Hoco proposals show effort and creativity

By Emma Kavcioglu

Over the past couple of years, Homecoming proposals have surged in popularity  and have become increasingly more “elaborate.” By elaborate, I mean that partners often put in a couple of days of effort preparing. When people are dating or talking to each other, it is now common to see people in relationships create elaborate posters to ask their significant other to the homecoming dance. Posters usually feature a song lyric or pop-culture reference, which students personalize to pop the big question for their partner. 

As someone who has been in a two-year relationship, I look forward to the homecoming season every year. Although I know that I will be attending homecoming with my boyfriend, it is nice to see the thought and the effort that he puts into his homecoming proposal idea. There isn’t a huge amount of pressure involved, as most partners who ask someone to homecoming with a poster usually know the answer. The reason they ask is to simply show their partners that they care. 

Homecoming proposal posters are not about being elaborate and flashy; they are about showing your partner that you care about them through effort and thoughtfulness. Homecoming proposals are unique in that you don’t need to have a lot of money to propose in a sweet and thoughtful manner. The materials required are relatively simple: a poster, a few markers, and a creative idea. What truly matters is that you know your partner, and are willing to put effort into creating something that would bring them joy. 

Some argue that homecoming posters make some students feel excluded, and make students who aren’t in relationships feel inferior to others. However, with the rise of couples’ “homecoming proposing,” friends began to follow the trend. Best friends can make posters for each other to feel loved and appreciated, even if they aren’t dating. 

Beyond romantic relationships, Homecoming proposals have become a way to celebrate friendships and strengthen bonds. It’s not just limited to couples as many students now create posters for their closest friends, spreading the excitement to a larger group. During my sophomore year, my best friend made me a homecoming poster even though the two of us were single. 

This shift has made Homecoming feel more inclusive and fosters a sense of community. Even students who might initially feel left out because they are not in a relationship can participate in this lighthearted tradition. By including friends, Homecoming proposals become less about exclusivity and more about celebrating the people who are important in your life.

The gesture isn’t about flexing your relationship with others, it’s about feeling appreciated and cared about. 

Hoco Proposals for the ‘Gram

By June Peers

Homecoming proposals have risen in popularity in recent years. Under the #hocoproposal, thousands of happy adolescent couples can be seen standing behind bouquets and handmade posters on Instagram. Although a romantic gesture, receiving attention on social media seems to be the main appeal of the hoco proposal trend. Instead of privately asking someone out to hoco, many teenagers feel compelled to display their relationship to the world overtly. 

Many argue that they’re not interested in the external validation that comes from this display; they simply just want to propose for the sake of celebrating the hoco season. However, it’s ambitious to proclaim that societal factors play no role in the hoco poster tradition.

Many participate in this tradition for three main reasons. Firstly, one may experience the fear of missing out (FOMO). After witnessing a friend’s proposal, one feels pressured to participate to avoid seeming “lame,” or even worse, unwanted. Secondly, people enjoy the gratifying feeling of having a crowd of people swarm them in the halls, or better yet, an abundance of Instagram likes and comments. Lastly, it’s a way of establishing superiority. The fact that some students receive proposals while others don’t quickly turns the trend into a competition. They dress up in costumes, buy expensive gifts, and do outlandish performances all while ensuring that the proposal’s location is in the most public place possible.

Many argue that hoco proposals are exciting as they’re “unexpected” and “spontaneous.” However, I find the opposite to be true. Rather than “shooting your shot” and asking out a crush, proposals are predominantly practiced among pre-existing couples or friends. Though demonstrations of love are necessary to sustain any relationship, couple/friend proposals are somewhat pointless and anticlimactic as the recipient’s response is quite predictable. 

The meticulous planning involved in hoco proposals contributes to the artificial nature of the tradition. Every move is calculated to a tee, taking out all the genuine aspects of asking someone out. With these expectations established by pre-existing couples and friends, it seems awkward almost for someone to replicate a display of that grandeur to their situationship and risk rejection. Rather than taking a leap of faith, people would rather just sit back and wait until they’re in a relationship to ask. 

Overall, hoco proposals are a hallmark of the modern high school experience with their eye-catching and elaborate qualities. However, social media and our inner desires to impress our friends may just be the reason why we’ve convinced ourselves that a mere poster defines the homecoming season.