26 Cute & Creative Ways to Ask Someone to Homecoming

Asking someone to homecoming? We have all the unique ways to ask your date to HOCO and what to write on a homecoming poster.

Updated September 18, 2023
Two teens talking and laughing

The best ways to ask someone to homecoming are original, but not over the top. You want to ask someone to HOCO in a unique and cute way, but you also don't want it to feel too overdone. We're here to take the pressure off and help you find the perfect homecoming proposal. 

What Is Homecoming?

While it might not be as big of event as prom, homecoming is another traditional high school event. It takes place in the fall and focuses on the school's big team (usually the football team) playing one of the first or last games on their home field. The event is also a time where former alumni, parents and family are welcome to come visit and get involved in the school.

There's a semi-formal dance, and it's one of the most fun and exciting parts of homecoming. That's why many students put so much thought into asking their date to homecoming. 

Creative Ways to Ask Someone to Homecoming

Deciding how to ask someone to homecoming can be tough, but the right approach will ease your nerves. Consider asking your date out in a unique way that speaks to who they are and what they love.

Set Up a Treasure Hunt

If your potential date loves adventure, this is a fun way to ask them to homecoming. Put a note in the person of interest's locker for them to be at a certain place at a particular time. At that location, leave another clue to where they need to go next.

Have the last note ask if they will go with you to homecoming. Hide somewhere close where you can come out when you see the person reading the note. 

Write the Question in Sidewalk Chalk

If you know where the person lives, use colored chalks to sketch the question on the sidewalk or driveway. Ask the person's parents before you do something like this so they won't be upset.

Make a Homecoming Playlist

Make a Spotify playlist and share it with your potential date. Label the playlist "Homecoming with (insert name)?" Be sure to include some of their favorite songs and some songs that make you think of them.

Serenade Your Date

If you're the bold type, consider singing out your desire for a homecoming partner to your potential date in a public place. Be sure that they aren't too shy before you go about it.

Teen boy playing guitar and smiling at girl on couch

Leave a Note on Their Car

If the person can drive, leave a note on the windshield of their car.

Quick Tip

Use brightly colored paper for this proposal. You don't want your potential date to miss the note and drive away.

Propose With a Treat

You can buy a box of chocolates and use icing to spell out your question. You can also bake a batch of cookies or a cake that can have the same effect.

Ask During Lunch

During lunch, get your potential date a drink. Place a straw in the drink with a little flag. On the flag, write something that asks "Will you go with me to homecoming?" or "Homecoming + you + me= :)?"

Use a Remote Control Car or Boat 

If you live by a body of water, such as a lake, you can float a little boat with the message and have the boat float up next to the person. Not near a body of water? You could use a remote control car during homeroom to deliver your message.

Write Your Date a Poem

Consider writing a poem and slipping it into your potential date's locker. You might find some inspiration in our love poems for boyfriends

Send Them a Card

With texting being front and center, you can go old school with mail for a twist. Mail the person a handmade card to ask. Or, if you don't want to actually mail it, you can place it on their front porch.

Use Cute Stuffed Animals

Everyone loves having something cuddly to hold on to. Go to the dollar store and buy three small stuffed animals. Each day, leave one of the animals for your person to find. On the last stuffed animal, write a note that says "Hope you're feeling warm and fuzzy enough to go to homecoming with me."

Wear a Custom T-Shirt

Wear a custom t-shirt to school with the person's name on the front and Homecoming?" on the back. Approach them during lunch or while they're at their locker wearing the shirt.

Ask With Flowers

Ask your potential date's friends what their favorite flowers are. Get a bouquet and place a note in the flowers asking if they'll go with you. 

Ask With Jewelry

If you're asking someone you've started dating, you can get them a small gift like a bracelet or necklace and write "Will you go to homecoming with me?" on the inside box's lid as a special surprise.

Girl giving her girlfriend a gift box

Write the Question in Dessert

Ask your potential date out for dinner and see if the waiter can bring out a dessert that spells out "Homecoming?" on it.

Ask With Custom M&Ms

Order custom M&Ms with "Homecoming?" written on them. Stash them in your potential date's locker if you can sneakily get the combo from a friend, or slip them into their backpack with a note.

Propose With a Balloon

Write a sweet note asking your potential date to homecoming and put it into a balloon. Blow up the balloon and tie it to their backpack or car. When they see that there's something inside the balloon, they'll pop it and see your cute letter.

Cute Poster Ideas for a Homecoming Proposal 

Asking someone to homecoming with a poster is a classic proposal idea. You can make it your own with the message you use and how you decide to present the HOCO poster to your potential date. 

Get Friends Involved With the Poster

Read "Homecoming with (insert your name)?" Have each friend hold up a poster with one word on it and present each poster board one at a time to draw out the surprise. Decorate the poster with in a fun way to make it special. 

Girls holding Will You Go To Homecoming With Me? signs

Ask Them to Check "Yes" or "No"

Read "Let's dance the night away. Homecoming with me: what do you say?" At the bottom of the poster, write "yes or no" and let them circle their answer. Bring a big sharpie marker. If you have cute pictures of you two together, you can glue those to the board.

Put the Emphasis on Party

Read "Let's Party — Homecoming?" Decorate the board with confetti and attach balloons if you like.

Decorate According to What Your Date Loves

If you really want to catch your potential date's eye, make the poster a representation of them. Feature their favorite colors, icons, interests, and even lyrics to their favorite song or a nod to a movie they love.

@jessii.cuh making homecoming proposal posters✨ day 6 || see you all prom season! #fyp #foryou #hoco #hocoproposal ♬ Tongue Tied - GROUPLOVE
Quick Tip

If your potential date is into sports, clubs, or activities they love, you can theme your poster or HOCO proposal around that. For example, if you want to ask someone that's a cheerleader, write it out as a cheer on poster and attach mini pom-poms to decorate it. 

What to Write on a Homecoming Proposal Poster

If you plan to go the simple route, like showing up on their doorstep or standing near their locker, include a witty or romantic phrase on your HOCO poster. We have a few ideas that might speak to you.

  • Let's tackle homecoming together.
  • I feel at home with you. Will you go to homecoming with me?
  • You inspire me on the field. I'd like to sweep you off your feet on the dance floor. 
  • You'll win the game & my heart. Homecoming?
  • Let's dance into the best year of our lives. Homecoming?
  • Homecoming with you would be a dream come true.
  • I would feel like a winner with you by my side at homecoming.

Creative Homecoming Asks Over Text

If you are on the shy side, or just want to do something more private, you can send your potential date a text.

teen guys texting

Send a Cute Video

You can keep things short and sweet or profess your feelings. Either way, customize your video to your date's likes. If your potential date has a sense of humor, try to inject some comedy or lightheartedness into your video.

Get Creative

Create a fun meme or emoji. You can do a dancing person or animal and include writing at the bottom asking them to the homecoming dance.

Send a Meme

Find a funny meme that has to do with dancing and text it. Send a follow-up message asking them to the dance.

Sometimes the Best Way Is to Just Ask 

When all is said and done, awesome ways of asking someone out are nice, but it's the actual step of asking that matters. If you can't find a creative idea that you actually like or that you think can work, don't worry. Just go ahead and ask your potential date out in the way that feels right to you. 

26 Cute & Creative Ways to Ask Someone to Homecoming