It’s Prom season! Such an exciting time for your high schools (and parents too). But what needs to be done? and how soon do we need to be doing it?
This page contains affiliate links, meaning we receive commissions for purchases made through those links at no cost to you. Please read our Disclosures for more info.
1: Find out when the Prom is being held and all the details. Important questions to ask:
- when and where? does it include dinner?
- are dates allowed who don’t go to the same school as your son or daughter?
Step 2: Your teen needs to decide if they will be going with a date or solo. If going with a date, it’s time to start planning the Promposal
Step 3: Find out when tickets are going on sale and purchase them. Most schools have deadlines and you can’t purchase a ticket the day of the dance.
If your teen is bringing a date from another school, many schools require paperwork to be signed before the tickets can be purchased. Signatures may be required by the date, the date’s parents, and the date’s school’s administrator in addition to copies of their student ID.
Step 4: Pick out a suit, tux, or dress. It’s always a good idea to discuss the budget with your son or daughter before going shopping. Start looking at least a month ahead.
For the guys decide suit vs tux and purchase vs rent. More kids are opting for a suit these days which can also be worn at many of the upcoming high school events including sports banquets and graduation. There is no required dress code and regionally, teens are making prom their own. I’ve seen a lot of guys with jeans, cowboy boots, hats along with a dress shirt and vest.
Suit or Tux:
- suit pants and jacket
- dress shirt
- tie or bow tie
- belt or suspenders
- dress socks
- shoes – dress shoes, Nike dunks, or Converse
Dress:
- dress
- bra or nipple covers
- shoes – heels or sneakers (Nike dunks and Converse are popular for proms)
- jewelry
- hair accessories
- evening bag
Allow extra time in case the dress or suit needs to be altered. Some Tux rental stores will run out of certain styles and sizes as the Prom season nears.
If they’re be wearing shoes they already own, do the shoes need to be cleaned or polished, soles replaced, or new laces?
Step 5: Order wrist corsage and boutonniere (at least 2 weeks in advance). Find out what colors the date is wearing so the flowers will coordinate. A new trend is Prom Posies (a small bouquet) instead of wrist corsages
Step 6: Make dinner reservations (unless dinner is served at prom). Or plan with a group of parents to make a meal at someone’s home.
Have conversations with your teens about proper restaurant behavior (it seems they forget this when with a group of teens) and tipping.
Step 7: Make transportation plans. Are they driving themselves, are you driving them, or are you hiring a service? If using, make limo or private bus reservations several weeks in advance.
Step 8: Book beauty appointments. Book hair, makeup, and nail appointments for the day of the prom. If getting a haircut and/or color, plan this for a few days in advance. Spray tan appointments should be booked for 1-3 days in advance.
ALL of these services are optional and can be done at home. If your teen will be doing it themselves, encourage a practice run a week ahead. Self-tanner can easily be done at home 1-2 days in advance (exfoliate first and use a self-tanning mitt to apply evenly). Press-on nails are a great easy and affordable option.
If your teen is doing their own makeup or hair, suggest a practice run several days in advance.
Step 9: Plan the agenda for the day including time to get dressed, photos are each parent’s house, group photos, dinner, and time to drive to prom.
Step 10: Discuss after-prom plans with your teen
Step 11: Talk with your teens about drinking, drugs, sex, and consent. This should be an ongoing conversation in the tween and teen years but always good to have a talk before prom.
While we encourage no drinking, drugs, or sex, you should also talk to them about what to do if they get into unexpected situations. Offer to pick them up if the driver has had too much to drink (with no questions asked, if we want our teens to ask for help they have to trust us without fear). While we encourage abstinence, teens don’t always follow what we say, and conversations about birth control, safe sex, and consent are essential.
Step 12: A few days before prom, try everything on. If bringing an evening bag, pack your bag with essentials. Review the school’s rules regarding prom (is ID required, what at the behavior rules, in and out rules, etc).
Step 13: Prom day has arrived, don’t stress, and enjoy this special day for your teens!
