3 months before
1 month before
2 months before
The week of
The day of
Prom Preparation Timeline
BY ASHLEY SHERLOCK
You are nearing the end of your high school career , and with it is coming a night you have either been dreading or dreaming about the whole time : prom night . Excited or not , here it comes , because not going isn ’ t an option . This night will be one you cherish for years to come , and in order to be able to do that , we ’ ve made a sort of to-do list for you , so you can focus on the fun part of this last hoorah of high school .
3 months before
THE DRESS Try on a few different styles and colors before deciding , and have fun with it . Prom dresses are way better than they used to be . Fret not if it doesn ’ t fit perfectly . Thanks to this helpful timeline , you got your dress in plenty of time to get it altered . Same thing if you need a tux . Go ahead and get it now and you ’ re already halfway done . Consult with your date if you want to coordinate !
THE DATE In this digital age and time of viral prom-posal videos , it ’ s easy to be intimidated by asking someone to prom . Prom-posals can be cute and clever , but by no means do they have to be extravagant .
Group dates are also a super fun way to experience this night . Your best friends are your built-in dates , and what more could you want ?
THE INSPO You don ’ t need to decide on hair and makeup quite yet , but definitely be Pinterest-ing different styles and practicing them before you decide what you want .
THE PICTURES Find a location you and your date / group can agree on for pictures before you all go off to the big night . This part is mostly for the parents to get their picture fix and for social media purposes .
1 month before
APPOINTMENTS If you ’ re getting your hair and / or makeup done by a professional , now is the time to make the appointments . Don ’ t forget to bring pictures of what you want to look like if you have them .
If you ’ re going to dinner beforehand with a large group , you ’ ll need to make a reservation at the restaurant .
2 months before
THE TRANSPO You only have to worry about transportation if you ’ re planning on renting a limo . Do people still do this ? There ’ s nothing wrong with carpooling . Just chip in for gas money .
THE ACCESSORIES Since you already know what your dress and tux look like , you can go ahead and order your boutonniere or corsage for your date . You won ’ t need to have them until the day before or the day of , but now is the time to pick them out .
The week of
Get your nails done , do a “ dress ” rehearsal , and finalize all of your plans , including the photo meetup ( with parents !).
The day of
Have a clutch , purse , or your pockets ready with some emergency necessities , i . e ., a band-aid , some lipstick , cash , and gum . Enjoy it ! This only happens once !
www . potentialmagazine . com Spring 2017 | 31