Prom season is fast approaching, and although it might still be months away, it's never too early to start preparing and planning. While plenty of your preparations, such as a glamorous manicure and makeup testing, can be done in the final days leading up to prom, there are also plenty of items that need to be checked off the list months in advance.
So where does the go-getter start planning? How soon do you begin? What tasks should come first and how do you make sure you don’t forget something incredibly important?
If these are some of the concerns beginning to enter your mind, don't worry. We've put together a prom preparation timeline so that you can know all the items that need to happen, as well as approximately when they should happen. This way, you'll never forget anything and can have the most enjoyable and stress-free prom possible. So leave the planning to us. All you need to do is follow this ultimate prom checklist.
Two to Three Months Before Prom
For the best prom ever, you may want to start prom prep as early as three months away. You can also wait until the two-month mark. It all depends on how much flexibility and time you're comfortable with. If you’re worried about not having enough time, go ahead and start earlier. With this in mind, here are things to start thinking about several months before prom.
1. The Date
If you're in a steady relationship, this one might not even require a moment's thought, since you and your significant other have already planned to attend prom together. If not, now's the time to start thinking. Is there anyone at your school or that you know from other areas of your life you'd like to ask? Asking can be a little scary, but you'll never know if you don't try. So pluck up some courage, take a deep breath and go for it.
If dating isn't your style, or there's no one you're interested in asking, that’s perfectly fine, too. Remember that spending prom night as part of a large group of friends is just as fun — if not more fun — than going with a date.
2. The Dress
It's important to start dress shopping at least several months out. This will give you plenty of time to visit multiple shops since it's entirely possible that the first shop you visit may not have a dress that's right for you. Sometimes, it takes visiting multiple locations to find something you love that makes you feel awesome. It's also important to leave enough time that you can have the dress altered if need be.
Make a list of some of the local bridal, prom and formal-wear shops near you and start shopping. You may want to go into your shopping entirely blind, and simply browse until something catches your eye, or you may decide beforehand that you're looking for a strapless dress, or a pink dress, or some other specific style. This will help you to narrow your search right from the beginning.
3. The Alterations
So you've found the perfect dress. It's everything you dreamed of, and you love wearing it. But because dresses come in stock sizes and everyone's body is a little bit different, it's very common to need a few alterations, such as shortening the hem, tucking in the waist or lengthening the straps. Whatever you need done, it's important to schedule these alterations now.
If you're lucky enough to have a parent or family friend who can do these, that's a perfect solution. If not, you'll want to call up a tailor and schedule a fitting. They may not be able to fit you in right away, so it's best to schedule this far in advance.
One Month Before Prom
Prom is starting to get closer, and now that you have the broad strokes planned, it's time to sketch in some details. Here's what to think about in the month leading up to your prom.
1. Hair Appointment
If you plan to get your hair professionally styled before prom, now is the time to make the appointment. Remember that your town or city is going to be full of other girls headed to prom around the same time, and they will all need appointments as well. This means salons will be overly booked and if you wait too long, you may not get an appointment. Scheduling far in advance will help you avoid this problem.
2. Start Experimenting With Makeup
If you're opting for professionally applied makeup, this is the time to make that appointment as well. If, however, you plan to do your makeup yourself, this is the perfect time to start planning and experimenting. After all, you won't want to try your makeup for the first time on prom night only to realize you don't like it. So browse online for inspiration, start trying out products you might be interested in using and practice applying different looks until you find something you love.
3. Buy Accessories
The dress is always going to be the main focus of your outfit, but accessories are just as important. Spend some time shopping for any jewelry you want to add or any hair accessories that will finish off the look. A decorative clutch is also a good idea, as you'll have a few necessities to carry with you on the big day. Shoes are also vital, and you'll want to think about what will look great as well as what will be comfortable to wear and dance in.
4. Buy Prom Tickets
Amidst all the busy of buying accessories and scheduling appointments, remember to buy your prom tickets as well. It's a small detail, but one that can easily derail all the rest of your plans if forgotten.
Two Weeks Before Prom
Now is when things are starting to feel much more real, and you may feel like there isn’t enough time to complete all that still needs to be done. Don’t worry. We promise — everything will be finished in time. With the big day just two weeks away, here's how to prepare for prom.
1. Whiten Your Teeth
For the two weeks before prom, swap out your ordinary toothpaste for a tooth-whitening variety. This will ensure your smile is perfectly dazzling for every photo.
2. Take Special Care of Your Skin
Whether you're trying to calm an existing breakout or brighten already-clear skin, this is the perfect time to begin that routine. Use plenty of moisturizer and cleanser both morning and evening, and try to avoid heavy makeup usage that might dry your face out before your big day.
3. Schedule a Nail Appointment
If manicures and pedicures are a part of your prom plans, be sure to schedule those appointments now. Ideally, the appointment will be for just a day or two before prom. If you schedule the appointments for much earlier, you risk chipping or damaging the manicure before you've even had time to wear it to prom.
4. Finalize Prom Plans With Friends
Are you and your friends going to head to a restaurant together after the party? Are you going back to someone's house for a movie? Maybe there's an official after-party? Whatever you and your friends may be planning, now's the time to hash out those plans and figure out who's going where after prom is over.
