P r o m Tips, Prom Court, Prom Souvenirs
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PROM 2011

"Make Prom Special"

PROM C O U R T


The Court is a relatively easy element of the Prom, but it is one that the students care about a lot. All of the elections for court should have taken place at school so that the necessary photographs, tiaras, flowers, and souvenirs can be purchased for them. Be sure that you hold elections early enough that if someone is elected to court who wasn't planning on going, there will be sufficient time for him/her to still get a date.

PROM
P H O T O G R A P H E R

The photographer you use for the Prom will probably be the one that your school has a contract with for the school year. The single worst thing that can happen with the photographer is that your students would have to wait in line all night for pictures instead of enjoying the dance itself. Be sure that your studio sends enough photographer set-ups and backgrounds. There should be couple set-ups and group set-ups. It seems that some studios try to send too few photographers. Be very alert, and don't let that happen to you. One thing that may be successful for you would be to let students come an hour early for photographs only, before the dance actually begins, so that they don't waste time during the dance. You may find that a lot of students come early to get the photographs out of the way. Or you could schedule photo settings at your school before the dance begins at a different location. Students sign up for appointment times that are 10 minutes apart at the school gym hours before the Prom. This will make the process easier for everyone. Remember that most photographers provide the invitations to the prom, help subsidize a souvenirs and should give the school a percentage of the shoot. The studio generates a huge amount of income from your event. They should be giving a percentage back to you in some way.

PROM S O U V E N I R S

Most Proms have some kind of a small memento for students to take home. Some have glasses printed with the date and theme, candles have become popular, as well as a photo memory book that includes all the photographs taken that evening by the photographers as well as a few candids. It is important that the students like the souvenir. Your student committee should choose what they want as they probably know better than you would, what the rest of the class would like to take home. Remember to order early--six months out will allow for personalization and correcting possible errors.

PROM F O O D

There are basically three options for food at a Prom; a sit down dinner, buffet style, or finger foods. The facility you choose will usually have set menus from which you may choose. They will make minor changes for you if you like, but for the most part you choose from their banquet menus prepared specifically for high school proms. The most expensive option is usually a buffet, and a facility must be really good at food preparation to make a buffet palatable. Your student committee will usually have pretty strong opinions as to what they want, so let them choose, as long as they stay within the budget you set ahead of time. You will find that at most places the difference between the cost of a sit down dinner and finger foods is negligible, so you might as well go with the sit down dinner. An unlimited soda bar should be included in the price as well as some type of dessert. Don't be afraid to negotiate. You are the advocate for your school, and facilities expect you to ask lots of questions so that you get what you want.