27 Tips to a Successful Prom

Print out this checklist and follow it to ensure that you are ready for the Prom. Four Months before Prom: ___Set Budget - Find out how much money your parents are willing to contribute to your prom. Start to earn and save money to cover the difference. ___Magazines - Buy a few Prom magazines and look through them to find retailers of dresses and accessories. ___Dress - Start to get ideas of what type of dress you would like to buy. Cut out pictures from magazines and start a scrap book. ___Hairstyles - Clip potential hairstyles from books and websites. ___Skin Care - Time to get your skin looking its best. Drink a lot of water, eat fruit, exercise, and wash your face nightly before going to bed. Make sure that you keep up this regiment until the Prom. ___Schedule Dental Appointment - Make an appointment for two weeks prior to your prom. This way your smile can be it’s brightest. ___Get the Guy - Pick out your perfect dream date and make sure that he decides that you are his perfect date as well. Three Months before Prom: ___Order your Dress - Shopping for a dress can be done on-line or locally. With your ideas already in a scrap book and your magazines listing local retailers you should be ready to find the perfect dress. ___Alterations - Don’t put this off. Get your alterations done early. It does not cost a lot and having a perfect fit is worth it! ___Accessories - You’ve got the dress, but don’t stop there. You have to have a knock out pair of earrings, necklace and shoes to complete the look. Make sure that you buy a small handbag to match your dress. You will need something to carry cash, ID, and a phone for emergencies. ___To Limo or not to Limo? - If you are planning to rent a limo then it is time to make reservations. You may be required to make a deposit. Be make sure to get a receipt and note the person that took your reservation. If the cost seems to be out of your budget, go together with several other people to minimize the cost. ___Restaurant Reservations - Decide where you will be dining and make your reservations early. One Month before Prom: ___Prom Tickets - Purchase your tickets or make sure that your date has purchased them. ___Hair and Nails - Make appointment to have your hair and nails done. Find an experienced beautician to do your hair. Ask to see photos of other formal prom hairstyles that he/she has done. If they can’t show you photos find someone else. ___Make Final Plans - Make plans with your date or friends for before and after Prom activities. Don’t assume that you will be cruising around with your friends. Make a definite plan so there are no surprises when your friends make alternate plans. ___Tux - Has your date ordered his tux? Make sure that he does. ___Inform Parents of Plans - Give your parents the details of your evening plans. Give them places, times and phone numbers for emergencies. ___Inform Your Date of Your Expectations - Time to have "that" talk with your date. Let him know your expectations so that he will not expect any more. ___Break in your Shoes - You don’t want your shoes to ruin your night. Start wearing your prom shoes around the house to break them in. The more comfortable they are, the less you feet will hurt by the end of the evening. Two weeks before the prom: ___Corsages and Boutonniere - Order matching corsages and boutonnieres. ___Confirm all appointments - You don’t need any surprise cancellations to ruin your evening. ___Dental - Have your teeth cleaned. Prom Day! It is finally here!: ___Boutonniere - Pick up your dates boutonniere ___Hair - Go to the beauty shop to have your hair done in a formal hairstyle. ___Nails - Get a manicure ___Eyebrows - Pluck your eyebrows Prom Night: ___Pictures!! - Don’t forget to have your parents take lots of pictures! Now, get to the prom and have a blast!! Lisa Jay is a freelance writer and the jewelry designer behind Lantana Designwear. You can visit her websites at http://www.LantanaDesignwear.com and www.JewelryMakingHQ.com Be sure to sign up for her newsletter at http://www.LantanaDesignwear.com/signup_newsletter to receive information on jewelry, fashion and womens issues.