When Paige, from Dorset, was disappointed that it looked unlikely that she was going to get an end of school prom, her mum, Carla, and family came to the rescue. They made sure that the night would be one to remember!…
Tell us about Paige’s prom night…
It would’ve been my daughter’s end of school prom night. she’s been self-isolating since the 13th March due to members of the family being high risk.
She was disappointed that she wasn’t able to wear her dress or see her friends, so I decided to bring the prom dinner night to her. I gave her a few days’ notice beforehand, giving instructions on how the day would plan out.
We are a family of 5, based in Dorset. Paige (16) Aimee (13) and William (7). My husband is in the armed forces and I’m a healthcare worker. Not the easiest of tasks to try and pull off a surprise event in the main part of the house for her not to see. But we succeeded!
Paige is a big Harry styles fan. For her 16th birthday this year, she got concert tickets to see him in London last month. Unfortunately given the circumstances, understandably it was cancelled. So, of course, we made the entrance to the room with the theme tune to one of his songs.
I purchased all items off Amazon. Metallic tinsel curtains. Silver, white, silver confetti balloon set, silver star garlands, double-sided blue dots, disposable table cloths, and chair cover bows. The red carpet was an old table cloth. I added lanterns & fairy lights for added sparkle!
I started with balloons on the ceiling, Scattering them so they were not so close together, but ensuring there weren’t any obvious gaps.
I then moved on to the metallic curtains (my favourite purchase!). These really make the room that little bit extra special. You simply peel off the sticky tape and apply. I used a pack of 5.
I used the silver bow chair ties for added effect. A further 3 as a runner across the table. Adding candles & confetti to finish the touch.
The double-sided dots were used to keep the balloons on the side of the wall together. A great idea if you wanted to do a balloon garland effect.
Originally we were going to purchase a photo album as a keepsake for Paige, but as she wouldn’t have had many photos as planned to put in it, I asked all family members and family friends to record a short 30-second message for her. I gathered around 16 and made a keepsake movie.
What is next?
My next project is to do something a little similar with a different colour theme for Aimee’s 14th birthday in June. I haven’t quite worked out the actual plan yet but I am keeping my eyes peeled for ideas. Maybe a garden party – decorating the patio area and putting on some party food… We will see!
Do you have any tips for others?
- Make sure you purchase items ahead so you know they will arrive in time.
- Don’t forget to give yourself some time (if you can). Mental health is so important in times like these.
- We have children of different ages within different academic stages. We encourage and support with homework, but we also ensure they learn by having fun, getting creative and allowing their imaginations to run wild!
How has being housebound with kids been so far?
It’s been both challenging, but also lovely! Thankful to have us all together and safe. Appreciating the time & memories we make, but obviously hoping things return back to normal soon.
