How to Arrange a Prom

Prom night for high school students takes careful planning.

Prom is a night that most high school students look forward to for years. When you are planning a prom, there are many things that you have to keep in mind. The budget is the most important consideration, as it will determine many of the aspects of the prom. Planning a prom can be a big undertaking for a group of students or teachers, so be sure to start early and make plenty of lists along the way.

Things You'll Need

• Budget
• Theme
• Decorations
• Music
• Photographer
• Favors

Instructions

1. Set the budget for your prom. Some budgets might already be set if you have raised money for the prom or if the school gives an allocation that you can spend. Once you know the overall amount of money that you can spend on the prom, break down the amount into subcategories such as decorations, music, photographer, favors and other things that you might need.

2. Set a theme for your prom. It is important to select the theme early on in the process because it will determine many of the other aspects of your prom, such as the decorations.

3. Decide where you will hold the prom. For some schools this will be simple, as the prom is always held in the gym. Schools at which that is not a tradition, or that do not have a gym, might need to seek another spot, such as a local convention center or auditorium.

4. Select the decorations for your prom. Some companies are geared toward prom decorations and you can purchase all sorts of large items, such as castles, tunnels and other decorations. If your budget does not allow for things like that, consider decorating with balloons, streamers and plants. You can likely borrow plants from a local nursery.

5. Choose the type of music you will have at the prom. A band can be a good option, but also can be costly. Another option is a disc jockey, which is often less expensive. Still less expensive is to rent a speaker system from a local party rental business and plan a mix of songs using an MP3 player.

6. Hire a photographer for the event. Choose a photographer who will be able to shoot the posed shots with a backdrop that are common at proms, as well as candid shots during the dance that people can buy after the event.

7. Purchase favors to give all of the attendees of the prom. For example, choose T-shirts to give everyone or go with something less expensive, such as cookies decorated to reflect the theme of the prom.

References

• Perfect Prom Resource: How to Plan a Successful Prom or Homecoming