What Is the Difference Between a Prom Invitation and a Marriage Proposal? Not Much

As high school seniors across the country approach the end of their school year, graduation and proms, they face yet another trend. And this trend is sweeping the country like it is nobody's business. Marriage proposals have always been expected to be beautiful, creative and memorable events. Now, prom proposals or invitations are expected to be equally creative. And this is no surprise. as prom photos and wedding photos are often proudly displayed next to each other in homes across the country.

This year, simply being invited to the prom is not adequate. The asked must be invited in a creative, surprising, high-impact, out-of-the box sort of way. This is one area where asking via Facebook or texting is simply unacceptable. And teens should not even consider asking a friend or a "wingman" to do the asking for them. Such abysmal ways of asking may lead to a prom invitation being rejected. And that is simply not what anyone who wants to go to this big time event wants to experience.

Last year, a senior in Alabama went to a Build-A-Bear workshop and created a bear in which he installed a recording of his voice asking "Will you go to the prom with me?" That is so sweet. I certainly hope his intended accepted his invitation.

Now, I have to say that I am a little jealous. Yes, I was asked to go the my senior prom and was delighted to simply be asked. And I received two marriage proposals in my life, both of which I accepted at different times, of course. Neither of those marriage proposals were unusually creative. Nonetheless, they were unusually wonderful. It's amazing how expectations change over a lifetime.