Prom is overwhelming, in an insidious kind of way. Behind those glowing photo albums on Facebook are hours of planning and preparation. But you should go to prom prepared to have a great time with your friends, even if you’re one of those cynical teenagers who is undeniably too cool for dumb high school rituals like that. To help you prepare, here’s a somewhat comprehensive guide to getting ready for prom:
1. Prom safety meetings. You have to attend at least one of these with your parents, and you need to pick up a form to fill out. If you’re taking a date, you need to indicate that on the form and hand it in before you can buy tickets. Also, if you’re going with someone who doesn’t go to Schreiber, there’s an additional form to hand out.
2. Clothes. If you want to wear a tuxedo, you should set up a rental well ahead of time. If you want to wear a dress, you should also take care of that well in advance. Popular stores for buying prom dresses are Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom, and if you’re buying your dress I would definitely recommend trying it on in person over ordering it online. However, it’s also possible to rent your prom dress for much less than what it would cost to buy it, since you’re probably never going to wear it again. Rent the Runway offers high-end dress rentals for low prices, and you have the option of going to one of their retail locations in Manhattan to try your rental on. For example, there’s a $950 Badgley Mischka dress listed that you can rent for $70. Also, don’t forget jewelry and handbags!
3. Hair and makeup. Many people choose to have their hair and makeup professionally done, although doing it yourself is definitely possible. There are lots of YouTube prom hair and makeup tutorials, if you’re looking for a challenge. But again, if you choose to have someone do it for you, make sure you book an appointment at least a month in advance.
Make sure to look for discounts for high school students; last year, Diane’s Place offered their daily $22 student special for a wash, cut, and blow out, and Red Hots Spa in Roslyn offered a discounted prom package for $125, which includes a spray tan, manicure, pedicure, and make-up. Reshma Threading Salon, located across from Arena Sports, was offering a $35 herbal facial, which is $25 off the original price.
4. Corsages and boutonnieres. Good flower shop options in town are Port Washington Florists and S.F. Falconer Florist. At Port Washington Florists, corsages and boutonnieres start at $15, and at S.F. Falconer they start at $10. It’s a good idea to make sure that the color of the flowers matches your outfit.
5. Transportation. For senior prom, many students choose to rent a limousine. But for both junior and senior prom, it’s still necessary to figure out how to get to the venue, or from pre-pre-prom to pre-prom to the venue. At junior prom, your parents will have to drive you to and from the venue, so make to have this figured out before the big night. If you’re attending Gambol, local transportation company Deluxe offers limousine rentals.
6. After prom. Many students choose to continue the celebration with their friends after the school-sponsored prom ends. Whatever you plan to do, make sure that you have a safe ride home ready and that you act responsibly. It’s important that you have fun, but it’s also important that you come home in one piece. After all, finals are just around the corner!
So there is a lot to take care of before you attend prom, and it may take a lot of time and effort. But if you get the logistics figured out early, the only thing you’ll have to think about at prom is whether or not it’s okay to dance to “Blurred Lines.”