How to figure out homecoming etiquette for teens
Parents often feel unsure about unspoken traditions like whether a boutonnière is needed when a date is wearing a dress shirt instead of a full suit. This uncertainty makes it difficult to know what clothes, accessories, or activities are expected for high school homecoming events.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- People have been saying this in most months since July 2026.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Asking experienced parents on online forums for adviceDid this help you?
- 2Sticking to universally liked simple snacks like fruit or cheeseDid this help you?
- 3Inviting the parent to stay or offering alternative drop-off optionsDid this help you?
- 4having the daughter ask her dateDid this help you?
- 5asking in local school or community Facebook groupsDid this help you?
- 6looking up past homecoming dance pictures to see what students woreDid this help you?
- 7Asking the host if the exchange student can tag along and offering to cover their cost.Did this help you?
- 8Taking the exchange student on a separate, fun 1-on-1 outing while the child attends the party.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Because of the cultural differences, I’m feeling a little anxious because I want to make absolutely sure I get the etiquette right and make this sweet boy and his family feel incredibly welcome in our home.”source ↗
“I have hosted playdates for my son before, but the families have always been Indian, so I naturally knew the cultural etiquette, what to serve, and how to act.”source ↗
“First time being a mom of a teenage girl going to hoemcoming😵💫”source ↗
“Her date is wearing a dress shirt, not the suit jacket. Do I still get the boutonnière? Or is that just a prom thing for the jacket?”source ↗
“Not sure what kids do for hoco”source ↗
“I'm looking for some friendly advice on how to approach birthday party invites for our exchange student.”source ↗
“My daughter is in middle school, she was recently invited to a close friends birthday party and wants to go. The issue is that during that time, we will have an exchange student living with us”source ↗
“I'm wondering what the etiquette is around how to approach this with the exchange student, if at all.”source ↗
Where this came up
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