When It's a Girl-Ask-Guy Dance, Who Pays?

Dear Bro Jo,

Hi again!

Been a while. Just a small question.

I go to an all girls school. we have one formal in our high school years, for year 12 (last year of high school).

My friends and I have agreed on taking dates to the formal which has gotten me thinking, who pays for what?

We are asking the date, but only because there's no other way. So does it go as a girls ask boys kind of thing where the girls plan and pay? Or is there a meet half way mark?

Just curious. My formal isn't for a while, but when it's the event of your teenage years, you get a bit excited.

Thank you!!!!!

Psyched



Dear Psyched,

Yours is one of those rare exceptions where I say it's okay for a girl to ask a guy. It's your school's dance, each girl should have a date, and there are no boys at the school, so . . . it's kind of like a girl-ask-guy dance. I'd like it better if you talked to him and said "hey, my formal is coming up, and I'd love it if you'd ask to be my date", which I actually think is both endearing and more appropriate, so I think that's what you should do.

When a girl asks a guy to escort her to the school dance, even as suggested above, she should expect to pay for everything that he doesn't bring. To be specific, that means the tickets and anything that's customary for the girl to give the guy, like a boutonniere. If there's dinner that you girls are inviting the guys to, then you should expect to pay for that as well. I think making the dinner is a wonderful and affordable alternative. Be prepared to pay for other auxiliary things too, like photos.

A girl can expect that the guy will pay for his attire, and his own transportation. Flowers for her would be nice, especially if customary, but it's wrong for her to be upset if he fails to bring them.

Have fun!

- Bro Jo