Location, Location, Location

A lot of you will be having your prom somewhere on campus - whether that's the school gym, maybe on a soccer field (if your school is really rad and lets you take advantage of the spring weather to do a pretty outdoor thing), or some other large gathering place inside of your school. If that's the case - don't worry, the upcoming episode on decor will help you make the most of your space. But, if you get to spend a little money and explore places off campus, here are some suggestions for you to consider:

Hotel Ballrooms - This is a classic choice. Hotels are extremely well equipped for large gatherings like this, can usually help with your lighting and sound, and if you're serving food (which you should to soak up the alcohol... we'll revisit this in later episodes) - they're really good at that stuff, too. A few drawbacks are that hotels can get expensive and oftentimes they are a little impersonal and cheesy which means - lots of decorating necessary.

Huntington Ballroom at Colonnade Boston Hotel - Boston, MA - www.colonnadehotel.com

Local Theaters - I think this is often an overlooked option, but big old theaters in your town will most likely have a ballroom space or even a very large stage that would work for your gathering (if your school is very big - this may not work out). This is a good potential option because a theater usually has a lot more character than a hotel ballroom, they're less likely to be booked during your weekend and because they probably don't get as much event business as hotels are used to, they may be willing to cut you a deal.

Fox Theatre - Atlanta, GA - www.foxtheatre.org

Fraternal Organizations, Women's Leagues, Etc. - Almost every town in the U.S. has a Mason's Group, Junior League, Women's Federation or something similar. And most of these groups have some sort of headquarters with large beautiful spaces that are perfect for big events. The other great thing about these guys is that, since they're non-profit, charitable organizations, they're probably willing to give a deal to their local high school for its prom. It'll most likely take a bit more research to get in touch with these groups, but it's definitely worth looking into.

The Mansion - The Texas Federation of Women's Clubs State Headquarters - Austin, TX - www.themansion.info

Event Halls - Traditional event halls are exactly what they sound like. They are businesses that have bought buildings and outfitted them specifically for holding big events. Therefore, they should have anything that you could possibly need for your prom. They should also be able to help you find local vendors to provide things like DJs or Bands, food and other services. The downside to this option is that because they're in the specific business of providing event services, they're less likely to cut you a break. Also, they may have certain vendors that you have to use in order to hold your event with them. Be sure to read all of the fine print before you sign on or you might end up with something you don't want and spending way more money than you expected.

Silver Star Hall - San Diego, CA - www.silverstarhall.com

Public Outdoor Spaces (parks, beaches, etc.) - In most areas, prom season = gorgeous weather which should definitely be taken advantage of. By holding your prom in some outdoor area, you can take advantage of the warmer temperatures, the romance of having a canopy of stars above you and you're pretty much guaranteed to have enough space to spread out and really enjoy the dancing without having hot, sweaty bodies crammed onto a tiny dancefloor. That having been said, there are a lot of questions to ask when considering an outdoor space. Especially if it's a public space. Do you need a permit to be there? Is there a certain time at night that the music has to go off? Are there rules regarding food handling, number of people that can be in the area, or security that must be present? And most importantly, what about port-a-potties?

AA Tent Company, Inc. - Salem, OR - www.aatentcompany.com

If you're still looking for ideas, there are plenty of other miscellaneous options that you should feel free to explore (be creative - you would be surprised by what's in your town). But, hopefully this list has given you some initial inspiration. Check out the links below for more information and ideas.

• http://www.gatheringguide.com/
• http://www.eventective.com/
• http://venuechooser.com/
• http://www.cvent.com
• http://www.local.com

Need more ideas or more places to look? Did I forget anything? Do you have an Event Space that I ought to mention? Let me know!