Are you one of those people that LOVED or HATED high school? I don’t know if it was the friends I had or that I met my husband in high school, but I loved my high school experience. With such fond memories of high school and after seeing this amazing and this awesome idea, I decided I needed to create a Return to High School date!
Start the date off right with the decor! Gather anything around your home that reminds you of your school days. Dictionaries, notebooks, apples, pencils, and definitely yearbooks! I went with my Alma mater’s school colors (blue and yellow) and added some balloons to the table with the utensils.
This was probably my (and everyone else’s) favorite part of the decor. With How Does She’s inspiration, I had two banners of photos – one of each guest from when they were in school sent to me earlier by email and then a “High School” photo I MADE of everyone over at Jostens – Yearbook Yourself. These were hilarious and everyone got a kick out of seeing themselves in a different era. At the end of the night, everyone got to take their photo home as a memento. (These are so easy to do thanks to Jostens
, just upload a photo of each guest and then you can adjust as needed. I then photoshopped them to add each persons name to look like it came straight from a yearbook.)
Mine wasn’t THE funniest but I definitely think I could pull off that hair!
We served dinner Cafeteria style with milk cartons, pizza, fruit and veggie cups, and tater tots all on disposable trays. I found a pack of 10 at the dollar store but I also saw a bigger pack being sold at Wal-Mart.
For dessert, ice cream cups!
Make sure the other couples know how to dress for the date by sending out the invitation (download below). It informs them to wear something from high school – a t-shirt, prom dress, class sweater/jacket, or something they’ve been holding on from the glory days. I really wanted to wear my old pep club uniform, but being 8 months pregnant just wouldn’t allow for that! Thankfully, we have awesome friends that go all out for these dates and made us laugh!
My husband and I sporting our old class shirts. Scott and Laura didn’t send in their own photos but rather made posters including such memorobilia as their letters, tassles, and student ID! They also both wore an exact outfit they have a picture of!
Here are our other guests sporting their old high school looks! Michelle’s eyebrows were a favorite of everyone’s!
After eating our cafeteria style dinner we played a High School Quiz I created asking questions of things you should (could) have learned in school – like elements from the periodic table of elements, characters from High School literature, and even a few High School famous movie questions. Each couple was on a team and picked a school mascot to represent their team.
Lastly, we voted on our “Class Favorites” and gave out prizes. I used the adorably cute tags from somewhatsimple and only changed a few of the actual prizes. Our “Most Likely to Succeed” got some Smarties, “Best Hair” took home a comb, “Best Smile” got some toothpaste, “Class Clown” received Laffy Taffy, “Most Athletic” some sponge balls, “Best Dressed” went away with hangers, “Best Eyes” had a funny face disguise with glasses, and the “Best Couple” won a pack of Sweetarts.
Everyone had a great time and could put behind them any bad memories of High School, being replaced by this fun date night. This would be a perfect date for a group of friends if you have a reunion coming up this summer or to celebrate the end of the school year!
We love your comments
Maki…as always, great post here.
I do know this was a very interesting post thanks for writing it!
Ha is that guy in the blue shirt Justin Banks?? I totally know him!
Yep, that is Justin Banks – the best husband ever! How do you know him?
Both done, so ecxited!! :}
Subscribed already, and looking forward to them each time! Also like Giftsling.. so excited! :}
I love you on FB and your news letter!! I “like” gift sling and cannot wait to use them!! Thanks again for all you gals do!
My favorite gift would probably be my camera. Or my ring. Actually, I’m pretty sure my hubby tops all of those. And he is a wonderful gift! 🙂
I subscribe to your newsletter. And I read it, too! 😉
I also “liked” giftsling on Facebook.
Erika! Girl, I love this blog and I SO love your posts! It’s so fun to see all of the awesome ideas you come up with, and to see you and Justin in the pictures! Miss you!! (and I’ve totally been subscribed to the newsletter for a LONG time!!) Congratulations on your baby– I hope everything goes great 🙂
I subscribe to the Newsletter and also liked Dating Divas and GiftSling on FB!
I”m a subscriber and faithful reader and I liked Giftsling! Would sure love to win!
I like Dating Divas and Gift Sling on Facebook and I get the news letter.
I am and did everything above. My birthday is the sixth so I would LOVE this as a birthday gift! ha ha! Thanks girls
my favorite gift would of course be my ring!! 🙂 but after that, i’d say our surprise (for me, HE did ALL the planning) 10 yr anniversary trip to vegas! it’s where we went on our honeymoon but was sick for 90% of it. yay for do overs!! <3
i like your fb page, i subscribe AND liked gift sling!! 🙂
Officially newsletter subscriber, and I “liked” their FB page!
My favorite gift my spouse has ever given me was my wedding band!!
Did all of the above. 🙂
My favorite gift that I ever received is probably my wedding ring. My hubby picked it out himself and surprised me!
I subscribe and like you on FB. I also like gift sling on FB.
My favorite gift would probably be my Ipad 2. Love it. My boys love playing with it too.
I love your newsletters. Love getting date ideas. I like Giftsling on facebook.
