Prom Flowers: A Buying Guide for Guys (Part I)

Now that the madness of Valentine's Day is over, and with prom season just around the corner, many high school-aged guys are making plans for that big dance.

If you're one of these guys, you're already under a lot of pressure --- find the right girl; develop a sixteen-step plan involving a hot air balloon, a yacht, and a private jet to ask her if she'll go with you; implement the plan; rent a tux; arrange for dinner and transportation; coordinate (or not) with other couples. Why panic about something like the corsage you know she's going to want to match her dress and nail polish exactly when you've already got everything else under control? Demonstrate your prowess with this handy, no-fail guide for buying her the perfect flowers to make her night, and yours, complete.

Preparations: Gathering Information

Life will be much easier if you know what you're looking for before you walk into a floral shop like Paul Wood Florist in Old Town Fort Collins. Keep these tips in mind:

> If your date expresses a preference for a particular flower, take that information straight to the florist. Your work here is done.

> If your date does not express a preference for a particular flower, find out the color of the dress (and/or nail polish) she plans to wear. Most girls will be so determined to get a corsage that matches perfectly that they will bring you a fabric sample. Take that sample straight to the florist. Your work here is done.

> Find out whether your date is allergic to any flowers. Speaking as someone who is allergic to several varieties, there is nothing less romantic than going home from prom with a full-blown sinus infection. Do your homework.

> Corsages come in two basic styles: wrist and pin-on. Wrist corsages are most common these days. Find out from your date, though, which kind she would prefer, which will have a lot to do with what kind of dress she's wearing (e.g., a pin-on corsage on a strapless dress will be both awkward to attach and potentially painful. Bloodletting is not intended to be a ceremonial part of prom preparations).

> Wrist corsages come with many different kinds of wrist bands. The basic or standard style at Paul Wood Florist is a white pearl bracelet. If you prefer, or if she would prefer, we offer many upgrades, including beaded and jeweled bracelets.

> Unless you or your date are going for a very simple look, corsages also come with loops of ribbon, sort of as a backdrop for the flowers themselves. Ribbon is available in a variety of colors, so match it to your date's dress or to the flowers you choose.

> Bling is the term for all the sparkly, shiny, and/or glittery accents that a girl could wish for in her corsage. If your date consistently drips with jewelry when you see her in everyday settings, gemstone stickpins nestled into the roses in her corsage will probably be appreciated.

Stay tuned for Part II, when we talk about specific flowers.