On May 2, Ida B. Wells held its first “Tangled” themed prom for upperclassmen. Prom was at The Loft on 8th Avenue located in Southeast Portland from 7-10 p.m. Leading up to prom, juniors and seniors asked their dates with fun and creative promposals. The IBW promposal page on instagram – @Ibwpromposals2026 – showcased this year’s best promposals. They usually consist of popular trends and food places, however this year’s favorite theme is centered around going off to college.
Promposals are a traditional way to ask out your date using posters with creative puns and thoughtful words. They are usually accompanied with flowers and candy. People send in photos/videos of their successful promposals to the instagram page. At IBW, the promposal instagram page showcases the surprise, creativity and excitement of the promposals leading up to prom.
Prom originated in the late 19th century at Ivy league colleges such as s a .It was a more modern take on debutante balls. It has evolved to become a high school tradition and often the most anticipated event among many students. In a debutante ball you bring a date that is declared the one you “marry.” Since prom originated taking ideas from debutants it’s traditional to bring a date hence a promposal. In the early 2000s, promposal popularity skyrocketed after many popular movies during the time featured them, causing promposal popularity to skyrocket.
Leading up to prom, Sam Stevens, a senior at IBW was asked to prom by her boyfriend. He snuck into her house, playing Fleetwood Mac asking her to prom with a clever Fleetwood Mac poster. Promposals can be special and personal, just like Steven’s. The instagram page is a great resource for people looking for creative inspiration. Promposals are one of the best parts of prom, with many seniors and juniors looking forward to them all year.
