By, Tabitha Miki FDI CFD, Head Floral Designer

The excitement of picking the right dress or tuxedo, the limos, the upscale hotel, portraits with friends, portraits with your date, all these elements are part of prom! It is a right of passage of sorts for us here in the states, especially in Hawaii. We had the thrill of exchanging prom pictures like trading cards and even now till this day; look back fondly on these memories. Fast forward, we now look forward to seeing our children, nieces, nephews, younger cousins have these wonderful experiences at their prom!

Since Covid hit, it has forced many people to get creative on how they continue traditions to bring some much needed cheer. One tradition that received a makeover is prom. There were several students who dressed up and had a type of prom online. There were TikToks of people getting dressed for prom, and several other innovative ways teens were marking the day.

In fact, prom is so special to us, did you know there is even a National Prom Day? National Prom Day is on March 31st. But how did prom begin?

History:

Prom actually started with university students and is from the shortened word promenade. However, the age of the students that began holding proms slowly started to get younger, and during the 1940s it became a lot more akin to the proms we hold today! In the 1950’s, high schools began holding them at country clubs and hotels.

The National Prom Day itself began in 2016 and was started by PromGirl. It was created to honor those special memories of friends, fashion, etc. In observance of the first ever National Prom Day it was marked with a donation to SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) from every purchase from promgirl.com and pro guy.com

Celebrating National Prom Day:

We can still help that special teen in our lives continue this fun tradition, despite the world wide pandemic. Here are a few ideas how:

Get creative by designing a theme:

• Choose a Theme Name such as: The Great Gatsby, Fire and Ice, Moulin Rouge, Starry Night, Under the Sea, Enchanted Forest, or a Hawaii themed (who doesn’t want to enjoy a fun luau from time to time? Don’t forget the paper umbrellas for drinks if you go this route, thank me later!).

• Pick a color scheme. School colors are recommended, but any complimenting color to match your theme will do nicely!

• Figure out a budget and go to town on the decorations! Remember, decorations don’t need to be spendy. Check out your local thrift store or if you are on Oahu, Hawaii - check out the swap meet for really cool finds! Facebook marketplace and amazon are also other options to explore.

• If you are feeling overwhelmed or anti creative, no problem! Check out pinterest to get the gears going! Also, don’t hesitate to talk to other parents and see if you can cook up some fun ideas together and split the costs! Group projects are way more fun and maybe your teen and their friends will really enjoy working on this project.

Next up, figure out your vendors:

• Professional Photographer for portraits

• Florist for florals such as: leis, wrist corsages, or bouquets

• Professional Hair and Makeup Artist

• Restaurant(s) for take out and dessert

Tip: Ask your vendors if they have group discounts.

One day prior or on the day of the Prom:

• Set up the area with decorations such as: balloons, streamers, string lights (christmas lights), or any other props you have found on your treasure hunting adventure

• Arrange the table with a nice table cloth, table runner, led candles, vase, and cutlery

• Gather the music playlist

There you have it! You are all set! On the day of, your teen will be over the moon enjoying the whole experience from dress up in bougie attire complete with hair and makeup, a lei, wrist corsage, or bouquet. Then enjoy their professional portrait session with their date or friends and onward to a whole evening filled with a fancy dinner from a nice restaurant (or their favorite foods), add dancing, and desert. BAM! Instant prom magic. Take advantage of all the social media photo opts via Instagram!

After the event is over, remember to send out thank you cards (if applicable), order prints online, and mail them to friends and family!

What better day to schedule your prom portrait session in Hawaii, then on National Prom Day on March 31, 2021?! Are you ready to help your teen plan a mini virtual prom? Looking for professional portraits on Oahu? We got you covered! We would love to tell your prom story! Send us a message!