Celebrating prom doesn’t mean only planning for the dance that night. Many teens make before-prom plans with their friends that turn the event into a full-day celebration. Some teens do it all, while others choose a couple of things to do before prom. Either way, taking this time leads to meaningful moments that often become some of the best memories of the night.
What to Do Before Prom
Sometimes it’s the lead-up that makes the best memories, and it helps set the tone of the night. Make sure to set aside enough time for each part to help avoid rushing to prom or skipping meaningful moments.Â
Get Dressed and Ready
Invite your friends over so everyone can get ready together, turning it into part of the event. Play your favorite music, have snacks, and help each other with hair and makeup. You will probably want to do your makeup before putting on the dress to avoid getting it messy. If you can’t then consider using a towel.
When creating your playlist for the night, ask everyone to contribute a few songs to add variety and make sure everyone hears what they like.
As the kickoff to prom day, set a rough timeline for when everyone should arrive and be ready so you’re not scrambling at the last minute.
Take Pictures
You’ll want tons of photos, and before prom is the best time to get them. Take candid shots while getting ready, and then choose somewhere cool to capture the best prom picture poses after everyone’s dressed up and ready for the night. Popular spots to take prom pictures include downtown murals, local parks, lakes or river spots, and local malls.
If you’re planning outdoor photos, have a backup location indoors in case it rains. It could be as simple as inside someone’s house with good natural light, or you could use a covered porch or a local building with a nice interior.
Have a parent or another adult come along for this so they can take the group shots. Otherwise, someone from your group will be stuck taking the photo instead of being in it. To make picture taking more fun and get plenty of candid shots throughout the night, take a mini Polaroid or instant camera and pass it around so everyone can take photos.
Go to Dinner
Head to dinner with your group, and since everyone is dressed up, consider somewhere fancy that works for everyone. When choosing where to eat, consider everyone’s budget, tastes, and dietary needs so no one has to miss this part of the night.Â
Look into making reservations ahead of time because restaurants are busier than usual on prom night. Once you arrive at dinner, avoid ordering anything messy so you don’t ruin your prom look before the dance. It’s also important to plan enough time for getting seated, waiting on the food, paying the bill, and still not rushing to prom.
Go to Prom
Every moment leading up to the dance is a chance to make memories and have the best night. One exciting idea is to ride with friends to prom, singing and dancing to music on the way. Some teens rent a limo, others drive their own car, and sometimes a parent drives.Â
No matter how you get there, just make sure to be safe along the way. It’s also important to make sure everyone knows what’s going on after prom and has a safe plan to get home at the end of the night so there’s no confusion later.
Conclusion
Prom is something teens dream about in the years before it comes, and it’s an event most only get to attend once or twice. Every moment of the day matters, not just the dance, so make sure you plan enough time.
It all goes by quickly, so remember to slow down, take it all in, and be present. Prom is supposed to be fun. While there is a lot of planning that goes into it, you should not let all of that make you anxious to the point where it is not enjoyable. If something does not go according to plan (such as it raining during pictures, or issues with the restaurant), don’t let it ruin your day!