Prom Night Party Fuel: The Best Food and Drink Ideas

Prom night is one of the most memorable nights of high school, so it's important to ensure that everything goes smoothly, including the refreshments.

Food and beverage service can easily be one of the largest prom expenses. There is no one right way to plan prom refreshments; rather, the key is to work within your budget and provide the type of food and beverage service that best suits your student attendees.

When it comes to prom refreshments, there are many options available, and it can be hard to decide what to serve. In this article, we'll discuss the best food and drink ideas to make your prom night memorable.

Students will work up a thirst on the dance floor, so a plentiful supply of beverages should be provided throughout the night. Here are some ideas for prom night beverages:

Soft drinks are a popular beverage option for prom. Serving soft drinks can be as basic as having a few types of cold bottled or canned drinks available, or as elaborate as offering a variety of soda flavors to choose from and providing plenty of ice and prom-themed cups that can double as prom souvenirs.

Punch is a classic beverage option for prom. It's easy to make and serve, and a punch bowl adds a touch of elegance to the event. You can choose from a wide variety of punch recipes, including fruit punch, lemonade punch, and champagne punch. If you want to get creative, you can even create a themed punch that matches your prom decorations!

Mocktails are non-alcoholic beverages that are perfect for prom. They look fancy and sophisticated, yet are fun, refreshing, and safe for all your guests to enjoy.

There are many different mocktail recipes to choose from, including fruit-based drinks, soda-based drinks, and creamy drinks. Some popular mocktail recipes for prom include a virgin piña colada, a virgin margarita, and a strawberry lemonade.

A soda bar is a fun and interactive way to serve beverages at prom. You can set up a table with different types of sodas, syrups, and mix-ins, and let your guests create their own custom drinks. Some popular soda bar flavors include root beer, cola, and cream soda.

Although water seems like a plain and boring prom night beverage choice, water is an essential beverage to have on hand. And if you have seen how hot students get out on the dance floor, you know exactly what I mean!

Providing water to prom goers can be as simple as having chilled bottles of water available or as fancy as a water station with different flavor options such as cucumber or lemon to encourage students to stay hydrated throughout the night.

Another benefit of serving water is that it is much less expensive than other beverages. To keep costs down, you can supplement your punch or soft drink offerings with cold bottled water or ice water served in a punch bowl or fountain. That way, if you run out of punch or soft drinks, at least attendees will have water available to quench their thirst.

Snacks are another essential part of any prom refreshment menu. Here are some popular prom night snack options:

Sweet treats are a must-have at prom. They are easy to serve and are a hit with guests. You can choose from a wide variety of sweet treats, including cupcakes, cookies, cake pops, and candy. Some sweet treats can even be customized to match the prom's theme.

If you want to get creative, you can even set up a candy bar where guests can create their own custom candy bags. Chocolate fountains or fondue stations are also a great addition that students will love!

One of the most popular options for prom food is savory snacks and finger foods. These can be bite-sized appetizers, mini pizzas, sliders, chicken wings, or even sushi rolls. Finger foods are easy to eat, do not require utensils, and allow students to mingle while they eat.

Your prom budget, venue size, and number of attendees will be factors to consider as you plan for offering a more sizeable meal.

If you want to serve a more substantial meal at prom, here are some ideas to consider:

Serving a plated meal is one of the most formal and elegant options, but a plated meal has advantages and disadvantages.

One advantage is that plated meals can be easier to serve and manage, as the meal portions are already portioned out. Additionally, a plated meal can help to keep the event space clean and tidy, as there will be fewer plates and utensils to clear away throughout the evening.

One of the main drawbacks is that providing a plated meal can be more expensive because you will need to pay more staff to serve and manage the meal. It can also limit guests' food choices, as they will have to choose from a pre-determined menu. Finally, plated meals can take longer to serve, which can reduce the amount of time prom guests have for dancing and other activities.

A buffet-style meal can be an excellent option for prom. You can choose from a wide variety of foods, including pasta, chicken, and salad, and let your guests serve themselves. Buffet-style meals are perfect for large groups and are a great way to offer your guests more variety.

