There's more to going to the prom than just getting a date

VERNON-Hair, nails, makeup, dress, maybe a limo … and let's not forget, date. It may sound simple, but preparations for the Vernon Township High School Senior Prom June 4 packed local beauty salons with young women styling, primping and getting the last touches put on their toilettes. At Rumours Salon and Day Spa in Vernon, beauticians wielded curling irons, hairpins, flowers and other implements of beautification to create elegant "updos," which take about an hour each to create. The day of the prom, the salon saw about 40 students. At VIP Nails, also in Vernon, students filed in steadily the week leading up to the prom to take advantage of the many services offered by the salon. Nail technicians such as Ann Tran and Van Le applied tips, buffed, shaped and polished, while Manob Lamlamay used an airbrush to put a final touch on French manicures. Dress-buying expeditions have been going on for even longer. Capricia Caldwell, a senior from Lake Panorama, bought her dress in April from David's Bridal. Other students shopped the malls and outlet stores to find the perfect gown. No matter how carefully one plans, there is always something going amiss. Caldwell's original date had a family engagement at the last minute, and so a fellow Franklin Shop-Rite co-worker, Paul Rumbolo, accompanied her to the event. The prom was held at Skylands Ballroom in Randolph, beginning at 5:00 p.m. with pictures in the gardens. The future graduates danced the night away until 11:00, when the party was over and it was time to go home.