotis and freesia; the latter two have a nice aroma. And,
today’s florist will add special greens, will combine different flowers and decorate it
with colored wire and other decor. Make the prom exciting. Go for broke.
So, there, Mom, that is your guide to surviving this year’s prom season and giving
proper advice to those young adults in your life.