Plan For Prom Without Stressing Out

You don’t have to be told that prom requires a lot of planning and preparation. Although prom plans can sometimes seem more important than studying for a test and tend to creep to the top of your to do list, it doesn’t mean prom planning has to stress you out. The trick is to start early and stay organized.

      That may be easier said than done. So, in case you feel lost as to how to even begin planning for your prom, here’s a checklist of some of the common things needed to have arranged prior to prom night:

      Several months in advance – note: these activities are most important to take care of early on because there is a good chance other schools in your city will have prom the same weekend as you, and such things as limousines and beach houses are limited. To get the dress or hotel room you  want, you must act early.

• Choose your prom group and make a commitment to that group – Whether you’re planning to go with just your date or arrange a group party for prom, it’s important to get yourself included early on before any set arrangements get made


• Find a prom dress and shoes – Shopping early is a good idea in case you can’t find a dress you like and you decide to custom-make something or the dress doesn’t fit right and you need it altered


• Decide mode of transportation – If you want to rent a limousine or party bus, begin researching various companies and decide which one will fit your budget, then go ahead and make a reservation


• Post-party spot - This element of prom is usually the most expensive aspect of your prom planning, so renting a beach house or reserving a hotel room should definitely be a top priority in the early part of your prom planning 

      Month or so in advance

• Make pre-party arrangements – It’s a good idea to get your group together prior to prom to take pictures and celebrate. Hiring a caterer and finding reservations at a nice restaurant will become increasingly difficult as the date gets closer


• Hair and makeup appointments – Making an appointment at least a month in advance is necessary to be able to schedule these appointments in conjunction with each other (hair first, then makeup), not to mention every other senior girl in the city will be vying for that ideal appointment time
  
  
  
  • Makeup tip: get your makeup done at a cosmetic counter like Bobbi Brown in a department store – not only do they do a good job and are quick, but the makeover only costs what you want to pay – I suggest buying the lip gloss they used on you: not only is that one of the least expensive items, but it’s also nice to have for touch-ups)
  
  

      Week or so in advance

• Make sure your date has ordered the corsage and that the color and style of the corsage will go well with your dress (white is a classic choice)
  
  
  
  • Also, make sure the corsage has a band that will slip onto your wrist (you’d be surprised, there are corsages that come with just a ribbon and no band, so to avoid scrounging around for a safety pin, make sure your date is very specific when he orders the corsage)
  
  

      Few days before

• Any additional beautifying activity you do (pedicure, eyebrow wax, facial) - Just in case something goes wrong, taking care of these things a few days in advance allows time for the redness to subside or to fix chipped nail polish

      Feeling overwhelmed? Understandable. But prom is supposed to be a fun experience, so to rid yourself of some of the stress, just stay organized and find ways to ease some of the pressure you feel. Here are some tips:

      To stay organized,

• Create deadlines for yourself – Something similar to the checklist above will help you define your priorities and stay on task


• Write down everything – It’s important to keep track of all the information you have gathered because there will be millions of different times, prices, appointments, and people owing you money – so, to avoid confusion, just write it all down and you won’t have to worry about forgetting what time the limo is coming

      To ease some of that pressure,

• Include your prom date in on some of the planning - Delegate some of the work to him by saying, “You take care of the limo for us and I’ll make sure we’re all set for the beach house.” He should be more than willing to help out (if not, then it might be time to get yourself a new prom date)


• Make sure everyone in your group is dependable and is constantly communicating the arrangements - If you’re aware of what’s going on, you’ll feel in control and much less stressed


• Take a break, and don’t think about prom for a week or so - There are other things in life than prom, and letting yourself step away from it all for a little while may help put it in perspective


• Remember that, if all else fails, the important thing is to be with friends - Even if forgetting to reserve the limo means that your mom has to drive you to prom, think of it this way: you’ll be the one with the “my mom drove me to my prom” story that you and your friends will laugh about for years to come. And isn’t that what prom is really all about anyway?