The Week Before Prom
The week before prom is the perfect time to begin narrowing your focus to smaller details that might not have been a priority during your early prom prep. Some of the things to think about now include:
1. Choose Your Bra
It's possible that your dress allows for a traditional bra underneath it, but it's much more likely that this isn't the case. Will you wear a strapless bra instead? Do you need double-sided tape? Map out this detail ahead of time for less stress on the day of. Try on your solution to ensure you feel confident about how to get into it. Wear it around the house for an hour or so as well, to make sure it doesn’t slip or ride up.
2. Break in Those Shoes
Nothing's more uncomfortable than stiff, brand-new shoes that haven't been broken in yet. You won't want to wear them to walk to the car, let alone out on the dance floor. Spend the week before prom wearing them around the house for a few minutes every day, to make sure they're broken in. For best results, try slipping a pair of socks on with them. This will help loosen them up and make them more comfortable when you wear them with your dress.
3. Grab the Corsage or Boutonniere
If you are bringing a date to your prom, and the two of you have decided to give each other a corsage and boutonniere, it's time to order those so they'll be sure to arrive in time for prom day. Don't forget to coordinate with one another so they match.
4. Complete Makeup Test
This item may not apply if you're having your makeup done professionally. If you're doing it yourself, however, it’s a good idea to do a test run. This means applying a full face of makeup exactly as you plan to wear it on prom day. This is your chance to make sure everything works as you expect it to, as well as to be confident that it's a look you love. If you want to make any adjustments, this is the time.
5. Get Some Waxing Done
Some girls may prefer shaving or other hair removal methods before prom. If you're planning to wax, however, it's best to do this a bit ahead of time so that your skin has time to calm down before the main event. Do it the day of prom, and your skin may be irritated and red, not to mention itchy or sore.
6. Plan Transportation and Photos
Decide who's riding with whom, and make sure you've got that ride secure. Photos are also important, as they'll help you, your friends and your loved ones remember this day for years to come. Plan a time for you, your date and your friends to be ready and get together for pictures before prom.
Two Days Before Prom
The big day is getting very close now. Today is the day to make sure that everything is ready and waiting to go when the day arrives. A few of these things to check off your list include:
- Make sure the dress is ready: It should be back with any alterations finished, but it may be a good idea to try it on and make sure everything works as it should. Once you're finished trying it on, hang it up in a safe place so any wrinkles will fall out.
- Gather the necessities: What will you bring with you to prom? Make a list in your head of everything you might want with you, from obvious items such as your phone and wallet to less obvious ones such as extra lipstick for touch-ups, nail clippers in the event of a nail emergency, a compact mirror or perhaps some extra bobby pins. Gather them together so that they'll be ready when the day comes.
- Head to the salon: Getting your nails done? Head to the salon for this appointment, as well as any other last-minute beauty treatments you're having done, such as eyebrow sculpting, tanning or facial treatments.
One Day Before the Prom
The last thing you want is to be running around frantically the day before prom, hashing out last-minute details. Ideally, everything should have already been sorted out, and plans should already have been made. If this isn't the case, today's the day to make those last preparations. If you are mostly prepared, however, today's the day to focus on relaxing before the main event. Here are just a few of the things to do today:
- Drink plenty of water: This will help you stay hydrated, healthy and alert for tomorrow, and may even help keep your skin from drying out.
- Double-check plans: This is a fantastic opportunity to double-check any plans involving friends or dates. Make sure rides, photo sessions and after-party plans are all still in place, and that everyone is operating on the same page.
- Get plenty of sleep: Tonight is a good night to crawl into bed early to get a full night of sleep that will help you be the most alert and energized you can be for what comes tomorrow.
The Day of Prom
Many people ask for last-minute prom tips, but the trick is to avoid leaving anything until the last minute in the first place. The best tips we can give anyone wondering how to get ready on the day of prom is to complete as many of your preparations beforehand as possible. This way, when the day finally comes, your only job is to get dressed and have fun.
Let's break this down.
- Hair appointment: Ideally, you scheduled this for early in the day. Make sure to wear a button-up shirt to this appointment, or else a loose top that you can easily pull off over your head when it's time to get ready without ruining your style.
- Makeup: You've already tested your makeup, so you know exactly what to do. Avoid trying anything crazy and new today, and instead stick to what you've already planned. Turn some music on, invite your friends over to get ready together and have fun with it.
- Photos: Pick a fun location and stage a photo shoot. After all, prom only lasts one night, but the pictures will last a lifetime.
- Enjoy yourself: Take a deep breath. You've put in all the hard work ahead of time, and now the only thing left is to relax and enjoy yourself. You deserve it.
Shop Your Perfect Prom Dress Today
A great prom starts with an amazing dress, and it's never too soon to start shopping. If you're looking for a glamorous prom dress for your special day, we invite you to visit Alexandra's Boutique. From elegant and eye-popping designs to more subtle and classic gowns, we've got something for every girl and every prom. Ready to get started? Take your first step towards the perfect prom by browsing our prom dress selection today.