Prom Decorations On A Budget

Without compromising on atmosphere!

It's a big party and if there's one thing you don't want, it's to let the team down and put out the same old tired, dusty, seen-a-million-times decorations. Remember the old crepe paper bells, the murals painted by art students a dozen years ago, and the life size cut-outs of former Presidents? Ugh. It's time for some pizzazz, some glam, some BLING!

No one's saying it has to cost the earth but you don't exactly need a blank check either.

Prom decorations are something that has to suit a wide range of people. High school students don't come in chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. There are all kinds of fruits, nuts and sauces in this little sundae. But trying to come up with a hit that pushes everyone's buttons isn't easy either. Do you go for a generic look that ends up bland? Or an out-there look that doesn't appeal to most?

And if budget's a big deal, then you have to be even more creative in your planning.

The first step should be deciding on a fun theme. From there radiates every other idea. There are so many to choose from:

Mardi Gras
A great American custom! Sprinkle green, gold and purple beads on the tables, position a colourful parade float for photo opportunities and have lots of masks hanging on walls. In keeping with the spirit of Mardi Gras, Cajun music would totally set off the atmosphere.

Grease
The best low budget idea for prom decorations yet! Somewhere in the back of the gym or auditorium there must be some props that were used a generation or two ago, just begging to see the light of day again! Music's easy and favors are cheap … try packs of bubble gum or bottles of bubbles with wands for blowing through. Stage a romantic "Summer Lovin'" contest for budding Sandy's and Danny's to show their stuff. As prizes, provide gifts of Grease soundtracks or DVD's.

The Swingin' 70's
Everything psychedelic goes, including the obligatory disco ball and some lava lamps! For flowers, think carnations in vases on macramé doyleys as centrepieces! Sprinkle multicolored confetti and glitter on the tables, and hang posters of 70's music and movie stars and plenty of balloons and streamers around the room. Try tie-dying cheesecloth for drapes or tablecloths. A Saturday Night Fever dance-off would be huge! The 70's allows so many cool ideas that it's a prom decoration bonanza.

Viva Las Vegas
Instead of tickets, you sell casino chips for entry into the prom. Set up a couple of fake gambling tables and have an Elvis impersonation contest! It'd be even more fun if you could convince a teacher to dress up as the man himself.

Oscars Night
Obviously you'll need a red carpet! Also a huge cut-out of the Oscars trophy in gold would be cool. A fantastic idea for favors is disposable cameras, or scaled-down personalized Oscars. Name every table after an Academy Award winner from the current year. As for lighting, see if you can organize searchlights to flash around the room.

Bond. James Bond.
A black and white scheme plus a dash of red (perhaps a single red rose or red candles at each table) will create intrigue and fun. Consider naming tables after James Bond movies, instead of numbering them. Place red gels over the spotlights and shine them on some spy silhouettes. For favors, provide dark sunglasses.

Let your imagination run free! Perhaps it's best of course, to let some ideas vaporize (a "Sex And The City" theme may not go down so well!) The most important thing is that everyone has fun, and with some clever planning, your well thought out prom decorations could be the making of the entire event.