By Jennifer Jahn
NKyTribune staff writer
For one special evening each year, the red carpet is rolled out, music fills the room, and hundreds of guests are treated like royalty.
The Royal Prom, organized by Capernaum Young Life, is designed to do more than provide an unforgettable night of dancing and celebration. