Last February my church, Waterfront Church DC, hosted a Night to Shine at the Nationals Stadium in Washington, DC. Night to Shine is a prom for people ages 14 and older with special needs, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation and hosted by churches around the country.

I was able to help with decorating our space at the Nats Stadium along with a great volunteer crew. We purchased black tablecloths, silver table runners, and giant teal balloons with silver ribbon. It was already a beautiful venue so we didn’t want to do anything that would take away from that, while still making it look like the token teal, silver, and black balloon-filled proms that were happening around the country.

I love all of the thought that the Tim Tebow Foundation has put into making this evening special for all guests. For instance, every guest of Night to Shine experienced a limo ride and a red carpet entrance complete with welcoming paparazzi. Many friends and volunteers lined the red carpet to cheer people on as they entered the stadium.

Once inside guests received VIP treatment including hair and makeup stations, shoe shining stations, corsages and boutonnieres, food, and of course, dancing! Food was catered by the baseball stadium and included fun snacks like Cracker Jacks, peanuts, popcorn and fruit.

A trained buddy was provided for each guest allowing family and caretakers the option of enjoying the night to themselves, or taking advantage of the nearby respite room designated specifically for them to enjoy their own food and entertainment.

My favorite part of the night is where every guest is crowned a king or queen of the prom.

Night to Shine is a worldwide movement with more than 200 churches simultaneously hosting proms. It was an unforgettable prom night centered on God’s love for people, especially those with special needs. If you live in the DC area and are interested in helping with the 2017 event, you can find more information here.

All photos taken by DC Event Photo.