Prom Kings and Queens
In America, having a prom King and Queen is an absolute must. Many students dream of being crowned at the prom and take it very seriously. The build up to the crowning takes weeks, and is a way to generate a good buzz about the prom. However, not all traditions translate well into British culture, so don’t feel pressured to have a prom king and queen if you don’t feel it’s right for your school. If you do want to have a prom king and queen, here’s how it’s done.
Nominations
The exact rules vary from school to school, but it always starts with a nomination stage. Candidates for king and queen are proposed by one person, but have to seconded by another to get on the list. So if you have two mates who are willing to nominate and second you, you’re in! You’ll need to decide whether the whole school can nominate, or only the prom year group. The prom king and queen don’t have to be in a couple – they are voted for separately.
Some schools impose a minimal grade requirement, in an effort to encourage high grades from aspiring kings and queens.
Voting
Just like any election, candidates can campaign for votes. In the last four weeks before the prom, campaigning can get pretty intense, so think about whether you want to give rules or guidelines. For example, you might have to ask teachers where campaign posters can be put, and tell candidates that it’s not acceptable to bribe people for votes.
On the night
The results of the voting should be kept a closely guarded secret until prom night itself. Some American schools have a part of the evening when all of the candidates do a mini parade, or walk down the centre of the room on a kind of catwalk, when lots of pictures are taken. Then all gather for the announcement.
Accessories
The two most important accessories are the sashes and the crowns. Sashes can be personalised with the name of your school and the year, in a colour or style that matches the prom theme, making a great keepsake for the king and queen. Crowns should be sparkly and as full of bling as you can find – they 
need to be seen by a crowd in a big room after all.
You could go the distance and get an orb and sceptre, and thrones too, these are great for photos.
