With reading period approaching and formals under way, now seems like the right time to talk about formal dates. The most important part of formal isn’t where it’s held, who you’re pre-gaming with or even if there’s an open bar; the main thing that matters is who you go with. You can drink magnums of Cristal, sip 30-year-old scotch and be surrounded by gorgeous half-naked women. But if your date’s unhappy, chances are you’re unhappy (unless you completely ditched your date for the half-naked women, in which case you’ll be unhappy in the morning when you get slapped in the face).
With the exception of people in relationships, it seems a lot of guys only focus on bringing the hottest date they can coerce into coming. She can be the most obnoxious woman in the world, but as long as she’s attractive, guys will bring her. Don’t get me wrong, I can see the appeal of bringing a 10, flipping off that annoying guy from chemistry lab with her on your shoulder and trying to get lucky at the end of the night. I’ll even admit that I did this my sophomore year of high school (let’s hope my old date doesn’t read this article). But is it worth bringing someone you hardly know just because he or she is attractive?
With a few exceptions, I don’t think bringing some random gorgeous woman you don’t know is worth the chance of a mediocre night full of small talk. There’s no guarantee you’re getting laid at the end of the night, especially if you just met your date. Plus, you might end up asking, “Sooo, what’s your major?” all night long.
The best way to have a good time at formal is to just bring a date who you’re actually friends with (duh) or bring a fun date who gets along there and will have a good time no matter what happens. With a fun date you won’t have to constantly make sure your date is having a good time and can actually relax and enjoy yourself.
Besides finding a good date the best way to have a good time at any formal is to simply go all out. Yes, you’ll be exhausted in the morning from the two hours of sleep you’ll get and that 9 a.m. class will be torture, but it’s worth it. Formals come around twice a year and with the seniors just weeks away from graduating something entertaining is bound to ensue. There’s always a couple that gets thrown out of the venue for trying to have sex in a disgusting bathroom, people going at it on the dance floor and of course, a belligerently drunk guy who thinks he’s a great dancer, but is actually just spinning around making an idiot out of himself. So find a fun date, throw on some clothes that you don’t mind spilling five or so drinks on and try not to be the person who gets thrown out of the venue.
