The doorbell rings. On the porch there is someone waiting with a posterboard sign, flowers and a prized item, either candy or one that relates to a theme. As you open the door, emotions flood: excitement and anticipation. You greet them and pose for a photo that is going to be posted on social media later. This is the 2025 version of an endearing homecoming proposal that is a quintessential part of the high school experience.

Dance proposals started to gain their popularity in the early 2000s. According to an article by the Washington Post, one of the first prom proposals occurred in 2001 and was featured on the Dallas Morning News where students were asking each other to prom using Adam Sandler’s song “The Wedding Singer” over the loudspeaker. Part of the increase of dance proposals was the influence of social media. Teenagers were able to see celebrities, or even their peers participating in asking one another. These proposals became a trend that spread across the country and today they are still popular due to tradition. It is a fun, and quite easy tradition to keep up, which is why it has been around for almost three decades.

Dance proposals build anticipation for the dance and they also exhibit a thoughtful amount of effort. They are important because they give people something to look forward to every dance. From personal experience, it makes a person feel special and appreciated when they are asked with a creative sign and something they like. When a person asks you, it shows their desire to want to spend money, and put in time to create something you would like. If the “ask” was done over a text message, it feels more disappointing and it begs the question if your date truly wants to go with you.

Proposals in general today are usually made with a sign that has a funny, or cute saying that asks someone to the dance, flowers and maybe even candy or a stuffed animal. Some examples are signs that say “Lets make everyone jelly at HOCO?” with a Jellycat stuffed animal, or even “I would CRUMBL if you said no…HOCO?” with a box of Crumbl Cookies. Overall signs like these build anticipation for the event and are fun to create. Dance proposals give people the chance to have a creative outlet and show a decent amount of effort. They are also interesting to look back on however many years later.

Although some may say they are cringy and even embarrassing, it is the pressures social media puts on people that makes participating not enjoyable in certain activities. In hindsight, homecoming proposals could be fun for both people, but it is the possible awkwardness that can stray people away. I believe something is only as awkward and embarrassing if you make it that way, so I believe proposals are still something teenagers should participate in. Decade after decade dance proposals have shown they are still around for a good reason.