Enchantment Under The Sea
So I was talking to my daughter Claire a couple of Mondays ago and I asked her how was her weekend. She said she'd had a really good Saturday night. She and Miguel went to prom. Adult prom.
What is adult prom? Just what it sounds like: a high school-style formal dance with all the prom trimmings, from the rented limo - or rather in this case, a bus - right down to the spiked punch, only minus the late-adolescent angst that is the integral ingredient of every high school prom.
Claire and Miguel's adult prom was organized by their friend Josh, a young furniture maker from the Wicker Park neighborhood in Chicago with a flair, nay a true gift for throwing what Claire refers to as epic parties.
What is adult prom? Just what it sounds like: a high school-style formal dance with all the prom trimmings, from the rented limo - or rather in this case, a bus - right down to the spiked punch, only minus the late-adolescent angst that is the integral ingredient of every high school prom.
Claire and Miguel's adult prom was organized by their friend Josh, a young furniture maker from the Wicker Park neighborhood in Chicago with a flair, nay a true gift for throwing what Claire refers to as epic parties.
 Josh,who, along with throwing great parties, also plays the guitar. |  And the accordion even better than Weird Al Yankovic! (Or at least looks like he could!) ;) ;) |
According to Claire, Josh's Halloween and Fourth of July parties are known among their friends as works of celebratory art, where the food, decorations, music, and every detail of hospitality make for a great time for all.
Anyway, last year it occurred to Josh that it would be fun to go to prom all over again, and so he came up with the idea of putting together an adult prom.
He hosted his first prom last year and it was such a hit that he organized another one this year, the one that Claire and Miguel attended.
Once Josh found the perfect venue, a barn in Lockport, a suburb outside Chicago, generously lent by his good friends Joe and Andrea, preparations included pulling together a prom committee from among his friends, arranging for a bus to transport the prom-goers from the Wicker Park/Bucktown neighborhoods to the prom and back again, and selling prom tickets.
Then there was the job of decorating the barn to the theme which the committee had decided on: "Enchantment Under The Sea." Among the decorations were:
Anyway, last year it occurred to Josh that it would be fun to go to prom all over again, and so he came up with the idea of putting together an adult prom.
He hosted his first prom last year and it was such a hit that he organized another one this year, the one that Claire and Miguel attended.
Once Josh found the perfect venue, a barn in Lockport, a suburb outside Chicago, generously lent by his good friends Joe and Andrea, preparations included pulling together a prom committee from among his friends, arranging for a bus to transport the prom-goers from the Wicker Park/Bucktown neighborhoods to the prom and back again, and selling prom tickets.
Then there was the job of decorating the barn to the theme which the committee had decided on: "Enchantment Under The Sea." Among the decorations were:
 Jelly fish |  A coral reef |
 Seahorses |  Shark teeth |
And under-wateresque lighting
About 30 adults came to prom
 Including Claire and Miguel |  And Claire's friend Anna. |
People came in couples, or stag with friends.
There was streamed music for the dancing:
There was streamed music for the dancing:
Prom-style snacks included pizza, chips, and:
Cute little oyster cookies
And, of course, spiked punch.
Claire said it was a great time, just like prom but without the requisite stress that goes with being in high school.
The girls arrived in their prom dresses (for which recycled bridesmaids dresses fit the bill) and corsages and the guys in suits or tuxes pinned with boutineers.
As many of the attendees arrived stag, at the beginning there were girls dancing with each other out on the dance floor while the guys hung around the edge of the room. (Some things don't change, right? ) But by the end of the evening everyone was dancing with everyone. (Perhaps the punch helped?)
The girls arrived in their prom dresses (for which recycled bridesmaids dresses fit the bill) and corsages and the guys in suits or tuxes pinned with boutineers.
As many of the attendees arrived stag, at the beginning there were girls dancing with each other out on the dance floor while the guys hung around the edge of the room. (Some things don't change, right? ) But by the end of the evening everyone was dancing with everyone. (Perhaps the punch helped?)
And what would a prom be without a prom queen and her king?
Alana and Zach
Alana and Zach
As the photos attest, a good time was had by all.
But anyway, what about this concept of adult prom? I think I have a few thoughts on the subject, which I'll share tomorrow.
But anyway, what about this concept of adult prom? I think I have a few thoughts on the subject, which I'll share tomorrow.
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