A Black Tie Affair To Remember
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(Monday) June 7, 2010
Staff Report
alexandrianews.org
TC Williams High School prom attendees gather at Belle Haven Country Club. (Photo: Regan Kireilis)
For months they planned the perfect day – the perfect date, the perfect dress, the perfect accessories, the perfect transportation, the perfect place for dinner and the perfect after party. Saturday finally arrived and it was prom time for hundreds of T. C. Williams High School seniors and their dates.
Good times were had by all at TC's 2010 Prom. (Photo: Regan Kireilis)
The prom, “A Black Tie Affair,” was held at Hilton Alexandria Mark Center. While security was tight, those who attended did not find it stifling.
The rules were clear: before purchasing a ticket, each prom-goer was asked to sign a pledge. “I want my prom to be a night I’ll remember for the rest of my life – surrounded by my best friends and full of music, dancing, and fun. I pledge to:
- party sober and stay alcohol and drug free
- not ride in a car with someone who has been drinking and encourage my friends to do the same
- report to a teacher or chaperone if I see anyone using alcohol or drugs at the prom
- keep sexually healthy by delaying sex or using contraception/condoms to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections
- seek out information about delaying sex and/or contraception and condoms from my parents, the school nurse, The Adolescent Clinic and/or another trusted source
- treat my prom date and other attendees with respect and to never hurt (physically, verbally, emotionally or sexually) my date or fellow classmates,” the pledge said.
A few students were denied admission to the prom because chaperones and police determined that they had been drinking alcohol. One girl was removed from the prom on a stretcher because of alcohol consumption. In general, however, there were few such incidents and the prom went off without a hitch.
TC Williams 2010 Prom guests. (Photo: Regan Kireilis)
The prom king and queen were Ryan Yates and Kukua Osei-Gyamfi. They danced to “Pretty Boy Swag” by Soulja Boy, the king’s choice.
“Winning prom king was like the icing on the cake. All throughout high school I had a great time…Winning just made everything come together,” Yates said.
There were two DJs who played a variety of rap and hip-hop music. Food and fun were plentiful, the chocolate fountain being a particular favorite.
“Everyone had a blast, but I felt like crying the next day knowing it was all over,” said Caroline Goree.
Senior Logan Porvaznik had a great time. “The Hilton was set up really nicely. The evening went well, the music was pretty good and there was a lot of fun dancing,” he said.
Before the Prom
Salon deZEN stylist, Cindy Wagner peices together a soft, side up-do for Alison McEnearney. (Photo: Regan Kireilis)
Stylist, Wagner says, "This is a good, natural look that anyone can wear that's also popular on the red carpet." (Photo: Regan Kireilis)
Getting ready for the prom consumed most of Saturday for the girls. One group of six went to Salon deZEN on King Street for hair, nails and makeup. Some of the girls had up-dos and some left their hair down. In keeping with her belief that “less is more”, salon owner Elizabeth Schmiedicke kept the makeup to a minimum and the manicures French.
Manicurist, Tomiko Bozek does Cat Pearson's nails at Salon deZEN. (Photo: Regan Kireilis)
Around 6:00 p.m., girls in their gowns and boys in tuxedos assembled for dinner and photographs. One group went to a private home for chicken, steak and all the trimmings.
Creative Director for the Salon, Craig Miller gives Miranda Branch a "...fresh, clean look. This is prom, NOT Vegas!" (Photo: Regan Kirielis)
Another group headed to National Harbor. One group went into DC to Maggiano’s and a group of 40 dined at Belle Haven Country Club.
After dinner, it was time for the prom. Students arrived in private vehicles while many rented stylish limousines. The group of 40 arrived at prom in a party bus.
“It was like a nightclub squeezed into a school bus with awesome music and lights,” said Kat Pearson, who went to prom on the party bus.
After the Prom
TC Williams Prom, 2010. (Photo: Regan Kirielis)
When the prom ended at midnight, the party wasn’t over. Even though there was food at the prom, some students headed for IHOP. To keep illegal hotel parties to a minimum, many parents hosted after prom parties at their homes.
“It was fun, we were at my house and since I have a pool and hot tub, we swam until about 2:00 a.m. or 3:00 a.m. Then we watched [Austin Powers'] Goldmember and went to sleep,” said senior Luke Dorris.
Approximately 20 students spent the night in tents in one family’s backyard. “Caroline’s was a good place to go afterwards because it was a good place to calm down after the exciting prom and talk about it. Her parents were awesome and had all this food set up for us, which was good because we were all starving,” Pearson said.
