Be Prepared: What Essentials to Bring to Prom

For prom night to go off without a hitch, it's important to prep your purse with all your prom night essentials. With all of the pre-prom craziness, it can be extremely helpful to identify beforehand what you want to bring to the event. Rushing out the door for hair or pictures, it's easy to forget something important like the prom tickets. Thankfully, a little extra prom preparation goes a long way in ensuring your prom is the best it can be from the first photo to the last dance. Make a list of personal belongings, school forms, and after prom necessities, and you're already a step in the the right direction with prom planning. With a definitive list of what to bring to prom it's easy to check that everything important makes its way into your purse, and, if you make it early enough, you might think of some items you previously missed. Make planning even more efficient by filling your bag early with some of the items you don't need everyday. By getting a headstart with this step, it'll be clear if more organization is necessary or if some larger objects will just need to stay behind.

Packing Essentials for Prom Night

When you think about it, prom night is a host of events, rather than one in particular. Between getting ready, pictures with friends, dinner, the dance, and after prom, the entire evening is scheduled out with different activities. The theme might remain the same, but the needs change depending upon the hour. Being well prepared reduces stressful last minute packing and makes the whole time more enjoyable. Packing a prom emergency kit or a purse with everything you need for prom can make the transition from one event to the next as smooth as your satin evening dress.

The Pre-Prom Bag

To begin packing a prom bag, start with a checklist. If you have not already made a list of prom essentials, try to get a sense of the most important items you will need by breaking down the night. Getting ready at a friend's house before pictures may require very different items than those for prom itself or the after prom events, and probably a separate bag entirely. If there are no salon appointments on the agenda. This bag should carry:

• Shoes
• Makeup: Keep it safely stored in a smaller bag to minimize the risk of containers opening, which can cause spills and stains on your other items.
• Hair supplies
• Jewelry: It's always a good idea to put jewelry and makeup in separate little bags or boxes to keep them organized.
• Prom dress: You'll want to bring your wrapped prom dress on a separate hanger to avoid wrinkling or damage.
• Camera: If you plan to use a high-quality camera in addition to (or in place of) your phone, it's a good idea to keep it in its own case, which protects it from damage and makes it easy to find for prom pictures.

The Prom Clutch

Clutches are the most portable and stylish way to tote around your belongings, especially if your prom dress doesn't have pockets. For the pictures, keep in mind that you might want certain important makeup products handy in a little clutch for touch ups. A couple of small prom emergency items, like bandaids and feminine products, are never a bad idea, but be careful not to overstuff your clutch. To avoid the clutch looking a bit wonky and getting heavy over the course of the night, keep it reserved for the most significant items:

• Makeup
• Phone
• Money
• ID (driver's license if you are driving, or your school ID card)
• Keys (for home and/or transportation)
• Tickets
• Prom forms for you and your date

The After-Prom Bag

To be equally prepared for after prom, you should have an idea of what the school has planned for students, as well as what your friends would like to do that evening. Often, schools set up an "after prom" filled with entertainment, ranging from bounce houses and bowling to karaoke and photo booths. These fun activities are generally far more casual and warrant more laid-back attire. After the scheduled "after prom," your friends might want to have some of their own fun with a house party, bonfire, or sleepover. To ensure you're well prepared and comfortable, be sure to include these items in your after-prom bag:

• Extra shoes
• Socks
• Change of clothes
• Jacket (if needed)
• Sleeping bag (if necessary)
• Toiletries