Awash in Northwestern’s school colors, this year’s prom glittered in glamour as the members of the senior class celebrated one of the most iconic events of their high school career.

The prom took place at the Brookside Country Club in Macungie on the Sunday evening of the weekend that signals the unofficial start of summer.

“Since black and gold are our school colors, I thought it would be good to incorporate them into our prom,” senior Anna Horn said. “And, they fit the décor of our venue.”

Horn, who was among the prom attendees, said each table was dressed in “black tablecloths with a sparkly gold overlay runner.”

Candelabra holding silk flowers served as centerpieces and gold chargers glammed each place setting.

Attendance at the prom was sizable.

“The majority of the senior class along with 10 chaperones amounted to 244 people attending,” said Patty Mengel, one of the two class advisers.

“We were packed. There was not another seat available. It’s all because they wanted to come to see me dance, in a gown with heels, no less,” quipped Mengel.

Prom goers enjoyed mocktails, from 6-7 p.m. in the Terrace Lounge.

Dinner was served immediately after with tempting offerings that included chicken parmigiana, buttered noodles, broccoli and salad.

At 8:30 p.m., an ice cream sundae bar capped off the buffet dinner but an hour later, “we actually [had] soft pretzels,” said Beth Johnson, the other class adviser.

“It’s such an elegant venue, really classy,” said Johnson, who found the Brookside staff “really marvelous” to work with. “It has a great view in the back that students could enjoy and where they could take pictures.”

“It’s really nice visually,” agreed class treasurer Tanner Klotz. “We knew the prom would]be really good there and we had a really good turnout.”

The prom was the culmination of months, even years, of planning.

“More than a year ago, we saw several venues, [everything] from barns to hotels, different venues all over the Lehigh Valley,” Johnson said. “We laughed so much. It was really fun.”

“We had enough money to make the tickets free-for-all the seniors, but $45 if you were out of the grade,” Klotz explained. “This was the result of fundraisers and senior dues of $20 assessed each of the four years of high school. Our most successful fundraiser was probably selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts.”

Individual efforts were also evident.

Horn credits her mother for her contribution.

“She not only donated tablecloths and center pieces, she also donated throne chairs and pipe and drape cloths used as backdrops for pictures,” She said.

Horn said her mother, who owns Action Party Rentals in Allentown, offered ideas about “colors and how to decorate tables and the rest of the venue.”

“I appreciate all that my mom does to support me,” said Horn. “Her involvement with the prom really shows how much she’s willing to do for me and the class.”

Excitement was high among the prom goers.

“I think it’s one of those things you only get to do once in your life, [though] I don’t think people care about [the prom] as much as they used to,” Jessica Parker said. “Still, it’s fun to see what everyone wears and see everyone for the last time.”

This was not the first prom Ian Remaly has ever attended.

“Last year I went to Prism Prom in Bethlehem, at the Banana Factory,” she said.

Sponsored by the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, Remaly explained the event was a “wholly inclusive prom that was so much fun, with a Star Wars theme,” namely the Force Awakens.

“There was even a person who won wearing a Chewy onesie,” she said.

But Remaly said Northwestern’s prom was different.

“This was much more formal. I’ve known these people longer. I’ll have the memories longer,” she stated. “I’m always going to remember what we did together.

“I’m always going to remember the people I went to school with. We definitely fought many battles together, but we managed to stick together through it all.”

Many promgoers attended with groups of friends.

Remaly’s group of friends populated an entire table of 10, while Parker shared the festivities with “a group of maybe eight friends.”

Morgan Moss attended with her boyfriend Jackson Bernhard.

Couples danced to the music provided by DJ Austin Sotoloff.

Connie Dazzo said Willem Birgel “prom-posed” her the last day of the high school musical. He wanted to get it done.”

Memories of the prom were captured in a variety of ways.

In addition to the ubiquitous cellphones, a photo booth was available at Brookside and Dan’s Camera City was on hand to snap more formal shots.

Johnson said a staff member immediately slipped the photos into frames so promgoers could take them home that very night.

“It’s like a once in a lifetime opportunity to go to the prom and one of the last times you get to see everyone in the class for the last time,” said Klotz.

“The prom is like the last hurrah,” agreed Johnson, whose daughter Mary was among the promgoers. “Everyone realizes we’ve all be been in this together for a very long time.”

And by 10 p.m. the prom of 2018 slipped from experience to a wonderful memory.