How to Have the BEST Prom Ever

Prom is one of high school’s most memorable social events. It is a time for juniors and seniors to have fun with friends and wrap up the school year. To be sure you look absolutely stunning in your prom dress, and that you have an amazing prom night, start planning now.

Finding a Date:

Having a great date is nice and having a terrible date can ruin your night. Start thinking about who you would like to go to prom with, and start making hints--very obvious hints. Guys do not always get hints very well. Also, think about what matters most to you. Do you want a date who loves to dance or do you want a low-key, easy-going date? Or, do you want to go to prom with the most attractive guy in school?

Many times, your best bet is to go with a close male friend. Think about who you talk to during math class, or who you have lunch with. You will be less stressed if you already know your date well, and most importantly, if you know he is friendly and will be good company. And if all else fails, ask one of your friend’s dates if one of his male friends could be your prom date. Then go out to dinner with a group of friends, which is fun and prevents intimidating one-on-one conversations.

Finding the Perfect Prom Dress:

Start looking for prom dresses and formal evening gowns as soon as possible. Be open to a variety of styles, and know what colors you look best in. Black is classic and slimming, but you are only in high school once--so don’t be afraid to explore deep blue, light pink, gold, plum, and other colors. If you want to be sexy, but not too sexy, choose a dress with a low back and then wear your hair up.

As a rule, wear dresses that accentuate your best features. If you are well-endowed, consider a V-neck dress, and if you have great legs, try on dresses that hit above the knee. It is perfectly acceptable to wear shorter prom dresses now, and with celebrities such as Cameron Diaz and Gwyneth Paltrow sporting shorter dresses on the red carpet, you can rest assured that no one will question a short prom dress. You may also want to consider a cocktail dress.

Lastly, make sure your dress fits well. Don’t buy a dress that is too small and hope that you are going to lose weight before prom, and if you are going to wear a padded bra under your prom dress, wear one when you are trying on dresses. And make sure your dress is comfortable! You want to be able to sit through dinner and dance all night long, so make sure your dress can do both.

Making Dinner Plans:

Restaurants book up quickly, especially is you attend a large high school where hundreds of students have prom on the same weekend. So make reservations in advance! If you are going to dinner with a large group, choose a restaurant with food that everyone will like. Yes, Sushi or Indian food is amazing, but people can be picky eaters. Choose a restaurant with pasta, salads, meat entrees, and vegetarian options. Also, think about everyone’s price budget. Some people may be willing to fork out $75 for a meal, while others may feel uncomfortable paying more than $15.

Doing your Hair, Nails, and Make-up:

The options for hair, nails, and make-up are endless. Most girls have their hair done professionally for prom. If you do plan on doing this, bring a picture from a magazine showing exactly what you want. You may also want to get your hair done before prom. If you have an important birthday party, recital, or reception coming up, get your hair done by a stylist in the way you want it for prom. This way, if you do not love your hair-style the first time around, you can get it perfected the second time around for prom. Also, wear a buttoned-up shirt when you are getting your hair done. Then you will not mess up your hair when changing into your prom dress. Lastly, leave at least 2 hours to get your hair done.

As far as nails are concerned, do whatever you want! A French manicure is classic, but you really can’t go wrong. You can choose vibrant colors with designs or you can stick to red or a delicate pink. Any way is gorgeous.

Make sure you have the basics for makeup: concealer or foundation, mascara, eye-liner, and blush. Mascara and eye-liner will help your eyes pop in prom pictures and foundation will even out your skin tone. Blush and lipstick will make you glow, and a little bit of shimmery blush or eye-shadow works wonders. If you aren’t sure what you want, go to a department store. Most will do a free make-over and give you free samples, as long as you set up an appointment.

High School Prom:

Prom is one of the most memorable events in high school. To make sure you stand out, start looking for the perfect prom dress now. There are thousands of prom dresses to choose from, and even more if you expand your search to include formal evening gowns and cocktail dresses. After you have selected your prom dress, everything else will come together. And remember, the point of prom is to have fun!! It isn’t supposed to be perfect--it is supposed to be memorable.