How to Decorate for Prom

The big night might be a year away or just a few months down the road. Whenever it is, there is a lot that goes into decorating a venue for prom night.

Pick a Theme

Before you can begin decorating, you must decide on a theme. Prom themes are practically endless, and new themes show up every year. Your theme isn’t for teenagers across America, it’s for teenagers at one specific high school. Make sure the theme will appeal to the majority of the students attending. The prom theme is a huge deal to attendees. Put a lot of thought into picking a theme.

Buy Decorations

Don’t put this off. If you’ve selected a popular theme for the year, there’s always the chance that companies will be out of the decorations you desire. Plan early, and order early.

One of the best ways to save money is to purchase a kit filled with most of the decorations you need. For example, say you have decided on a Paris theme. This Toujours Paris Decorating Kit includes nearly  everything you would need for a Romance in Paris theme. It includes an awning, café stand, sign, Eiffel Tower mural, Arc De Triomphe mural, Notre Dame mural, European skyline, a street light and a paradise fountain. There are many kits like this that include practically everything you need to decorate.

Make sure the bases are covered

A great prom will have an exciting entryway, eye-catching focal point, elegant tables with themed centerpieces, and perfect mood lighting. Be prepared with all of these things in advance. Have a plan before you dig in and start decorating. Make sure you have all your bases covered before you start assigning people to help get the job done.

It’s crucial that you know the rules of the venue where you are having your prom. You don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on decorations that aren’t allowed. Go over the rules with the owner of the venue, or if it is at your high school, get in touch with the principal and custodial staff to make sure your decorations are acceptable.

Round up the helpers

Make sure you have an ample amount of students who will be helping decorate. It is, after all, their prom. Send notices home so parents are aware that students are staying to decorate. It’s also a good idea to recruit parents to help.

The most important decoration of all

All of the beautiful decorations at prom will eventually be torn down, many of them thrown away. The one decoration that prom attendees get to take home with them is the prom favor. Put a lot of thought into this, as it will be kept for years to come. It should reflect the mood and theme of the night and have a lasting impression.

Having trouble deciding on the perfect prom favor? Try using the Favor Finder to figure out the perfect gift for your prom guests.

Spring’s Top 10 Prom Themes

Stumps Party presents the list of spring’s top 10 prom themes.

Candy Land
If you want a combination of color and fun, this is the theme. The student body will love the lollipop-lined walkways, the sweet taffy waterfall, cupcake backdrops, and sweet candy arch. The success of this prom is easily described in one word – sweet.

Mardi Gras
Put the party into your prom with a Mardi Gras theme. Fill your space with vibrant purples, greens, and golds. Add beads, feathers, and masks. Based upon the style of your decorations, you can replicate the look of an embellished, New Orleans street or simply elicit a sense of mystical magic, or Afro-Caribbean mambo. What used to be for the French is now perfect for your school.

Hollywood
Everyone will sing “Hurray for Hollywood” when committee members see how easily this theme comes together and when the student body takes pleasure in the glitz of this hot theme. Give them the star treatment with a red carpet entrance, rows of paparazzi, lights, cameras, Hollywood Walk of Fame stars, and more. This theme can also lean to a more casual interpretation with an emphasis on film, popcorn, and lots of yellow, red, and white.

City
Bring the upscale, cosmopolitan atmosphere to your school with a city theme. Surround prom-goers with skyscrapers, billboards and lots of lights. Pull these items together to give the impression of a city, or make it a New York night with the addition of a Times Square theme kit or Central Park props.

Parisian
The Parisian theme is always a hit with its romantic, European flair. Imagine the excitement of your student body as they get to walk past the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe arch, or a Parisian café. Play some Edith Piaf, serve baguettes with pate, and cover the walls with backdrops depicting scenes of Paris, such as the Champs-Elysees.

Casino
You won’t be rolling the dice when you choose this popular theme. Students love the high-energy décor of playing cards, poker chips, dice, and roulette wheels. Choose from a jackpot night, a high roller night, or a Vegas escape theme kit. Include some games, a buffet and some live entertainment for the full casino experience.

India
The Indian theme has really become a favorite because of its modern exoticism. The juxtaposition of rich greens, purples, golds, blues, and pinks create a breathtaking look that is unique to the Indian culture. This theme benefits from lots of draping chiffon, shimmera, and gossamer fabrics, trimmed with string lights. Prom-goers will be charmed with the beauty of this destination theme prom.

Stars
Dazzle everyone with a stars theme prom. The student body will be taken aback when they find themselves surrounded with gold, silver, and white stars of all sizes that reflect light throughout the space. Choose from star-studded arches, stairways, columns, and tunnels. Decorate the ceiling with hanging stars, string lights, and panels of star gossamer fabric.

Castles
Prom-goers love the chance to revisit the days of chivalry and courtly love. That is why the castle theme is always a success. This theme can capture the romantic look of a fairytale castle, the medieval look of the Knights of Camelot, or the fantasy look of an ice castle.

Fifties
Everyone loves the 50’s. It was the time of the sock hop, the soda fountains, the poodle skirts, and the emergence of rock and roll. People knew how to have fun and student bodies all over the country still have fun with a fifties prom theme. Fill the space with 45’s, vintage car props, jukebox standees and drive-in decorations. This theme has lots of possibilities, so just run with it and have fun.

Choose your theme and fill all of your decorative, tableware, publicity and favors needs at Stumps Party. We love proms and we want to make sure that your school loves yours.

Paris Table Settings Add a Chic Touch

For a dinner party or a Paris themed event, Paris table decorations are a great way to add a chic look to the whole affair. Stumps Prom & Party has several Paris table setting options to create the romantic elegance of Paris for your guests.

The Gold Paris Table Setting (pictured above) is created by covering the table with a silver plastic table cover and edging it with a dark blue plastic table skirt. Take gold tulle and create swags around the table and place a gold shimmer star over top of the peak where the swags attached. Place an Eiffel Tower Tealight Holder in the center of the table for a lovely centerpiece. A scattering of Eiffel Tower Confetti adds some shimmer. Cover your chairs in white gossamer and drape some gold petal garland around the chair for a great finish.

Creating your own stylish Parisian table setting is another option. Cover the table in a black or slate grey plastic table cover. Edge the table in grey or silver gossamer with a red rose garland around the top of the table where the gossamer attaches. At each place setting, set a Parisian picture frame as a place card holder, an Eiffel Tower goblet, and an Eiffel Tower Candle. These favors work into your table setting as a decoration. Place a Mini City Streetlight in the middle as a centerpiece on top of a runner of gossamer decorating material in our Parisian pattern. Drape the chairs in the same gossamer and secure it in the middle with red rose garland.

For subtle sophistication try our Souvenirs of Paris Table Setting. Cover the table with a black plastic tablecover. Over top, edge the table with white tulle. Around the top, attach a silver metallic streamer. Create coordinating chair decorations by wrapping the top of the chair in white tulle and add a silver gossamer streamer. In the center of the table, set a Midnight in Paris Centerpiece, which shines with a candle through transparent paper. Add a Paris Picture Frame at each place setting for a lovely place card holder. Set the table with silver tableware and top it all off with Eiffel Tower Confetti.

Check out all of our Paris Event Theme decorations for more ideas to host a spectacular party.