For most, prom is a magical night that celebrates the seniors and gives them the opportunity to have one last hurrah before graduation. Even if your prom looks different this year, it can still be magical! Many are deciding to create their own prom at home experience, and we want to help make sure you can still get your last dance and have a night to remember.

The best way to have an amazing prom at home is to change up your home’s decor and ambiance as much as possible to make it feel like you’re being transported somewhere else. Follow these 7 steps to help make your DIY prom super memorable:

1. Set the venue

2. Get creative with invitations, menus, and decor

3. Use favorite restaurants to help celebrate

4. Make the perfect playlist

5. Wear a fancy dress

6. Photoshoot time!

7. After party plans

Set the Venue

If you’re wondering what kind of prom to hold, consider an intimate gathering with your closest friends. They’re the ones you’ll talk to about it for years to come! An outside gathering is great for social distancing, and it can also be easily transformed into a dreamy night under the stars. How fun it would be to dance the night away in your backyard, at a friend’s barn, or even in your own home with the right lighting and decor. You can also consider a Zoom prom, which allows you and your friends to get glam and spend hours talking, eating, dancing, and maybe even playing games while being completely safe. Plus, who said you couldn’t change into pajamas after photos were taken for your virtual dance party?

Get Creative with Invitations, Menus, and Decor

Just because dinner is in your dining room and the dance floor is in your back yard doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with it! Creating a theme for your at home prom and decorating it accordingly is a great way to make it feel more like a party. For example, an under the sea prom can be full of blue streamers, a fancy mini balloon arch, and maybe even some twinkling lights! To tie it all together, consider creating some personalized invitations and dinner menus for yourself and your friends. This will make it feel more authentic! Don’t be afraid to go over the top! The right decor and lighting will transform your venue from ordinary to super memorable. You can never have too many twinkle lights!

Use Favorite Restaurants to Help Celebrate

Since it’s supposed to be a night about you and your friends, you might not want to spend it cooking. Getting takeout from your favorite fancy restaurant can keep you and your friends relaxing and enjoying the night, and it also gives you an excuse to splurge on that pasta or favorite dessert you’ve been craving! A fancy meal can also make you feel like you’re at a real prom, as well. Ask your parents or your siblings to step in and serve as your wait staff for an extra special touch! And don’t forget about snacks! Having fun, out of the ordinary snacks for later in the evening will be appreciated by all.

Make the Perfect Playlist

Who needs a DJ when you have Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube! Make a playlist before the event with your friends, getting everyone’s favorite songs together. Then, just put it on shuffle and let it play! You won’t have to worry about what song is coming on next, and as long as it’s long enough, you won’t have to think about what songs you want to hear. (Estimate about 15 songs per hour.) Plus, you can listen to your playlist as many times as you like afterwards and relive your favorite prom memories whenever you want!

Wear a Fancy Dress

While most people have spent the last year in sweats and leggings, it’s a fun change to get to be extra glamorous for a night. After all, for many girls a gorgeous dress & getting all glammed up is one of the best parts of prom! It doesn’t have to be anything over the top, but your whole mood will change once you’re in your best dress. Plus, it’s a great excuse to take tons of pictures of you and your friends!

Photoshoot Time!

What’s prom without a photoshoot? Think about some great outdoor locations to take Instagram worthy photos of you and your friends. Parks, urban settings, mural walls, and even open fields make for amazing, creative pics! Scroll through Instagram to get inspired, and plan your outdoor shoots for early in the night when your hair and make-up are on point and the lighting is great. Also set up a photo backdrop at your prom at home venue with some balloons and other fun elements for more candid, goofy, playful shots of you and your friends throughout the evening. Your family future self will love them!

After Party Plans

Most proms don’t end when the dance is over.. But what can you do instead of going out to eat or spending time with all your classmates? Swap your dresses for pajamas, get some snacks, and throw in your favorite movie - instant after party! You’ll be happy that you get to keep spending time with your close friends, and it’s a great way to end the night.

Prom can be a great experience for high schoolers looking for a fun way to end their senior year. Even if this year’s prom looks different than most others, you can still find a way to make it special, have an amazingly fun night, and make some great memories with your closest friends that you will treasure for a lifetime.