There are many decisions to be made as this prom season sets in. Some of these decisions can be really stressful, and it can be hard to know what to do at times. This special “How to” article will tell you all the ifs, ands, and buts to consider this year. It’s your perfect guideline to the most successful prom. Prom is right around the corner, so let’s get started!
1. Date or no date.
When most people picture the perfect prom, they picture the perfect dress and the perfect date. However, who says you need a date? Most proms do not require you to have a date, so if you think you’d have more fun without one, then go with your girls! Prom is a night made for you to remember for the rest of your life, and you should enjoy it! If you don’t really want a date, or maybe you just can’t find one, it’s okay! I promise you will have fun either way.
So you’ve got a crush on the guy in your science class and you would LOVE to go to prom with him, but you just don’t think he’s going to ask you, so what do you do? You should ask him. Yes, you read that correctly. Who says the guy has to do all the asking?! I’m sure if you asked him, he’d be shocked and maybe even relieved that he didn’t have to worry about asking someone else. Or, who knows, maybe he was gonna ask you anyway! I personally go to an all-girls school, and if it’s our dance, there are no guys to ask us, so we have to do the asking. I promise, it’s not as bad as it seems! Of course it’s nerve racking, but, in the end, you’ll get the date you want… so it’s definitely worth it!
Don’t stress too much over this, eventually your plans will fall into place! If you are waiting for someone to ask you (or to ask someone else) then start planning with your friend group as a Plan B!
2. Getting the dress
The dress doesn’t have to be some thousand dollar dress or be a number one name brand. Sure the dresses you see online are beautiful, but don’t spend your life savings on a dress you are going to wear once. Also, don’t feel the need to impress people with how much money you can spend or how much skin you can show with all those cut-outs they have these days. Just be yourself! Pick out a dress that you, and your wallet, will like. Dress to express, not to impress.
Make sure your dress is comfortable. You may want to go shopping a month or so in advance so that any adjustments or alterations that need to be made can be taken care of in time for prom. I also strongly recommend wearing your shoes around the house to break them in if they are new. No one wants to wear uncomfortable shoes all night!
3. The Necessities
–Hair/Makeup: Once you have your dress, you can start looking at hairstyles. There are lots of options to choose from, but here are a few general guidelines to consider.
- If you have a strapless dress, consider wearing your hair down or half-up, half-down. This is more of a simple neckline, so it’s okay to let your hair down — maybe even pairing it with a necklace and some long earrings or studs.
- If you have a high neckline, halter, or open-back dress, I strongly suggest going with an updo. These types of dresses tend to be detailed, so you’ll want to wear your hair up to show off your dress.
- You can look up almost any hairstyle, and you can either do it yourself or get it done at almost any hair salon! Same thing with makeup: look up some ideas and experiment a little yourself a couple of weeks before prom to see how you like it.
–Nails: Don’t feel the need to spend $50 at a nail salon. You can just as easily paint your nails yourself to match your dress. If you want fake nails, I strongly recommend going to your local beauty store and applying them yourself; it’s a lot cheaper, and it’s just as easy!
4. The Night Of
Don’t forget these items that you definitely need or may need in case of an emergency. You want to make sure this night runs smoothly!
- the boutonnière for your date, if you get one
- a small purse
- extra money
- tickets
- your phone (fully charged)
- pain relievers in case those feet start to hurt
- extra lipgloss/lipstick
- safety pins in case of a wardrobe emergency
- gum or mints for between dinner and the dance
- Kleenex
Finally, just breathe; this is supposed to be fun! Enjoy your night and take lots of pictures. Be sure to live in the moment, and don’t take any of it for granted because this can potentially be one of the best nights of your high school years!