Prom Decorations
If like most committees, you're planning to hold the prom in your school hall or gym, the last thing you want it to look like is the school hall or gym! Prom decorations are the only way for you to fix that, and if you plan carefully, you can create a fantastic impact.
If you are hiring a venue, don’t think you can get away with no decorations; most venues, even the ones used for wedding receptions, are relatively plain and will need some colour to liven them up.
Start with your prom theme
If you have a very specific prom theme, e.g. Arabian nights, that can give you a lot of inspiration for your decorations. Simply brainstorm all the things that come to mind when you think of that theme. So for Arabian nights, it might be desert, palm trees, Bedouin tents, luxurious fabrics etc.
Then all you need to do is think about how to distil those elements – like a set designer for a play. We’re not talking about driving a dump truck of sand into the hall and spreading it all over the floor, instead think about ways to suggest these themes. Decorative fabrics draped over tables, sand coloured paper cut into the shape of sand dunes pinned around the room, painted palm trees (or you could hire fake ones!), you get the idea.
Local party planning shops are a great place to go for help and ideas, and the local amateur dramatics society might be able to help too.
Less is often more
A school hall can be a big space to decorate, but don’t feel pressured to cover every surface. A dramatic entrance to set the mood, altered lighting if possible and concentrating the decorating on one wall or the stage – especially if you’re having a band – can be enough to transform the space.
What if there isn’t a prom theme?
You could always decide on a colour palette if you don’t want to go all out for a theme. How about silver, blue and purple for example, you could then have the tickets and promo posters in those colours, and then have silver, blue and purple balloons, streamers, table covers etc to match.
Remember: someone has to put them up and then clear it up afterwards!
Make sure that you have a team of reliable people who can help with decorating the day before and the day of the prom – the school caretaker might need to be brought in to help with ladders etc. You can never have too much blu-tack, drawing pins or sellotape by the way!
Don’t use any decorations that can’t be taken down / cleared up afterwards without leaving a permanent mark.
