Most of us have experienced formals in high school such as Prom, Winter Ball, or Homecoming. For many of us, the prospect of finding a dress, a date, or the perfect makeup look was exciting and something we looked forward to in high school. Naturally, many of us want to continue this fun and exciting tradition in university, but the expectations are a little bit different. Even if you never went to formals in high school, university is the perfect place to try them out! This guide to university formals will help clear up what you should expect and will give you ideas for how to make your night the best it can be! Â
1. What to Wear to Your First Formal
The first formal I ever went to in University was Rez Ball back in 2015. I remember one of my worst fears was not being sure what was appropriate to wear to the event and how formal I should dress. So let me put your fears to rest: everyone is in the same boat at an event like that. Chances are it’s everyone’s first university formal, so everyone is nervous and unsure. There is usually a mix of every style of dress (and pant suit) available. Many people wear their prom dress in order to save money, and others go out and buy a dress. To be honest, both are acceptable, but the key point is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to look awesome and have fun!
2. Makeup
There’s also the question of how you should do your makeup for the event. Formal events are a good time to be bold with your look and try out looks that may be too intense for everyday life. A tip if you’re considering wearing a bold makeup look is to try it out ahead of time and experiment. That look you found on Pinterest may not look the same in real life, or you may find something you like better by experimenting with makeup. Don’t be afraid to have fun and be bold!
3. Hair
The biggest hair tip I can give you is to make sure it won’t get in your way when you’re dancing. There are tons of fun hairstyles that keep your hair off your face and out of your way. There’s nothing worse than trying to have fun on the dance floor and having your hair stuck to your face!
4. Theme
Many formals also have a theme attached to them. It’s definitely not necessary for you to match your dress and/or makeup to the theme, but it can make the night more fun. Even subtle eye shadow tributes to the event or matching your dress to the time period it’s supposed to take place in can make you feel more involved in the event. Of course, many people ignore the theme completely and look great, so it’s completely up to you!
5. The Venue
There are a wide variety of venues in Ottawa. Again, the venues vary greatly, but they’re typically located in a fancy hotel somewhere in downtown Ottawa or Gatineau. It is worth looking into where the venue is located before you buy your ticket because it may change whether you want to go or not. Some are not very accessible or are really difficult to get to, and it’s better to know ahead of time then on the day of. Most venues’ will have a coat check as well (which is usually included with your ticket), but be sure to check and dress accordingly. Â
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