Since then, every April young people have been donning tuxedos and dresses to eat, dance, and have a good time. Some of my best memories from high school are from my prom nights (prom was for both juniors and seniors at my high school).

When it comes to prom, there are generally two groups of people: those that think "Prom is awesome! I'm really excited to go," and those that grouse, "Prom is sooo lame. What a waste of time."

Really, both groups are right. Prom can be a fun and memorable night, or it can be a big letdown. The difference doesn't come from prom itself, but what you make of it. Special nights don't just happen–you create them.

AoM has a surprising (and heartening) number of high school-age readers, so to help them plan and carry out a successful and memorable prom night, we've created this comprehensive guide.