Last Minute Prom Planning Guide – Quick Reminders & Prom Tips

[Pittsburgh Limo]

LAST MINUTE PROM PLANNING GUIDE – QUICK REMINDERS & PROM TIPS

Last minute prom planning is tough, though it happens for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes a guy will wait until the last minute to invite a girl to prom. Sometimes money is an issue that requires delayed planning; especially in this economy. Disorganization has got to be the most common reason for why some girls and guys make last minute prom plans. No matter what the reason for last minute prom planning, you need to get organized or you could miss out on the most important details for this special occasion. Here is a quick guide to help pull things together when planning for prom after April 1st.

MONEY / BUDGET

Once you have invited or have been invited by your dream date, budget and timing are pressing issues. You need to buy prom tickets and decide whether you will attend the "After Prom Party" as well. Both take budgeting prior to spending any additional money on prom apparel and / or accessories. Think about it! You need to have prom tickets to get into the dance. It is the same for those who plan to attend the “After Prom Party”.

Go to your parents and let them know how much money you have saved. Ask your parents if they are willing to help pay for prom and how much you should expect from them. This will assist you in deciding whether you can afford the extras or not.

It is not uncommon to go to prom alone, but this is still not according to the tradition. If you are last minute prom planning because money is a family issue, try everything you can to make prom the once in a life time experience that it should be. You still have time to earn money by helping people with yard work or window cleaning, tutoring, baby sitting or utilizing other skills that can help you make extra money. Online prom / local business / teen contests are places that you should also check for help if you have more than a week or two to get ready.

The next things to plan for are the "necessities" for prom. Girls typically buy a prom dress, shoes, purse, jewelry, makeup, accessories and the boutonniere (flower) for her date. Guys borrow, buy or rent a tuxedo with a tie / cummerbund set to match your date's prom dress. Guys normally give their prom date a corsage (pin on or wrist flowers) and will prepare for the additional expenses of dinner, photos, after party needs, etc. Let’s not forget that coordinating a prom limo can cause stress when doing it for the first time.

PROM LIMOUSINE / PARTY BUS

Are you planning to rent a limo or party bus for prom? Since you are pressed for time, you will want to handle the limo details A.S.A.P. Place a Google search by using your city + prom limousine, prom limo or prom limos. For example, if you live in Allegheny County or Western PA, you might type "Pittsburgh Prom Limousine" or "Pittsburgh Prom Limos" as the search phrase. You will get a list of limousine companies and a Google map that shows how far they are located from your home. Pick up the phone and call the companies that you are interested in renting from (do not email them). Ask the limousine service what they have available for the date of your prom, the cost for the average number of rental hours and whether you need an adult to help book a prom limo or if you can bring the cash to them. Some limo companies have prom specials. Others have ways of saving you money with pick up and drop off services between the dance and after party. You will want to confirm these details as well. Additionally, whether your parents are paying or you have the money for a limo or party bus, it is best to ask your mom or dad to help you plan the rental correctly. This is especially true if you are having dinner before the prom and plan to attend the After Prom Party. Proper timing is important when renting a limousine, so make sure to have your schedule ready. The ideal situation would be to ask your closest friends what they have planned for their transportation needs. Maybe you can still share the cost of a prom limo with a group of friends instead of incurring the expense on your own. This is much more fun and a great way to take advantage of party bus specials, too. The alternative is always to drive your own car or borrow from your parents. So long as you clean your vehicle and drive safely, you have done a great job in planning transportation for your prom.

PROM DRESS / TUXEDO

The problem with last minute prom planning is that most of your friends went shopping a long time ago. You are probably not going to catch the same deals, but the alternative is that you could get better deals because it is closer to prom and stores want to move their inventory. Since most of your friends are ready for prom, it really could be just as fun to shop with your date or invite a friend that has shopped for a prom dress or tuxedo recently. Shopping for prom with your date can save money, time and confusion when trying to coordinate colors, accessories and other details. You will save gas money, too. If you are turning to the Internet for the best deals on prom dresses / tuxedos, make sure that you confirm the shipping schedule and pricing prior to wasting any browsing time. If shipping dates are too close to your prom date or above your budget, you might have to find a tux or prom dress from a different website.

BOUTONNIERE / CORSAGE

The boutonniere is the flower that the prom girl provides for her date's tuxedo. The corsage is the flower / flowers that the prom guy slides on the wrist or pins on his date's prom dress. Do not wait until the last minute to order and pick up these items. Both the corsage and boutonniere store well in the refrigerator, so it does not hurt to pick them up a day or two early. The boutonniere and corsage are traditional though not a necessity. It just depends on budget, but make sure that you communicate with your date about whether they are needed for prom or not. If your parents have a nice garden, you can save time and money by creating something of your own. Again, it just depends on what your date has in mind, too.

ACCESSORIES / HAIR

Socks, stocking, makeup, jewelry, perfume / cologne, wallet, purse and shoes would classify as prom accessories. These are more than likely the easiest items to get unless you need a special color for your prom dress or tuxedo. It can take some time to find these prom accessories, therefore it is better to make a list for shopping and use the same list when preparing on prom day. Special detail to hair and nails are in store for this special day as well. Schedule hair and / or nail appointments a few weeks before the special day, so that you have this covered before salons get last minute calls. Make sure to confirm your nail and / or hair appointment a few days before prom. You never know … they could have a scheduling error that might affect your plans. Add this to your list of accessories to make sure that you do not forget. Consignment stores and resale shops are great for discounted items. You could also save money and time by borrowing from another family member or friend.

POCKET MONEY / CAMERA / CAR CHARGER

The last detail on the list is to make sure that you have money budgeted for prom night. There is always a photographer there to take pictures and you might want to buy something on the way to or from the prom.
Plus, it’s just good planning to have cash on hand for emergencies. Since it is likely that you will take pictures with a camera or mobile device, it would not hurt to have batteries and a car charger on hand as well.

HAVE FUN AT PROM – PLEASE DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE!!!

We hope this guide was helpful for your last minute prom planning. Have a fantastic time and stay out of trouble. Most importantly, do not make this prom your last once in a lifetime occasion … Do not drink and drive!!! Try to stop friends from drinking and driving!!! Do not ride with a friend that has been drinking … NO MATTER WHAT!!!