Prom Checklist for Girls: Everything You Need for Prom

Prom is a night to remember, and it’s easy to forget something in the excitement. Planning prom in the UK? Use this prom planning checklist for girls to make sure you’ve got everything covered, from your dress and shoes to your tickets and a bag packed for the night.

Want to know when to do each thing? Our prom preparation timeline gives you the month-by-month plan. This page is the “what you need” list.

What do you need for prom?

At the very least, you need a ticket, an outfit and shoes, a plan for getting there and back, and a small bag with the essentials. To feel properly prepared, add hair and makeup (booked or planned), accessories that go with your outfit, and a plan for photos and the after-party. The checklist below covers all of it.

Outfit

• Your dress (or suit or set). Browse early and order in good time. Every HappyProm dress is made to order, so allow about nine weeks before prom. See when to buy your prom dress for order-by dates, and our 2027 prom dress trends for ideas.
• Shoes that are comfortable as well as pretty. You’ll be wearing them all night.
• Accessories: jewellery, a clutch and a wrap or jacket if your dress is thin or strappy. Try everything on with the dress itself to check how it looks together.
• Underwear and extras: the right undergarments for your neckline, tights if you need them, and heel pads for dancing.
• Flowers (optional): a corsage or buttonhole. Order ahead for pickup on the day, and coordinate with your date’s outfit if you like.

Tip: wear your shoes around the house in the weeks before prom to avoid blisters on the night.

Hair, makeup and nails

• Decide on a look that suits your outfit and neckline. See our guide to matching your prom hairstyle to your dress neckline.
• Book appointments early. Hair, makeup and nail appointments fill up quickly in prom season.
• Do a trial run of your hair and makeup, whether professional or DIY, so there are no surprises on the night.

Tickets, transport and plans

• Your ticket. Sale dates depend on your school, and prices sometimes rise closer to the date, so buy sooner rather than later.
• Transport there and back: a lift, a taxi, a group booking or public transport. Confirm it with your group and make sure everyone knows the pickup time.
• Dinner or pre-prom plans, if you’re having them. Book ahead if you need a reservation.
• After-party plans. Talk with your group about what happens after the dance, so nobody is left without a plan.

Photos and memories

• Pick your photo spots. Decide where you’ll take pictures before the dance, and let your driver or group know where to meet.
• Charge your phone and take plenty of photos you’ll want to look back on.

Your prom-night bag

Pack your clutch or a bag a friend can hold:

• ID, keys and a little cash
• Phone and a small power bank
• Lipstick or lip gloss, blotting papers, and mints
• A few spare bobby pins and a small hair spray
• Safety pins and fashion tape for wardrobe mishaps
• A stain remover pen
• Plasters and blister pads
• Tissues

If you’re staying elsewhere afterwards, add an overnight bag with toiletries, pyjamas and clothes for the next day.

Budget

Prom costs add up, from the dress to tickets, transport, hair and makeup. Our prom cost guide breaks it down.

When should you do each thing?

• A few months before: choose your outfit, book appointments, buy your ticket, plan your look.
• A month before: plan photos and after-party, sort alterations and transport, break in your shoes.
• Two weeks before: confirm bookings, do your trial run, order flowers, gather essentials, sleep well.
• Prom day: pack your bag, get to appointments on time, and enjoy the night.

For the full plan, including a prom-day schedule, see our prom preparation timeline.

Prom Checklist FAQ

Looking for your dress? Browse our Prom Dresses 2027 collection. Every dress is made to your measurements.