When to ask to formal?
 

So my fraternity's formal is the weekend of April 1-3. When should I ask my date, Our spring break is in 2 weeks from March 11-21. How early should you generally ask someone? Also how should I ask? Should it just be a simple face to face thing or do you go all out like in high school and sticky note her car or something?

At my school, people just asked, nothing special. Now would be a good time since the girl can spend time to get a dress/make sure she has no conflicting plans.

If you're asking a sorority girl, make sure she doesn't have a formal the same weekend.

Was it the Hills where everyone asks them out elaborately with like monkey suits and stuff?

That. We do that and you should too.

Okay, if it's a weekend affair, then you should either take a girl who is your girlfriend, or a girl who is a friend. Asking a girl you kinda like to go away for the weekend goes horribly awry, more often than not, IMO.

Ask ASAP, because you're only giving her a month's notice, and you're probably competing with the dates of at least one other fraternity's formal.

To ask be as elaborate as you like/relative to your affection for the lady. My go-to is a handwritten note on nice stationary. It's a lost art, and a no fail way to the gentleman of the year award. (Over the top is not my style, I keep it understated)

I would probably ask her within the next couple of days; we girls need a good amount of time to prepare for a whole weekend away.
I think asking in person would be the nicest way, but I'd make sure this is someone who not only you want to spend time with, but who wants to spend time with you. Several girls in my sorority have not-so-great stories about formals they went to with someone just because they asked, and they did not have a great time. You could try bringing it up in conversation if you're talking abou something related to your fraternity, like "Yeah, my fraternity has this formal coming up in April where we go to _______, would you like to come with me?" Hopefully she'll say yes, but in the case she doesn't, it will just be a casual thing and not awkward.