Ah, prom! A time-honored tradition and rite of passage for teens. Just the mere mention of prom conjures images of formal dresses; dapper dudes in tuxes; the requisite streamers, balloons, and punch bowls; and—for many—the last vestiges of high school life before college, jobs, and adulthood begin. 

 With so much riding on one event, it makes sense to have your ducks in a row, ensuring you’ll plan a fabulous and fun night, an event no one will soon forget. To get it done, let’s review several steps you’ll need to take to throw the perfect prom.

 Gather your peeps. Staging a prom is a group effort, so find your friends, round up some trusted adults, and create your planning committee. Make sure to divide and conquer by organizing yourselves into subcommittees focused on such areas as budget, decorating, entertainment, food, ticket sales, royalty-crowning ceremony, invitations, venue selection, after-party, and volunteer recruitment. If your school is fund-raising to help cover costs, there will need to be a subcommittee for that, as well.

Get your money in check. Find out how much money you have for the big bash and allocate an amount for each committee has to work with. Appoint a person from the budget subcommittee to liaison with other subcommittees to keep the spending in check. 

Choose a theme. Brainstorm a few ideas with your group and then put them to a vote. Good things to consider are themes from past proms, current events and pop culture-inspired possibilities, and how easy it will be to decorate for your theme.

Set the date and choose a venue. These two tasks are grouped together because often when you can hold your prom will have a big impact on where you can hold your prom. Of course, cost is a big consideration, but also make sure you consider how much space you’ll need—think room enough to cut a rug—and how well the venue will work with your theme. It’s also a good idea to check with the venue to see if they have decorations on hand or even neutral table linens that would work no matter the decor. Don’t forget to secure a written agreement with the details. Finally, connect with friends from neighboring schools about when and where they’re holding their prom. It’s inevitable, particularly in a big city, that several schools will have proms on the same night, but at least you can try to pick a night when the prom schedule isn’t so jam-packed.

Book your caterer, photographer, and entertainment provider. Before you scout out options, check with your venue to see if they have any go-to vendors. If not, be sure to look for chefs who know how to create fun and casual bites or even some tasty mocktails to enjoy and toast with. Make sure to find a band or DJ who’s hip to the latest tunes but can also put together a varied playlist to appeal to all types. Depending on your budget, you might even consider additional entertainers, like a magician or comedian. For a photographer, most seasoned professionals will do a great job, but you can also scout out photography students from your local university, too, particularly if you’re looking to save money in that area.

Get the word out. It wouldn’t be a prom without posters strewn around the school walls, and you can definitely have fun making them. Nowadays, there are so many great digital options for invitations, as well. Think e-invitations, social media announcements on your school’s Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages, and good ole’ group texts via Remind or your schools’ messaging system.

Set the rules. Make sure people know what is and isn’t acceptable attire, how late they will be allowed entry into the prom, and how early they have to purchase tickets and/or RSVP, particularly if you’re serving food.

Select chaperones. Find your favorite teachers and parents and ask if they can serve to keep the crazy to a low roar on prom night. 

Rally the troops. When the big day arrives, so should everyone else! Whether you’re organizing volunteers, putting up decorations, setting up food tables, taking tickets, creating selfie stations, or doing whatever else needs doing, all prom committee members should be ready and willing to pitch it in to pull it off.

Plan the coronation. The annual crowning of prom king and queen is definitely a highlight, so make sure it’s special. Map out ahead of time who will announce the night’s royalty and ensure your entertainment provider is in on the plan. Perhaps they can have a special song planned to set the mood. Timing is also important, so aim to crown the king and queen midway through the event so they can bask in their regal glory the rest of the evening.

Dance the night away! Need we say more?

Hit the after-prom party. Most proms don’t end when the official event winds down. Instead, it’s tradition in many schools for kids to head to an after-hours party, usually hosted by parents. However, often this soiree is planned by the prom committee. If that’s the case at your school, make sure you have a subcommittee tasked with booking the space or informally reserving a local house for the party and working with the parents on the details.

Although there’s lots to do, organizing a prom can be almost as memorable as the event itself. So if you find yourself on the planning committee, commit to doing the best job you can and having fun while you’re at it.