How To Plan A Prom, Prom Dress, Prom Gown

From Casey Lewis, for About.com

The theme of your decorations is one of the most influential decisions on how your prom plays out. With dazzling, impressive decs, the enthusiasm and excitement will be infectious. The best route is to order a variety of party decoration catalogs. There are infinite themes available, so access your options, pitch in a handful ideas, then have the entire committee vote on one collective prom motif. Want to know more? Read about the top five prom decoration themes.

Select invitations
Although students won't be basing their decision to attend prom on how tempting the invitations look, the formal invite is a very sentimental element of prom, especially for the departing senior class. The prom committee inspects hundreds of varieties, finally settling on the chosen one that is both unique and worth holding on to.

Choose the DJ or band
The music truly sets the mood for the entire evening of prom, and it's on the shoulders of the committee members to find the perfect soundtrack. A DJ specializing in '80s tunes may be the go-to guy for a certain clientele, but those tunes were in heavy rotation before we knew how to spell Timberlake. When it comes to getting the prom party started, look for DJs or bands that play a variety of Top 40 hits with a nice infusion of dance party classics.

Plan the menu
Whether you do an entire sit-down dinner or simply hors d'oeuvres, prom-goers like to get the bang for their buck. It's up to you to create a crowd-pleasing menu, so focus on foods that are widely-adored: chicken, good... tofu, bad; an assortment of cupcakes, good... German chocolate cake, bad.

Order party favors
After months of planning the perfect prom, you owe it to yourself - and your classmates - to have a festive party favor at the end of the night. The committee should put their heads together to find something memorable, celebratory, and above all budget-friendly. Most prom catalogs include favors that coordinate with the theme, but think outside the box and consider local goods (baked goods, candles, candy, et cetera).