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costumes
For your prom soiree, prom-wear is naturally de rigueur-- but leave room for guests to get a little inventive in their interpretation of exactly what that entails. For fancy dress-up parties, I always make sure that guests understand that there's absolutely no need to spend real money to find something nice to wear. Dressing for this prom shouldn't be the stress-fest that people's last prom-dress-shopping ventures became.

For girls, anything from the little black dress to a hideous bridesmaid's gown will do just dandy; if you can't find anything in your own clothing stash, thrift stores are full of hilariously dated old prom dresses that can be had for cheap. If you're really hard-pressed to find anything -- after all, it can be a real challenge to squeeze into dresses made for sixteen-year-olds -- do as one of our clever guests did, and pair a big white petticoat with a formal top for an instant pseudo ballgown. As for the guys, wear the traditional tux if you happen to have one lying around; otherwise, a makeshift 50s-style formal get-up can be easily assembled by pairing a sports jacket (preferably white or some other amusing color) with contrasting pants, a white shirt, and a bowtie.

As the party host/ess, it's a good idea to provide some accessories for anyone who chickens out and arrives sans costume. Again, the thrift shops will be your best source -- pick up some ties and bowties for the boys, cheap costume jewelry for the women. Feather boas and tiaras are also fun to have around. Leave them in an obvious spot by the door, so people can pick them up as they come in, and drop them back when they leave.

Although some folks will be clever enough to come with their own, you can also make corsages and boutonnieres to give out as party favors. Buy the cheapest flowers you can get your grubby little hands on -- poms, daisies and the like are good, as you can generally get a whole heap of blooms for just a few bucks, and they have good lasting power -- and use baby's breath as filler. Pick up some corsage pins, floral tape, and ribbons at your craft store of choice, then corral some friends to help you make both pinned and wrist corsages the morning of the party.

decorations
As with any big party, you'll want to gather a core group of friends to help you prep. Organize a prom committee consisting of your most creative buds. Kick off your brainstorming session by poring through everyone's old yearbooks and high school photo albums - it's a great source for inspiration, and good for ha-has as well.

First things first: you'll need to come up with a theme for your prom. But wait, you say, isn't this party already themed? True indeed; but a more specific theme within the general prom genre will help you focus your décor. Proms, after all, are notorious for their lame themes. Go with one of the classics: As Time Goes By, The Time of Our Lives, A Night To Remember … anything involving time, night, or stars is perfect. Remember: generic is good, and the cheesier the better (this will be your mantra throughout the prom planning process). And if you have multiple rooms, you have the option of setting a different theme for each one. You might even create an after-prom-themed room, by putting together a little faux hotel room area.

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