Tonight's dream, tomorrow's memory was the 2009 senior prom theme. It was a night to remember for seniors as they danced the night away. A lot of money was put into the decorations, the hotel, dresses, shoes, hair, make up, tuxedos, and limos. Prom was held at the Crown Plaza downtown Houston on May 8, 2009 at 7 p.m.
"We spent $30,000 on decorations alone, and the hotel with the ballroom and food cost $12, 000. We were looking at decorations for months to get it to match the prom theme. It took days and hours just to get those decorations together, spray panting them and hot gluing piece by piece," senior co-sponsor Ms. Lisa Shuptraine said. "Then the day of prom, we were trying to get all the decorations in the cars and trucks to get them over to the hotel. It was a big hassle to get everything put up in the right places in the ballroom but after everything we did the decorations came out good."
Boys usually dress in tuxedos, sometimes with brightly colored ties. Girls traditionally wear dresses. Girls purchase their prom dresses from specialized shops, boutiques and more recently, Internet retailers, potentially months in advance. There are dozens of specialized prom dress labels each releasing new collections each prom season. Sometimes the mother's or someone in the family of the girls that are going to prom make their dresses to a certain way they would want the dress to fit them.
"My date was my best friend Leah Arredondo, my dress was ivory an off white color and the dress was a little past my knee. The hotel was alright with the decorations and everything, but I've seen nicer banquets. I enjoyed prom, but it was crowded but overall it was still an enjoyment," senior Jennifer Martinez said.
"My dress was two-toned blue, it had aqua mixed with green, it was really pretty. I didn't have a date and I really wasn't worry about it because I went with my friends. Prom really wasn't great, it was alright. I didn't stay long at prom because I had to go to church that night, prom was boring anyways the hotel ballroom was really small and so was the dance floor. It could've been better if the place was bigger," senior Paula Pena said.
"I helped with prom because they let juniors help out to get a idea of how my senior prom would be like and I actually enjoyed myself. I'm looking forward to see how mine is going to turn out next year, I think it's going to be great. Seeing everyone dressed up, looking nice and dancing, I just can't wait," junior Emonie Deman said.
"I went with a group of my friends to prom, one of my friends dad ordered us a big white hummer. We all had a good time, we dance together, and we took pictures. It was really nice to see everyone dressed up nice because everyone looked really good that night. I was really happy that I went, but the ballroom was crowded a bit and it was small but I guess they made it work," senior Alejandro Marines said.
The one thing everyone looks forward to at prom is the king and queen. Everyone voted for who they wanted to win. When they announce the winners everyone is screaming and chanting their names in unison.
"The only reason why I wanted to go to prom is because I look forward to who is going to win king and queen and I really liked dressing up. The one thing I liked to see was how everyone looked and who was matching and who went with who, but other then that it was alright because the ballroom was really small, even the dance floor," senior Amber Hayley said.
"I was so happy when I won prom queen, that night was the best night of my life. Before they had called my name I was so nervous my stomach felt like it was twisting inside of me, but when they called my name I felt relieved and I just couldn't stop smiling that whole night," senior Yessenia Salazar said.
"It was great to hear my name yelled out for winning prom king. I was really excited to know that my friends and my Gent brothers voted for me to be king. I was so happy, everyone was congratulating me and taking pictures with me. When I was there that night the only thing I wanted to know was who was going to win the tension was killing me, but when they called out my name I jumped up and down and screaming, it was just a really great night," senior Juan Garza said.