Being part of the prom committee or voting for your school’s prom theme gives you the chance to put your mark on school history. This unique American high school ritual gets photographed and remembered for many years to come, so you probably feel a lot of pressure to choose something that represents your class and your era.
It can be hard to decide what a good theme is for prom because you don’t want it to be too similar to other recent themes, but it also needs to have an aesthetic that is easy to decorate for and to match your prom look to. It’s good to choose a theme with a lot of details and fun music and fashion related to it.
Choosing Your Prom Theme
When considering your prom theme, it’s good not to focus on microtrends that will make you cringe in a couple of months. It’s also good to choose a theme that will be easy to match your prom outfit too. We’ve been loving Sherri Hill’s prom dress collection for its great variety of options no matter your prom theme.
Vintage Themes
A popular option for prom themes is time themes. Roaring 20s parties and proms have always been popular for their strong sense of style. You can wear fun flapper-inspired looks with fringe, headbands, and pearls. Guys’ suits can embrace pinstripes and oversized lapels and the music can incorporate some jazz into the playlist. You can also have a fun mocktail bar at the event.
The 80s are also becoming a popular time period theme. Very aesthetically different from the sleek sophistication of the 1920s, the 80s are about all things neon. Bright colors, big sleeves, and full skirts are perfect for an 80s theme. There are also tons of great songs from the era that would be perfect for the DJ to incorporate.
While it might break the hearts of some teachers and chaperones, the 90s are also becoming a vintage era and one that’s also a strong contender as a prom theme. You could embrace a grunge-inspired look or even take inspiration from the futuristic pre-Y2K hype of 1999. There are plenty of nostalgic songs from the era that you can play at a 90s-themed prom.
A slightly broader time period you can have fun with is the Golden Age of Hollywood. You can draw influences and inspiration from the mid-20th century with plenty of red carpet glam.
Themes from Art and Culture
Another prom trend is choosing a piece of art to inspire the event. Vincent Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” has been one of the most popular works of art to inspire proms recently. The colors and the subject matter give you a great starting place for outfits and decor. Of course, there are many incredible works of art to choose from for your inspiration.
You could also choose something with a literary theme. If you want a more playful, whimsical prom, choosing a fairy tale or a story like “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” as the theme can give you a really unique experience. You can have photo spots with props inspired by the stories or serve up food and drink from the books.
Films with a really specific ambience can also be great inspiration. Moulin Rouge has recently had a resurgence in popularity and combines a fantastical 1890s setting with a playful early-2000s Parisian chic.
The Little Mermaid, classic or remake, also throws you into a fantasy world. “Under the Sea” has inspired many recent proms to go with a nautical look.
Nature Themes
Nature has been inspiring people since the beginning of time and it’s a great place to look for your prom inspo too. Some evergreen prom themes include celestial or astronomy themes. You can enjoy decorating with star and planet-themed pieces, with plenty of sparkle.
Enchanted forests or gardens have also taken off in popularity in recent years. It allows you to transform your venue space into a magical combination of greenery and fantasy. Who knows what fairy creatures might be lurking by the punch bowl?
Nature themes give you a lot of great options for accessorizing your outfits to match and are relatively easy to decorate for as well.
Have a Prom to Remember
Sometimes, we get caught up in the need to be original, but the truth is that it’s hard to have a completely unique prom theme. That’s okay because it means you’ll have more resources and examples to look to when planning yours.
Choose a theme that best represents your student body and helps everyone have a lot of fun, making incredible memories to treasure for years to come.
