Appropriate corsage for 8th grader?
 

My clueless son is taking a girl to the 8th grade dance. She must be somewhat desperate (although her yearbook pic is cute) since he asked her today and the dance is Friday. He was just going to go with a bunch of friends (a much more age-appropriate method IMO) but then found out that people are pairing off. Nothing like waiting until the last minute....

So anyway, given that the girl is still a 14 y.o. GIRL and not an adult-sized 18 y.o., what size corsage would not look too overwhelming on her wrist? I figure the wrist is safer than him trying to pin a corsage to her chest. I did make him call her and found out the dress is black so what would be appropriate flowers in terms of coordinating color and species?

I really wish the school coordinated this dance as they did 6 years ago: directly after school and there were no "dates" allowed. I think I am going to have much rougher teenage years ahead with this kid vs my oldest.

For eighth grade, I would think that white rosebuds would look elegant, yet still young. For that matter, any kind of rosebud - except red! Red roses mean "I Love You" in the language of flowers, and that's definitely not appropriate in this case.

Good luck, alum!

https://www.raysflorist.co.uk/images...white_rose.jpg

http://theweddingthehome.files.wordp...1/dscf7695.jpg

something simple

^^ I like both! A gardenia or magnolia would look great, too.

Hmm, I like BOTH of those a lot better than what we ordered. I may have to cancel the order and try to recreate one of your pics. I'll have to ask my kid in the morning but I doubt that he will care. Actually, I'll ask his sister. She has a much higher coolness factor than either GEN Alum or me as he asked her to drive him and the girl. Somehow I don't think the girl's parents will like that.

Both of those are gorgeous! And I wouldn't worry about the color too much--I gave my prom date a red boutonniere to match my red ball gown (plus he was in all white, I had to break up the color so he wouldn't look like a marshmallow:p). I do agree that white rosebuds would be the best on a black dress, especially if he's wearing a black suit/white shirt.

ETA: And who says she's desperate just because she didn't have a date already? Maybe your son's a looker and she was holding out for him. ;)

All it really involves is a hot glue gun some plastic OR fresh flowers (will florist tape), some ribbon, beading on a string from wally work, michaels, or hobby lobby

For this time of year I would recommend Cymbidiums (orchids) or Cattleyas (also orchids) if available. Both are suitable for a wrist corsage in the hands of the right florist.

But FWIW I think anything less than orchids is unacceptable except in very specific circumstances. So take that grain of salt with my advice as opinions will vary.

My daughter's 8th grade dance was a couple weeks ago. Most of the girls went in large groups and my daughter said the only boys who were there were those with girlfriends already (and they all had to be 8th graders, no older/younger allowed).. so the ratio of girls to boys was like 15:1.. lol. I like the single rose with the ribbon.

That's pretty harsh, she's only a kid. God forbid the day your son brings home a woman he wants to marry. I can't imagine the criticism you'd have about a future daughter-in-law.

8th graders don't really know how this whole dating this is supposed to work yet. As is evidenced by your son being last minute in asking someone.

As has been stated above, 8th grade dances aren't really something kids pair up for. People go with friends, and only the established "couples" (not too many in 8th grade) go in pairs. Most of the relationships probably meet up once they're there!

My students just had their 8th grade dance and it is very informal. I do not know if any students actually came together. They met up and even if they were "coupled" off, everyone danced with their friends.

We gave all the girls who did not have corsages one when they arrived since many did not have a date!

alum was making a joke and as the mother of a son, i could appreciate it!

kids today aren't wearing corsages as much. when my son was in 10th grade i ordered a wrist corsage for his homecoming dance date. she ended up being the only girl with a corsage, and my son forbade me from ordering another corsage ever! you may want to check with some of the other mothers to see what they are doing.

ohsoveryladylike, both corsages are just beautiful! i especially like the one paired with the pearls. are you a floral designer or is this just a hobby?

