What is a typical day for a sorority formal and how is it planned?

BabyPiNK_FL · #1 05-20-2007, 11:09 PM

okay, um a bit off subject cos now we're talking about something else, but for those of you without houses you do drive to the venue right? At my school I don't think anyone takes a bus anywhere except Disney, we just get in our cars and head out!... Just wondering!

guardedbystars · #2 05-21-2007, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

okay, um a bit off subject cos now we're talking about something else, but for those of you without houses you do drive to the venue right? At my school I don't think anyone takes a bus anywhere except Disney, we just get in our cars and head out!... Just wondering!

We take a bus!

It's fine because people drink at formal and sometimes beforehand and we don't want anyone driving there/back home if they have been drinking.

DISNEY rocks.

#3 05-21-2007, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

okay, um a bit off subject cos now we're talking about something else, but for those of you without houses you do drive to the venue right? At my school I don't think anyone takes a bus anywhere except Disney, we just get in our cars and head out!... Just wondering!

When I was a collegian, we were not allowed to drive our own cars for Risk Management purposes. The members and their guests were covered from the time they stepped on the bus to the formal until they stepped off the bus after the event.

I'm not familiar with current Risk Management policies, but my chapter continues to use the bus system. The extra charge they pay to be bused to the event is wayyyy less than what they'd have to pay for parking, especially if it's at a Waikiki hotel.

It's a good system, and I remember when I was an advisor thinking, "I'm so glad we have these buses." It really does give advisors and chaperones peace of mind and I wish more chapters would do the same.

BabyPiNK_FL · #4 05-21-2007, 12:21 AM

[the person asked me to remove the quote so this probably won't make sense but...]

I can't imagine all of this drama just to go anywhere! It sounds so weird to me. I've never heard of these things before! We literally get ready and get in the car, if we want to stop we stop, I can't recall anyone sneaking in drinks either, in my city it'd be impossible to keep track and no one would even bother to listen to all that if someone tried. No one would even go if we had to do that. They'd just go to a club!

(By we I'm referring to the Greek Community as a whole on my campus. I've never heard any sorority/fraternity member mention having to board a bus for her/his formal or any other event except a grab-a-date to Orlando. Also, I'm not referencing the risk-management aspects, just the different methods of transportation that is required for different chapters.)

#5 05-21-2007, 12:46 AM

I definitely understand about not being able to appropriate funds in the budget for buses, however...

I can't even fathom the thought of having any of the collegians drive themselves and their guests to and from the event. It's probably because hey -- that's my name on those damn contracts and if anything unfortunate happened, that was MY ass on the line. Chalk it up to "something I never really understood and thought was unfair when I was a collegian...but it all made sense once I became the responsible chaperone and advisor on duty."

Buses don't have to have the plush seats and air conditioning. My chapter's used the campus shuttle buses in the past and when finances were tough, they chartered yellow school buses that didn't break the bank.

BabyPiNK_FL · #6 05-21-2007, 01:10 AM

[the person asked me to remove the quote so this probably won't make sense but...]

Wow! Ours is always $60 or more and when you add on dress, makeup, gas, date costs, and alcohol ((if you're legal) WHOOSH! And I thought that that was slightly overpriced but not too much. I guess it all depends on the location/timing/etc.

ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl · #7 05-21-2007, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

Wow! Ours is always $60 or more and when you add on dress, makeup, gas, date costs, and alcohol ((if you're legal) WHOOSH! And I thought that that was slightly overpriced but not too much. I guess it all depends on the location/timing/etc.

Yeah that wouldn't fly with most of our girls. That's the thing...there's the dress (as I discovered this year not many of us are the same sizes), and even drug store make up and shoes from Target add up...plus a shirt if you want one, plus the price of your date, and yeah plus alcohol if you're 21. (And I guess you could just not get any, but a lot of people end up getting one or two formals at legal age since there's constant scheduling conflicts so they take advantage of being able to.) Of course, we aren't renting out extremely expensive venues either...I've been to three and one was at a house specifically outfitted for parties/weddings, one was at a bar with an outdoor stage area, and one was at student retreat (ran out of money). Nothing TOO fancy.

BabyPiNK_FL · #8 05-21-2007, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl

Yeah that wouldn't fly with most of our girls. That's the thing...there's the dress (as I discovered this year not many of us are the same sizes), and even drug store make up and shoes from Target add up...plus a shirt if you want one, plus the price of your date, and yeah plus alcohol if you're 21. (And I guess you could just not get any, but a lot of people end up getting one or two formals at legal age since there's constant scheduling conflicts so they take advantage of being able to.) Of course, we aren't renting out extremely expensive venues either...I've been to three and one was at a house specifically outfitted for parties/weddings, one was at a bar with an outdoor stage area, and one was at student retreat (ran out of money). Nothing TOO fancy.

We always have our formal at a hotel and we're in a major metropolitan high-cost area so I guess that would explain the higher costs. Oh, btw-I was 21 before I was initiated, so I've always been able to drink (if I chose, cos I rarely do) at formal.

ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl · #9 05-21-2007, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

We always have our formal at a hotel and we're in a major metropolitan high-cost area so I guess that would explain the higher costs. Oh, btw-I was 21 before I was initiated, so I've always been able to drink (if I chose, cos I rarely do) at formal.

Yeah we don't bother with all that...but we still aren't next to a truly high cost high class area lol so yeah...