Also, having the buffet available for the entire evening ensures that late arrivals won’t miss a chance to eat and provides nourishment for students who work up an appetite out on the dance floor!

However, make sure you compare prices for different refreshment options as you plan. Buffet meal service can end up costing the same or more than a plated dinner meal.

Food trucks are a trendy and fun option for prom. You can hire one or more food trucks to serve a variety of foods high school students will love, such as burgers, tacos, or pizza. For these reasons, food trucks can be a good choice perfect for both indoor and outdoor proms. However, having food trucks at a high school prom has both advantages and disadvantages.

One of the main advantages of food trucks is that they provide a fun and unique experience for students, as they get to choose from a variety of food options. Food trucks also allow for a more relaxed and casual atmosphere, which can be a nice change of pace from a formal plated meal. Additionally, food trucks can be more cost-effective, as you can typically negotiate a set price per guest.

However, there are also some disadvantages to having food trucks. One of the main drawbacks is that the logistics of food trucks can be more challenging to manage, especially if you are trying to keep track of student attendance at prom. Getting their food will require students to leave and re-enter the prom venue, perhaps multiple times.

Additionally, food trucks can take up more space, which can be an issue if your prom is being held in a smaller venue. Lastly, food trucks can create longer wait times for guests, as they may have to stand in line for their food.

Also, you just never know for sure what the weather conditions will be on prom night. If prom night is rainy, windy, or cold, many students will not want to go outdoors to visit a food truck.

Although most high school students who have food allergies and dietary restrictions will know what they should and should not eat, it helps everyone if you consider your guests' dietary restrictions and allergies when planning your prom refreshment menu.

Here are some allergy-friendly and inclusive menu options to consider:

Some popular gluten-free snack options include popcorn, potato chips, and fruit cups. For the main course, you can serve gluten-free pasta or a salad bar with various toppings.

Nut-free options are essential for guests with nut allergies. You don't want anyone to spend prom night in a hospital emergency room!

Some popular nut-free snack options include pretzels, popcorn, and fruit cups. You can also opt for a nut-free dessert option like a chocolate chip cookie or a fruit sorbet.

Vegan options are becoming increasingly popular and are a great way to cater to prom guests who follow a plant-based diet.

Some popular vegan snack options include hummus and veggies, chips and guacamole, and fruit cups. For the main course, you could serve a vegan pasta dish or a vegan burger.

Whether you serve a full meal or light snacks and drinks, you need to ensure that student attendees will consume the food and beverages you provide on prom night. For this reason, soliciting student input is a vital part of the refreshment planning process.

First, determine whether most students would prefer to eat at a restaurant of their own choosing or at the prom venue. As you present students with their food and beverage options, make sure they understand how the option they choose will affect the price of their prom ticket.

Planning the refreshments for your prom can seem overwhelming, but with the right ideas and preparation, you can create a memorable experience for all your prom guests.

With options ranging from mocktails to food trucks, and desserts like cupcakes and ice cream bars, there is sure to be something for everyone. And don't forget to consider your guests' dietary restrictions and allergies when planning your menu.

With these food and drink ideas, your prom night is sure to be a hit!

Our other articles will give you additional help as you plan your prom!

For example, 42 Things for a Prom Planning Checklist keeps you focused on the most important things for your event, and 10 Things to Consider When Choosing a Prom Venue gives you all the help you need to find the perfect location for your high school's prom.

12 Prom Theme Decoration Ideas provides you with a list of trending prom themes as well as decorating ideas for each theme.

Also, you'll want to develop a clear, inclusive, and well-articulated prom dress code. The article 10 Steps to Develop a Prom Dress Code shows you exactly how to develop a dress code in keeping with your students' and school's best interests.

8 Prom Night Entertainment Ideas offers new and innovative ideas for ways to make sure all attendees have fun and stay engaged throughouht prom night.

If you're looking for a start-to-finish, all-inclusive prom planning handbook, I have one for you!

The Ultimate Prom Planning Handbook takes you through the prom planning process one step at a time and provides you with pro tips and prom checklists to use every step of the way!

The Ultimate Prom Planning Handbook is available on this site and in my TPT store.