Planning the Ultimate 80s Prom Theme Party

Let’s journey back in time to the glorious 1980s for a prom-themed extravaganza! Whether you want to recreate your own senior prom or just long for the outrageous fashion, big hair, and excellent music of the decade, this comprehensive guide will help you plan the ultimate retro party.

Get ready to soak up major nostalgia, from the neon-drenched decor to the bodacious eats and drinks. We’ll cover everything you need to make your 80s prom party amazing, from the invites and attire to the entertainment and beyond. So bust out those shoulder pads, cue up the synthesizers, and let’s get planning the most triumphant throwback soirée ever!

Select a Venue For Your 80s Prom

Finding an excellent venue sets the scene for the perfect 80s prom bash. For maximum nostalgia and rad vibes:

Rent out your high school’s actual gymnasium – this takes guests right back to their own prom memories
See if you can book a local roller skating rink and have guests lace up skates and roll back the years
Check with community centers, American Legion halls, or church basements for a rec room vibe
Host in your own home by transforming your basement, backyard deck or living room into an 80s haven
Take over a campground pavilion or picnic shelter and really decorate it out with 80s flair

No matter your location, you can infuse it with 80s prom magic through neon signs, streamers, balloons, themed posters, disco balls, and more era-appropriate decor. Now let’s move on to the invitations.

Send Out 80s-Style Invitations

Get your guests excited from the start by mailing creative invitations that exude retro 80s flair. Ideas include:

Design colorfully-collaged invites featuring neon graphics, geometric shapes, and 80s icons
Include questions like “Will you be my totally radical prom date?” for guests to respond to
Create a Facebook event and have guests RSVP “I’ll be there, dude!” 80s-style
Send Evites with playful 80s lingo such as “Let’s get stoked for the prom, you preppies and punks!”
Attach small jellies shoes, plastic bangle bracelets or other trinkets as fun invite add-ons
With excellent invites in the mail, your pre-party prep is well on its way. Next up: decking out the venue with bodacious, colorful and playful decorations.

Go All Out Decorating for Full 80s Prom Perfection

Bring your radical 80s prom fantasies to life by decking out your venue from floor to ceiling. Ideas include:

Cover walls with concert, movie and music posters featuring 80s celebrities and icons
Drape streamers, fringe curtains, Japanese origami balls and balloons from the ceiling
Display strobe lights, a disco ball, black lights, neon signs for an electric atmosphere
Use boomboxes, cassette tapes, Rubik’s cubes and Pac Mans as colorful table centerpieces
Scatter throw pillows, floor cushions and bean bags around for chillaxin’
Construct a dazzling DIY photo booth area with fun props like silly wigs, boas, neon glasses, etc.
Make stereotypical tabletop pyramids out of plastic solo cups for that classic party vibe
Use 80s album covers to make table runners and scatter vinyl records around as decor
Cover tables in plastic 80s-style tablecloths – use ones with Pac-Man, cassette tapes, or colorful squiggle prints
Set up an 80s arcade area with a Pac-Man console, Donkey Kong, Tetris and other retro games
Display scenic 80s backdrops like graffiti art, palm trees, cityscapes and abstract geometric shapes
Fill the room with loads of flowering tropical plants, ferns and palms for an exotic feel

With a decked-out space straight out of the 80s, it’s time to curate the perfect soundtrack for your radical bash.

Can’t decide on an 80s or 90s party? Why not have both? Learn how from my article.

Get The Tunes Boppin’ with a Totally 80s Playlist

Get ready to dance your acid wash off with the most excellent 80s hits from this mega prom playlist:

With those tunes playing in the background all night long, it’s time to focus on looking the part with some most outstanding 80s prom attire.

