Five Fantastic Tips For Formal Events

This past weekend I was lucky enough to be my friend’s date to her sorority’s formal. It was one of our last big blowouts before graduation which means high pressure for the night to go perfectly. As if. Here are a few essential things to think about before going to a wedding/formal/sports banquet/graduation party/whatever else.

1. If you’re going to buy a white dress/skirt, make sure it’s not see through (and not 30 minutes before you’re about to leave) I decided on wearing a black crop top and a white chiffon high-wasted skirt. Totally cute, until I looked in the mirror and saw that a nude colored thong would definitely not be appropriate. Make sure you try on your outfit (in different lighting too) a couple days before to make sure you’re properly prepared.

2. If you’re wearing a light colored dress, pick a drink that will blend if spilled on you The event was on a boat which obviously led to some (or a lot) of rocking. That – plus a ton of girls jammed into a small restroom – inevitably led to my beer being spilled on my white skirt. Luckily, apparently Bud Light and white skirts mix well together; there isn’t a visible trace of the beer on it.

3. Don’t schedule something in the essential “getting ready” time block I over-scheduled myself and ended up leaving very little time to properly get ready all at once. It was more spread out through the day. Thus, I had way too much make-up on for my first commitment, and I didn’t get to curl my hair the way I wanted to for the formal. Yes, this is really superficial and might not seem so important, but hey, how often do you go to formal events? Go big or go home, right?

4. Have a small bag of emergency materials Lipstick will rub off, zippers will break, you’ll sweat, hair will go crazy…you name a disaster and it’s happened to some poor girl at an important event. Save yourself (and your face) from tears, embarrassment, and stress by having a little kit of necessary items. I know this can seem like a lot for a little clutch, but if you’re going with a group of friends, have them all add one life-saver item to their purse, and everyone will be covered without needing a large bag!

5. Don’t stress Hey, this is supposed to be an awesome night. So even if everything doesn’t go perfectly, don’t worry about it. In 20 years, you’ll remember the overall feeling of the night, so letting all the worry and negativity go will be worth it. Drinks costs too much? Eh, you’ll pick up an extra shift later on. Your date bailed? There are tons of fish in the sea. Not the best location? Make the interactions overshadow that. Basically, in the end, the night will be what you make it.