A prom is certainly a very exciting event, but it can also be a stressful one. Experts agree that prom season can be a fraught time for teens’ self-esteem and anxiety. Everyone wants their prom to go perfectly, but crafting the perfect prom night means juggling a lot of different responsibilities.
Here’s our advice. If you want your prom night to be perfect, you should do two things: you should not sweat the small stuff, and you should plan the big stuff ahead of time.
Prom can be a big production, but you’re never going to be satisfied with your prom night if you worry about every little detail. If you convince yourself that even a small setback in your complex plans will ruin the night, then you’re virtually sure to end up having a rough time. When you fear any break from perfection, that’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.
If, on the other hand, you focus on just having fun, then you’re likely to have a blast! So take a second look at some of your concerns. Some of them may require solutions, sure — but, for others, the solution may be to simply stop worrying. If you feel strongly that you want to get better at dancing, feel free to take some lessons, but we think you’ll have a great time if you just get out there and be yourself. Trust the people who have been there: You’ll be glad you embraced positivity on prom night.
Of course, a “no worries” attitude will only help you with certain aspects of prom night! For other things, you’ll have to plan ahead. Your prom dress seems to be important to you, so let’s start with that.
You have lots of great options for prom attire. You’ll find great hip cuts and colors, including this year’s trendy burgundy prom dresses, for sale online and at brick-and-mortar shops. Finding the perfect prom dress is a simple matter of trial and error: you’ll shop around, spot some options, and try them on. You can order dresses online and send them back if they don’t fit. Eventually, you’ll find the perfect one. But it will take time, which is why you should start as soon as possible. The earlier you get your prom dress, the less you’ll have to worry about as the day of the prom creeps closer. Ideally, you should be shopping far enough ahead of time that you have time to try lots of options, send back dresses that don’t work, and then take your chosen dress to a tailor to get the perfect fit. Tailored dresses look better, so trust us: You’re going to want to have time to get that step taken care of!
Whatever else you consider essential for your prom night should be taken care of early, too. You don’t have to know the first thing about hair or makeup if you rely on a professional, but you had better believe that hairdressers and makeup experts are going to be booked solid on the day of your prom. Call now and get an appointment while they’re still available, and you’ll have a lot less to worry about when prom actually rolls around. Now is also the time to figure out transportation if you’re hoping to rent a limo!
Carry this early-bird attitude over to the morning of the prom, too. Give yourself more time than you need to get ready, and you won’t be stressed and running out of time! Planning ahead and budgeting extra time will help you keep your cool and stay in your happy place as the clock ticks down to your big prom entrance.
But once you have the basics planned out ahead of time, try not to worry about the little details. Life is full of small imperfections. There’s always a chance of a small snag in your big prom plans. The key to a truly perfect prom night is to be perfectly joyful and open to the fun of the experience. Don’t sweat the small stuff, and don’t worry about whether you’re the “cool” kid or are dancing like a Broadway star. Just embrace the night, build the memories, and leave your worries in the planning stage. If you do that, your prom will be as perfect as you could ever have imagined.