Dress to Be Triumphant in Awesome 80s Prom Fashion

No 80s prom bash is complete without some seriously excellent, totally accurate era-appropriate attire. Go all out with costumes that capture quintessential 80s senior prom style:

Righteous Duds for Dudes

Channel your inner Ferris Bueller with shades, graphic tees, Hawaiian shirts and vest/blazer combos
Pull off the quintessential 80s rocker look: ripped jeans, graphic tee, printed button down, high-tops, and a wild ponytail or mullet
Bro down in pastel polos, sweaters draped over shoulders, boat shoes, and high-waisted pleated trousers for preppy realness
Give off Miami Vice vibes in bold linen pants, printed shirts, white linen sport coats, and loafers without socks
Go hip hop in parachute pants, track suits, shell necklaces, high-top fades and lots of gold bling

Bodacious Getups for Babes

Flash dance your way through prom with leg warmers, off-the-shoulder tops, leotards and messy perm buns
Channel Madonna, Cyndi Lauper and 80s glam with lace gloves, layered tulle skirts, and tons of beads and baubles
Get psychedelic in acid-wash high-waisted jeans, crop tops, layered fluorescent Prints, and stacks of jellies
Pull off wealthy preppy chic with polos, sweater wraps, pearl necklaces, tennis skirts and hair ribbons
Go punk rock in miniskirts, fishnets, leather, spikes and smokey eyes with big, messy hair

Now that guests are totally decked out in 80s gear, it’s time to fuel up on some bites and drinks. Let’s plan out a totally gnarly 80s prom menu.

Crank Up The Cuisine with 80s Grub and Drinks

Keep guests energized for a night of excellent throwback partying with 80s-tastic snacks, entrees and beverages:

Beverages

Fill punch bowls with concoctions like Rum Punch, Vodka Lemonade, Tequila Sunrises, and other adult drink favorites
Quench thirst with non-alcoholic faves like Hawaiian Punch, Squeezit, and Mello Yello in frosted mugs
Infuse drinks with dry ice or liquid nitrogen for a smokey, bubbling, retro effect
Set up a mocktail bar and have guests concoct their own crazy 80s creations

Excellent Party Eats

Make nacho, chicken wing, and pigs-in-a-blanket platters just like classic 80s house parties
Bake up Bagel Bites, pizza rolls, and other beloved bite-sized snacks
Fry up iconic appetizers like mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, and mini quiches
Fill a chocolate fountain with dippers like pound cake, marshmallows, strawberries and rice krispy treats
Set up a sundae bar with every topping imaginable – M&Ms, Reese’s Pieces, gummy bears, Pop Rocks, etc.
Make 7-layer bars, snickerdoodles, rainbow chip cake and other sweet baked goods
Scatter fun dip bowls filled with 80s candies like Nerds, Laffy Taffy, Bottle Caps everywhere

After filling up on munchies and drinks, it’s time to embark on some fun 80s prom-themed games and activities.

Get Down with 80s Prom Party Games

Amp up the fun and get everyone partying with 80s arcade games and activities galore. Ideas include:

See who can do the most excellent robot
Have a tubular limbo contest to 80s classics
Print out rad 80s trivia sheets and hold an 80s quiz night
Play Twister, Pac-Man, Tetris, Donkey Kong and other arcade faves on mini consoles
Hold an air guitar competition judged on passion, costumes, and showmanship
Give out superlative awards like “Best 80s Hair”, “Raddest Breakdancer”, “Awesome 80s Expert”
Have a costume contest and give prizes for categories like “Best 80s Icon”, “Funniest”, “Most Outrageous”
Play Name That Tune with iconic 80s hits
Hold a lip sync battle where guests mime and dance to favorite 80s music videos

As the excellent evening winds down, make sure guests leave with 80s prom favors to remember the night.

Get more 80s party game ideas from my awesome list.

Send Guests Home with Most Excellent 80s Prom Takeaways

Help guests re-live the magic and nostalgia of your 80s prom throwback extravaganza with some primo party favors:

Gift neon wayfarer sunglasses, bangle bracelets, Scrunchies, and other 80s prom accessories
Give out drakkar noir, eterna and other 80s colognes/perfumes
Make DIY corsages and boutonnieres out of lace, ribbons, plastic flowers and beads
Hand out customized 80s yearbooks featuring everyone’s pictures, notes, and superlatives
Send guests home with glassware stenciled with “Totally Rad 80s Prom”
Package up 80s candy like Pop Rocks, Nerds, Bubble Tape, and Bottle Caps for guests
Make sticker sheets with 80s sayings, icons and graphics for guests’ cars and notebooks

Summing Up

With outrageous venues, bodacious attire, excellent eats, and radical music, your 80s prom bash will be loved by preppies, punks, new wavers and all types of radical 80s folk! Your party will be so money, it’ll be absolutely, most definitely, without question, outstanding!