With the October 18 homecoming dance looming, one question resonates with many students: How does one ask another to the dance?

Freshman Chad Sonnenschein is not one to shy away from opportunity. While trying to win over freshman Lucy Burcham, he executed an elaborate plan with the help of his sister. “My sister helped me think of ideas,” he explained.

“I got a sign that was 6 feet tall and it said ‘You must be this tall to say no to Homecoming,” Sonnenschein said. “I’m short so it’s funny.”

“I’m always teasing him about his height,” Burcham admitted.

Burcham recalled, “I was in my room and I was really tired. I was starting to get a cold. So I kept wanting to go to bed but my mom was distracting me.”

“I saw flowers in front of the door from my window and thought ‘Oh, Mom, your boyfriend’s here,” Burcham said.

Upon opening the door, Burcham saw Sonnenschein standing on the front steps with the sign. “I was really surprised, especially since my mom knew for a week,” Burcham explained. “It was really funny and great,” she added.

Sonnenschein informed Burcham’s mother of the plan beforehand. “I went to her house and her mom was there. She liked it and thought it was cute. Her mom knew before because it was at night and I had Boy Scouts before,” Sonnenschein said.

“I wasn’t Prince Charming or anything but she liked it and that’s what counts,” he said.

Sophomore Kimberly Tang imagined her own homecoming invitation preference. She said, “If someone wrote ‘Homecoming?’ on my burrito at Chipotle I would go, and eat my burrito.” Tang described her burrito invitation as “functional.”

Freshman Abigail Armen would prefer “Cupcakes and a poster.” She added, “I love cupcakes and it would actually put effort in. And it’s sweet and it’s not over text or something as unthoughtful.”

Freshman Ashley Holbrook believes that the best proposals don’t have to be extravagant. She would be content with “not something too big, but not something that is too plain. Like a guy giving me balloons and asking me.”

“My ideal way of being asked would definitely be with food. So get as many Krispy Kreme donuts as possible and write on the boxes ‘I donut want to go to HC [Homecoming] with anyone else’ because you can never go wrong with Krispy Kreme. Also the more donuts the better,” said Tara Dadafarin.

The fact is: there is no perfect way to invite someone to homecoming. Some people appreciate a flamboyant invitation while others are happy with a simple gesture. Of course, still others prefer to forgo the homecoming experience all together and enjoy a evening watching Netflix.