Before you know it Prom 2021 will be here. We know how important prom night is, and if you have a daughter in high school, there has probably been some dreaming of a promposal and discussing the dress. It’s a night for her to dance and celebrate everything she’s accomplished over the past four years, and look forward to all the things she’s about to embark on — while wearing her dream outfit, of course.

No pressure, mom, but we know you want your daughter to look and feel her best and not look like a hot mess. We’ve done some research and compiled what every mom needs to know before going prom dress shopping with her favorite girl in this guide to finding the perfect prom dress.

What’s her inspiration?

Asking what the inspiration is for the evening may sound a little dramatic, but if you’re the mom of a teen (as I am) you’re pretty accustomed to the theatrics, no? Joking aside, a great place to start is to find out if the school has chosen a prom theme.

Although some schools just throw a fabulous party, others select a theme that runs throughout the evening such as Moulin Rouge or Island Getaway, the ’90s, or Fire & Ice. The theme will give her a hint of where to go with her dress … or jumpsuit or romper. It could be a red prom dress if she’s going with the fireside of a Fire & Ice theme. Maybe she’ll want a roaring ’20s flapper style dress with lots of gold and a feather boa to fit right into The Great Gatsby theme.

If there’s no theme (or she’s not looking to adhere to that), she may be inspired by a celebrity look from a red carpet event, or your daughter may simply have had a light pink prom dress she noticed online a few months ago.

Pinterest is a wonderful place to gather ideas and inspiration for prom. Put together a board on the site with her favorite dress styles, makeup, hair, and accessories. Start to narrow down the looks to absolute favorites, and it will be easier to decide on the best look for the night.

Learn where to shop for a prom dress.

Shopping in person is ideal because she can try the dress on, feel the fabric, and really get a sense of how she’ll look on prom night. With the average price of a prom dress ranging from $100 to $600, it’s likely the most important piece of the prom budget. Start shopping three or four months before the big night so she can take the time to get accessories and make any necessary adjustments to the dress so it fits perfectly. This timeframe is also helpful if you’re ordering online. Pro tip: Order two sizes (or two colors) and return the one that you don’t like/doesn’t fit. This will save time and hopefully mean avoiding any last-minute mishaps around the dress. (Just confirm the store’s return policy before doing this.)

Still stumped about her style? The store Lulu’s has a quiz to help your daughter figure out her prom personality.

Great online stores to find a prom dress: Nordstrom — Search their selection by occasion (prom!) and you’ll find a wonderful variety of classic and trendy styles, inclusive sizes, and all budgets with prices range from $50 to $300. Free shipping and returns here too!

ASOS — Just like its regular lines of clothing, ASOS will deliver a more modern prom dress. Fun and flirty is what you’ll find here, along with affordable prices. Also, it has the BEST plus-size options.

Lulus — You’ll find formal dresses here for less than $100. Especially perfect if you’re looking for a dress to be worn for occasions beyond prom. We saw the biggest selection of maxi dresses here.

Shopbop — These are where the high-fashion styles live. You’ll find designer dresses and decent knock-off looks here. Be prepared to find something uber unique and pricey — upward of $500.

Boohoo — You’ll find a dress or jumper perfect for the night for less than $50, seriously. We can’t say it will last for years, but at such a low price you can buy a few options and see what suits your mood come prom night.

BHLDN — For something more subdued, try this brand that is the sister store of the ever-popular Anthropologie. Although it carries mostly wedding party styles, your daughter may find the perfect dress for prom. The prices are in the $200 range but always check for sales.

Rent a prom dress.

Guys rent their tuxedos and suits, so why not rent a dress? If your daughter is sure she’ll never wear the dress or outfit again, renting is an effective way to go. Renting is a fun way to celebrate prom with a stunning designer dress at a fraction of the cost. For example, a Monique Lhuillier gown that sells for $1,000 can be hers for a night for a $150 rental fee at Rent the Runway. We saw a dress that sells for $150, available to rent for just $30!

The process is pretty easy. Select a delivery date (they recommend one to two days before prom) and decide how long you’d like to keep your items (they offer four- and eight-day rentals). To get the best fit, Rent the Runway recommends browsing the customer photo reviews to see how styles look on other women like your daughter. And this is probably the best part — the company sends you a free backup size to ensure you get a fit that’s just right! Returns are just as stress-free: When the rental period is up, place your items (and the hangers and plastic) back in the garment bag they came in and send them back using the prepaid shipping label. Rent the Runway also handles the dry cleaning.

If you’re looking for more national dress rental options, try Charlotte’s Closet and JJ’s House.

Find a unique prom dress.

If you live in a small town or don’t have many options for places to shop, there’s always a chance of showing up to prom with the same dress as someone else. In the list that follows, we’ve come up with some ways to guarantee a unique look for prom night.

Shop vintage — Whether you go to a local shop or search eBay, a vintage look will certainly be one of a kind. Has the outfit altered and dry cleaned ahead of time?

Shop Etsy — Etsy has seen a boom in the past year, so many new creators have started shops on this online e-commerce space that focuses on vintage and handmade items. Order from here early in case your outfit needs to be custom made.

Try a bridal store — Just because bridesmaid dresses have bad reputations doesn’t mean there aren’t beautiful options in the store. Give this a try for an elegant, classic dress.

Take it to a tailor — Your daughter may find a dress in the perfect color but the wrong length. Or the sweetheart neckline dress could be perfect, except it needs straps so it doesn’t shimmy down while she dances the night away. A tailor can help customize the dress to create her dream look. Allow plenty of time for this option.

Coordinate accessories and makeup.

There are plenty of serious and important things on a prom night checklist, but as far as finishing off the prom night look, choose accessories such as shoes and jewelry, and gorgeous makeup. Costume jewelry is a useful hack for prom because she’ll find really fun and festive accessories to add the perfect pop to the outfit. Also, she won’t be heartbroken if she loses a $10 earring or misplaces a fake diamond ring. Rent the Runway offers fabulous jewelry and handbags for rent.

Although you can’t — and probably wouldn’t want to — rent shoes, there are some classic styles that go with a bunch of different dress styles perfect for prom night. These include high strappy sandals, embellished heels, slingbacks with block heels, slingback flats, ballet flats, and even a simple sneaker if she chooses! It’s really about whatever makes her feel most happy and comfortable.

Head back to Pinterest for makeup looks and inspiration, and for actual how-tos look no further than YouTube. It offers lots of videos with step-by-step makeup and prom hair looks, and most of these artists provide links to the exact products they use to help recreate the look.