I get your news letter and have liked you on Facebook for a while now, AND I liked giftsling on Facebook!
and i am already a newsletter reader 🙂
I did add them on my facebook. My favorite gift was my hubby taking a day off to make me a mother day surprise: he built a garden with strawberries and vegetables! What sweet heart!
Favorite gift….hmmmm….that’s hard. I like just being surprised by my hubby to do something fun on my birthday. I also liked my hand stamped necklace he gave me with all my childrens names for valentines this year.
I already like you on facebook and am a Newsletter reader 🙂 I went ahead and “liked” giftsling. Sounds fun!!
Sweet just entered. Crossing my fingers again 🙂
Woo Gift Sling!!
My favorite gift ever would be my engagement ring for my birthday!
Did both above!
liked on facebook and I’m an official reader!
Love you guys!
I’m a follower of your wonderful and fun blog! My fave gift would be the new bike and baby trailer my dear husband purchased for an early mother’s day gift! SO nice and fun! My 10 month old loves it!
I did it all. My favorite gift I received was an iPod nano from my cute boyfriend now hubby 🙂
Did it all. Favorite gift was my engagement ring. My hubby popped the question on my birthday. Best Birthday ever!
Done all the following! 🙂
My favorite gift was my piano. It’s beautiful!! 🙂
I am a newsletter subscriber and and liked giftsling on facebook!!
I am a subscriber and like both you guys on facebook. (By the way I HATED High School. Not a fun experience.
I’m entering. I really liked a ring my mom gave me.
My favorite gift was my Cricut.
I am a newsletter reader and liked them on facebook! thanks
I look forward to each newsletter I get and I am also a follower of the dating divas. I liked gift sling on facebook. Can’t wait to see who wins. Thanks for the give-away! 🙂
I subscribed to the newsletter. I was ALREADY a fan of your page on facebook and I went to GiftSling.com’s Facebook Fan Page and became a fan…. Pick me 🙂
I am a follower of the dating divas and have subscribed to your newsletter AND I liked gift sling on facebook. 😀
My most favorite gift ever was my Cricut because my husband totally surprised me with it. I wasn’t expecting it at all – heck! I was surprised he even knew what it was cause I barely did. 🙂
I subscribe and became their FB fan.
Did all of the above
I am already a newsletter reader and, Facebook follower! 🙂
Also, liked giftsling! 🙂
Thanks for the wonderful giveaway!
I got it all!! Thanks for hosting this giveaway, I’d love to try out this company!!
My favorite gift is a silver heart necklace with my wedding date engraved on it.
Liked both and am a very happy subscriber!
My favorite gift ever was my dishwasher! Aaahhh!
Ok, I did all of the above!
I did all of the above! 🙂
My favorite gift I’ve ever received is my iPod touch!!
Sorry I commented twice above. I thought it didn’t work the first time.
Did all of the above!! Yeehoo!!
I did all of the listed items!
I am a newsletter subscriber, I like you on facebook and I liked Gifsling on facebook!!
My favorite gift I ever received was a coffee cup that my friend made me with pictures of my kids all over it. I started crying because it was sooo thoughtful.
I am a newsletter subscriber, I like you and Giflsling on facebook
I re-created our 1999 Jr. Prom Date including a creative ask, a limo ride, pictures and even the original dress I wore. It was awesome.
Now that would be a blast! I wonder if I could fit in my old prom dress….not likely! Sounds like such a fun date.
I “like” you both and subscribe to your newsletter.
I subscribed and liked the facebook page.
Great giveaway!! I am already a fan of you gal’s on Facebook & receive the newsletter. I also, liked Gift Slings Facebook Page!
I looove the idea of a high school flashback date! My husband and I were childhood sweethearts from the age of 4 and have been together since our senior year of high school. He still gives me butterflies!
Ashley, my husband and I dated in High School as well and that is why I thought the date was so fun! Sweethearts since 4?!?! That is amazingly wonderful.
I am an official “newsletter reader” and have liked Giftsling.com’s facebook page!!
Done and done!
I did it all!
I had just thought the other day I’m so glad my husband got me a kitchenaid mixer so Christmas several years ago. I would never have asked for it come it has come in handy so many times that now I LOVE it! I know that’s nothing lovey dovey but I love the person who gave it to me! Does that count? : )
I subscribe to your newsletter and I liked giftsling on facebook!
Newsletter reader! & I like giftsling.com
Gift Sling sounds like such a neat idea! Like their FB page. I”m going to have to try them out; maybe for Father’s Day.
I’d have to say my most favorite gift would be from my husband. He bought me a hand-made glass necklace. It was so thoughtful and gorgeous. I get complements every time I wear it.
I subscribe to the newsletter and I like your facebook page!
My favorite gift would be a poem that my husband wrote for me for Mother’s Day a few years ago. It was the best!
My favorite gift would probably have to be a cd compiled of songs that made my boyfriend (now husband) think of me when he heard them.
Did it all! yay for the giveaway!
my favorite gift is my son his birthparents loved him enough to let him be ours.
I subscribe to the newsletter and I like your facebook page!
I receive your newsletter & I like you & them on FB!
i subscribe! and i liked theirfb page.
Did all the above! Thanks!