As prom quickly approaches students are starting to plan their evenings with their dates and friends. Prom this year is being held earlier than last year, on Apr. 9 at the Wild Prairie Event Center. Most students who attend prom go out to eat beforehand whether that be fast food, a sit down restaurant or just at home. 

A survey of 61 juniors and seniors concluded that 50.8% of students will go out to eat prior to prom. There are a variety of restaurants that students have chosen to attend, the most popular being IHop, Firebirds, Outback Steakhouse and Kobe Steakhouse. Junior Alexandra Lujano and her group are planning on going to Kobe Steakhouse. 

“We chose Kobe’s because it is classy and fun just like prom is,” Lujano said. “We actually have a group of friends going because it is better to enjoy it with multiple people.” 

Lujano and her friends are going to eat before prom because she says it is much more reasonable than going to eat after prom. Senior Georgia Garcia is going to eat at Outback Steakhouse with her date and another couple. 

“We chose Outback Steakhouse because they have the best cheese fries and it’s a little bit nicer,” Garcia said. “We will be going to eat at about 5:30 to 6:00 pm to beat the rush and have time to take lots of pictures.”

Unlike Lujano and Garcia, senior Olivia Adams and her group of friends will not be going out to eat for prom but instead they are going to eat at senior Andrew Barron’s home and have a full course meal. 

“I think that Andrew’s parents are preparing Italian food for [our] group. There are eight or nine of us that are going to be eating in the house,” Adams said. “I think we are eating at 5:30 p.m. and we are taking pictures right before that at 5. We strategically planned it so none of us are bloated.”

Adams and her group of friends have eaten at the house prior to prom in past years. Adams favorite part about going to eat at the house is how they do not have to worry about getting a big group all the way to Wichita and how they have much more leniency with time since the food is being prepared at a house rather than a restaurant.

“[Another fun part about it is] just the environment, we are all just so close like none of us had our shoes on, we were all just chilling, half done and half ready,” Adams said. “I think being in a space where we hang out legitimately every day but like while we are dressed up with the fancy decorations and plates made it a totally fun experience.”

Both Adams and Lujano are excited to get ready for prom. Adams and Lujano also think prom is more enjoyable when you are going with friends. Adams says she is most excited for the events leading up to prom such as getting ready, eating and hanging out with friends. 

“As a senior I think being with your friends is better. I am going to prom with such a big group of people that I am actually close with,” Adams said. “I am pretty excited about hanging out with them before prom. I think getting ready for prom is by far one of the most enjoyable parts.”