Alum this brings back memories of Ft. Leavenworth where all the kids were going with pals then at the 11th hour, they all started asking the girls. grrrr. Last minute scrambling for flowers I'm sure on the Mom's part. I called the boy's mom and said we would drive if they would pick up. We were already chaperones at the dance so had to go early anyway. When we arrived at his house we all took pics of them at their quarters. Each girl who came in was given a long stemmed flower (carnation maybe?) in case she didn't have a "date". It was funny tho, b/c the boys immed. split off into one direction and the girls in another and they hung with their friends most of the night except for slow dances. Now they're both Facebook friends. It's funny how Facebook brings you back together with other Army brats you were stationed with all over the country.

I was tired and cranky last night. I'm sure this little girl is a lovely young lady. I'm annoyed at the middle school for scheduling the dance in the evening vs. right after school AND allowing "dates". If it had been directly after school, it would have much more age-appropriate.

Since the whole scenario in terms of asking the girl is fait accompli, I asked him about flowers. He said nobody would do this but I had my doubts so I did call 2 moms with social-butterfly boys. Corsages are being bought. Now we have to go shopping tonight as he grown a lot since Easter and the arms on his dress shirts are annoyingly just slightly too short. Again, a little bit more head's up on this would have been nice. :(

Hobby. All my life I loved crafts, but after my heart transplant I found myself with LOTS free time to learn new painting, wood/glass cutting techniques. I just like pretty things.

My oldest was at MacArthur when we were at Leavenworth. Luckily there was no 6th grade dance.

I know that there is a West Point Middle School '02 Facebook group for "all West Point Middle School Alumni from the class of 2002. Join if you graduated with us or would have if your parents hadn't moved." She found out that 3 of her classmates from our court alone just finished yearling year.

I like the one with the ribbon. Mainly because you can tie it however tight it needs to be. As a small wristed woman, this is one of my peeves (that and boyfriends who didn't realize how small your wrist was, grr.) Be very careful if you ordered one from the florist - the elastic bracelet might be huge for her and trust me, it's a pain trying to keep it on all night. You might be better w/ a pin on corsage. Of course, if she has big meaty wrists, this is a moot point.

Oh, and I have to say that this scenario reminds me of the My Three Sons episode where Ernie had one date, then two dates, then none, then one, then two, then none. LOL

Back when my boys went to 8th grade dance (3 over the last 8 years YIKES), the trend was to buy a bouquet of flowers or a small nose gay type thing instead of a corsage. They didn't start wearing corsages until they actually stayed with their date throughout the night;).

At 8th grade dance, they all had "dates" but by the time the music started, they were all dancing in a group - so Voila, no dates.

Maybe that's why they don't give dates corsages in college either - haha.

That or you'd get drunk and pissed off at the aggravating thing attached to you.

Is the "thing attached to you" the corsage? Or your date? ;)

OhSoVeryLadyLike:
On the one with the ribbon, did you just cut the flower stem off and glue gun it on to the ribbon and then glue the leaves in place, or did you use florist tape and then add the ribbon? How do you get it to sit on the wrist without poking the wearer?

It is becoming much more common for 8th grade dances to be in the evening and to almost mimic the sort of dances these kids will be experiencing next year in high school. At one school I worked at, we did this to help prepare them for this next social step in a more comfortable enviornment than just being thrown into a high school dance. Most of the schools around here still don't allow "dates" and say that you can show up alone or with same sex friends. As others have said, even with dates, most 8th graders tend to spend their dances in giant clumps anyways!

When I was in 7th and 8th grade (94/95), our dances were always on Friday evenings, and didn't start until around 7 or so. Almost everyone brought dates as well.

I can see how that can be stressful for parents, though, since the kids aren't old enough to drive yet, so the parents end up having to coordinate everything (as opposed to high school proms and dances).

I'm feeling more and more like a loser with everyone reminiscing about their "When I went to the 8th grade dance..." stories. When I was in 8th grade...I went to a Baptist school and they said dances were sinful. I didn't get to go to one till I transferred. :o

Well played.

Don't worry, you didn't miss much. Mostly standing around in a circle, watching the few couples who were brave enough to dance.

