Prom is much more than a dance. It is a rite of passage and a memorable component of the high school experience. The few hours spent dancing and socializing at a catering hall or other venue will be the centerpiece of prom night, but often there is more to the festivities. Increasingly, students incorporate pre-prom events and after-prom adventures, during which additional memories are made.
Getting ready
Many young women enjoy prepping for the prom together. This presents a chance to work on each others’ hair and makeup, and ensure that the finishing touches are all set. Depending on the school, some students may have an early dismissal on the schedule so prom-goers have ample time to get ready. It’s possible to meet at a spa, salon or someone’s house to put together the perfect prom aesthetic. This is a busy day, so it’s always a good idea to pre-book prom treatments well in advance to ensure that beauty professionals will be free and able to accommodate groups.
Pre-prom gathering
Pre-prom get-togethers are all about looking good before the dancing (and sweating) occurs. This is the time when friends gather to take photos with their closest group of besties. Typically, one student who has a home with a scenic backyard hosts the pre-prom mixer. Light snacks, photo opportunities with balloons and backdrops are the norm. It can be a nice touch to have a parents’ station with some snacks and beverages so that parents can mingle and grab their own photos as well.
The pre-prom gathering also is a way to facilitate easy transport to the prom. Groups can coordinate vans, party buses or limos to stop at this centralized location.
Prom after-party
Once the last song is played and the lights come on at the prom venue, it may seem like the night is done. But this is not quite the case for those who want the fun to continue. After-prom events tend to fall into two distinct camps: the school-sanctioned option and the private party.
The school event may feature things like inflatables, food, casino-type games, and more music. Some are lock-in events where students stay until morning, helping to keep people off the road in the wee hours.
Private after-parties run the gamut of classic house parties to diner hangouts to destination trips. In many regions of the country, it is a tradition to head to a beach house, a cabin or a hotel in a hot spot for the remainder of the prom evening and potentially the weekend. Students and parents must carefully weigh the pros and cons of these types of parties, and make every endeavor to keep participants safe. Some hotels will not allow bookings to underage patrons, so that also is a consideration. Families may want to establish pacts that hold students to certain behavior standards, such as avoiding alcohol, drugs and intimate encounters at prom after-parties. The after-party requires a level of responsibility and trust on the part of all involved.
Prom has evolved to be an all-day event that mixes the getting ready stage with pre-prom photo opportunities, the dance, and then the after-event. This maximizes the chances for memories that will last a lifetime.
