Prom season is not too far away, and you’ve probably been hearing about outfits, transport and prom queens for months now. If your teenage son or daughter is counting down the days until prom, here’s an essential checklist to make sure they have a night to remember. Planning ahead is always a good idea. Not only will you ensure that you get room reservations and limo hire. You’ll also be able to take advantage of better deals. Once you’ve got the basics sorted, you have peace of mind that your child is going to have the perfect night at prom.
Accommodations
Many kids like to stay over in a hotel after prom, rather than returning to mum and dad’s house. If you want to book a hotel or an apartment, make sure you start looking early. Prom season is notoriously busy and rooms will sell out quickly. Search online for the best deals and immediate confirmation. If your teen is going as part of a big group, consider making a block booking, as this will save you money.
Transportation
Nothing sets the scene for a memorable night like a limo ride. Treat your teen and their friends to a road trip with a difference to start the night off in style. Prom nights are among the busiest in the year for limo firms, so get your transport booked and confirmed weeks in advance. Check out https://www.americanlimos.org/services/ for incredible prom packages. Liaise with other parents to reduce costs and decided upon a pickup point.
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Prom Prep
Many kids spend months preparing for prom, so help your child out if they’ve decided to lose weight or tone up. Exercise together as a family and stock the cupboards full of healthy snacks. Encourage your teen to keep going and offer them reassurance. Prom can be a scary time, especially if you’re a little self-conscious about your appearance. Be there for your child, help them out with their diet and celebrate their achievements.
The Outfit
Kids can spend years of dreaming of their prom outfit, so it’s essential to get it right on the night. Arrange some shopping trips and encourage your teen to try on a range of styles. Browse through magazines together and search online for inspirations. Sites like www.pinterest.com are a great place to start. If your daughter has an idea of the kind of dress she wants, but you can’t find it in a store, consider hiring a dressmaker. Custom-designed dresses offer the perfect fit and there’s no risk of turning up in the same dress as somebody else. If you are having a dress made, make sure you have plenty of time for alterations. Organize some fittings closer to the prom date to make any final changes.
Shopping for dresses can be stressful, but it can also be really fun. Make a girly day of it, invite some friends and enjoy lunch out.
If you have a teenage son, you may be considering buying or hiring a suit. Try both options and see which is best. If your teen is aiming to dazzle in something a little different, you may wish to look into bespoke tailoring. If you’re on a budget, hiring is usually considerably cheaper than buying.
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Accessories
Accessories are the icing on the cake. Once you’ve chosen the outfit, you can then start to think about jewelery, shoes and bags. If you have a plain dress, accessories can really bring the look to life. Lift a classic black floor length gown with gold strappy sandals and teardrop earrings. If you have a bright, patterned or ornate dress, keep accents simple. Let your dress do the talking and opt for muted tones and subtle touches. Take your dress with you when you go shopping and try some accessories with it.
For boys, go for complementary bow ties, ties and pocket squares. Finish off the look with a pair of perfectly polished smart shoes. Don’t forget to order a corsage or a flower bracelet from the local florist. Arrange to collect any flowers on the afternoon of the prom.
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Prom Day and Dinner
Are you eager to push the boat out for your child’s special day? If so, why not make a day of it and plan a celebratory barbecue or brunch with friends and family. Get the party started early, and invite your child’s friends over, so that they can all get ready together. Blow up some balloons, set up a DIY photo booth and look forward to the big reveal.
During the afternoon, book some beauty treats for your teen and their friends. If you’re trying to keep costs down, have a beautician come to the house and split the cost between all the parents. If you have a friend who is a beautician, you could ask them to do you a favor and give you a discounted rate.
Sometimes, dinner is provided at prom. If it’s not, make reservations for the party well in advance of the prom date. The likelihood is that you’ll be making a group booking at a busy time, so call up weeks before. Arrange for the limo to take the kids to the restaurant and then onto the prom venue.
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Hair and Makeup
Nothing finishes the look off like professional hair and makeup. Book some trial sessions a couple of weeks before prom to try out some styles and looks. Experiment with different products and find a look, which suits your skin tone, age and the style of your dress. If you have a very fancy dress, keep hair and makeup natural. If you’re eager to let your face do the talking, you can go for something a little more dramatic. A bright red lip is the perfect accompaniment to a classic Hollywood-style gown. Go for nudes and subtle bronzing for neutral and gold shades, and smoky eyes for cocktail dresses. Pack a small pot of foundation, bronzer and lipstick in a clutch bag, so that your teen can touch up their makeup during the night.
Spray tanning is a popular treatment for teens gearing up for prom night. If your child expresses an interest in spray tanning, make sure you book an appointment around 2-3 days before the event. It’s usually best to go for a trial run beforehand to decide on a suitable shade. You want to go for a natural glow, rather than a deep tan, which is far removed from your skin tone. Ask a beautician for advice.
It’s important to have a beaming smile on prom night, so book your son or daughter a dental appointment the week before prom. A thorough clean will lift surface stains and make those pearly whites sparkle.
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Photographs
Prom photos will be displayed for years to come, so make sure you are ready and have the camera primed. Set out some shots beforehand, so that you can capture different poses and locations. Get ready for your daughter coming down the stairs for the first time, and gather the group in front of their ride for the night. Take some outdoor snaps and don’t forget to get the rest of the family involved. Have your teen stand with their siblings and get somebody to take one of them with their proud parents. Don’t be afraid to embarrass your teen and go a bit crazy with the shots. You want to remember this night forever, so it’s understandable to be a little snap happy.
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After Party
If your child is attending an after party, they may wish to drop their car off, so that they can drive home the next day. Follow them to the location and then give them a lift back home. This will save you a trip out the next day.
The day after prom, you may want to host your own after party, if you’re eager to continue the celebrations. Why not invite a small group over for a light brunch in the garden to round the weekend off in style?
Reminiscing
The weeks after prom can be a little deflating. After all the excitement of planning and going to prom, your teen may be feeling a little flat. Now is the time to print off those photos and watch video footage. Get some friends around and start the slideshow! As a gift, you could also create an album of the images, so that your teen can look back on the night for years to come.
Prom is an exciting time for teenagers, but it can also be fun for parents. Work through a checklist and plan in advance to save time and money. Get the main things booked and sorted early to avoid disappointment. Once the essentials are in hand, you can relax and enjoy the experience of getting your teen ready for their special night. Lay out outfits, book those last minute beauty appointments and get the camera primed and ready. Sit back and relax and prepare to relish the role of proud parent.