I had an eight grade (PROM)otion dance. It was 7pm at a Wyndham Resort Hotel. Dress was "semi-formal" (but everyone had bought really nice clothes/dresses so they had to take that back) and dinner was served. (We even had a prince/princess I believe). I think the only people who had dates were mostly those who were already "going together" and of course all the "fast" children. I went with my girlfriends. The same for 12th grade prom. I never had a date to a dance until I started going to greek formals! I never got a corsage until I asked for one...:mad:

okay, alum, i am waiting with baited breath to hear what the corsage looks like and how the date went(when it happens)!!

Btw, my daughter's dance was from 6pm-9pm. So, it was late enough that they weren't just going into the gym after school but it still ended early. My daughter and her group of friends all went to one girls' house to hang out afterward and they stayed there until around 11, but that was all girls.

The dance went well. He wore a blue blazer, pink oxford, VV tie and belt, blue seersucker pants, Docksiders. She wore a black spaghetti strap dress and initially wore heels that caused her to tower over him. I don't think either cared about the height thing.

When I picked up the kids at the end of the dance at 8 pm, I noticed that there was a long pile of women's shoes extending the entire length of the cafeteria. :) Almost all the girls were dancing in stocking (or most likely BARE) feet.

I went with the original corsage because I had no time to search out AC Moore's corsage supplies AND fresh flowers. So if he has the grades to go to homecoming and wants to take someone, I will strongly suggest he be a little more organized about the whole thing.

That was true for us too. We had a lot of school dances starting in sixth grade, but they were mostly after school and kids wore jeans/whatever they wore to school. There was a lot of running, standing in clumps, and I remember people would do that thing where you lock arms and spin around really fast. Also if they had a video screen that played the music videos for the songs, it was a REALLY COOL dance and then everyone just stared at the screen and sang along to the songs. (Mariah Carey, "Fantasy," oh yeah!!!)

I also remember a lot of crying in the girls' room but I honestly can't remember why because there was nothing to cry about.

In 8th grade at the end of the year there was one evening dance where people dressed up really nicely and took "dates." Mostly you just met up with your date at the dance. I ended up having my first kiss at that one. :o With a totally hippie/goth guy because that was my thing then. LOL. Silly baby breathesgelatin.

In short I don't think have a semiformal evening dance in 8th grade is a big deal. A lot of people start dating more seriously once they hit high school. The popular girls in my class - and not the trashy ones either - were all dating juniors in high school in the fall of the next year. I guess most people start dating around 15 or 16... My first "date" was a group date a 14 - our parents dropped us all off at a movie. I tried to hold my boyfriend's hand and he got upset because he thought I was moving too fast. LOL. I'm such a hooch, clearly. It's funny now because he is still one of my dear friends and we were co-percussion captains in high school band. (Yeah, nerd fest.)

My mom is a substitute teacher who practically works full time at my middle school. She's been asked to chaperone a lot of the middle school dances because she's respected as a teacher who won't put up with crap. She loves going to them and thinks they are the funniest and most pitiful things in the world. It makes her month to be asked to work at one. Of course my mom really has a passion for middle schoolers. She says they're so fascinating because they're not quite human. :)

Sorry for this long, rambly post... I guess my point is, middle school dances are pretty pathetic and I think an 8th grade semiformal is actually kind of nice practice for high school. Also helps the good kids to really start to see what the good kids actually DO at a dance vs. the kids who are more loose with everything... because I do think that more forward guys and girls really do start pushing the limits of dating/sexual stuff in 8th grade, and the good kids start to realize what things they SHOULDN'T be doing. If that makes sense. I really think by the end of 8th grade/definitely by 9th grade, parents really need to just believe that they've given the kids a good foundation and start backing off a bit and letting them explore their (slightly pitiful) young adult lives.

Ha ha, other than we didn't have a video screen and substitute "Heartache Tonight" always getting played for the Mariah, this is EXACTLY what our dances were like. That makes me feel good for some reason. :)

You can substitute, "The Dance" for us, that was the song everyone danced to.