Ball Etiquette
Okay let me just get straight down to it. There are things that you should and should just NOT do and wear to any military ball. I thought this would be common sense by now. However, I keep seeing posts all over Facebook asking is this appropriate, is that okay to wear, or what about this. Then you have all these dates acting crazy the night of at the ball.
Let me just help you all who need help…
- First off LEAVE THE PLEASER SHOES AT HOME! If you do not know what I am talking about, they are the shoes people also call stripper shoes. Clear platform heels are not heels you wear to a ball. All they are going to so is make people think your date bought you to be his date for the night. And every year at the ball there is always that one person who decides to wear these. Do yourself a favor and just don’t. There is a time and place for them, hell I even have two pairs of them, but the ball is not the place for them.
- Club dresses and Mini Dresses are a hard no. It is a ball FOR THE SERVICEMEMBERS. Have you not seen Cinderella at the ball before? It is called a ball, that means it calls for long dresses. Not some short tight dress that shows the skin of your butt. You are not cute. You will also be the talk for the whole following year until the next ball is over. Everyone will make an example out of you and let no one forget what you wore. And yes, people still wear short tight dresses. Last year (2017) one of my husband’s coworkers brought a date who was wearing a teeny black dress, and still to this day it is still brought up.
- Get a dress that compliments his or her uniform! No one wants to see hot pink dresses next to dress blues. Stick to the normal colors black, gold, red, navy blue etc.
- Picking random colors that you like just makes you clash with him. It does not look pretty. Same for the nails as well. Do not go out to a salon and get crazy rainbow-colored nails that do not even match with you and your SO. Spend the $30 or so and get your nails done that actually match and go with your outfit! Here is an example of appropriate nails that match my ball gown.
- You can wear spanx to look nice. You will look better wearing a pair of spanx versus not wearing a pair and knowing you should. If the dress does not fit right it will not be breathtaking anymore. Also make sure the dress style compliments your figure.
- Do not wear a tiara. This is not a sweet 16. You are not getting married. Leave that sass at home along with your attitude. Again this is not your special day. This day is for the service members and some dates tend to forget that.
- Pace yourself. You don’t want to be tipsy before anything actually even starts. I also highly doubt you would want to meet anyone in your SO command already tipsy. Cocktail hour always happens before the speeches and cake cutting.
- Have a plan for how you are getting home or where you are staying. Do not be last minute and have no idea what to do because you are drunk and cannot go anywhere.
- Seats are assigned. Do not play musical chairs during the speeches or dinner.
- Speaking of dinner. The speeches can sometimes last what seems like forever (usually it is an hour long). With that being said though eat a snack BEFORE you get to the venue. You do not want to be starving.
- Just something to keep in mind. When they serve food waiters and waitress will serve on your rights and take away on your left.
- Stay awake. This is not a time to sleep. There are programs you can follow to know when everything is happening. Also keep your phone on silent or vibrate.
- This is not a club. Do not go dancing on the floor like you are at a club.
- Make sure to get in line for photos! It is something special that you can have documented. All balls have professional photographers.
- Even if your service member isn’t with you still go. Take some time for yourself and meet up with other spouses your friends with.
Xx
O.
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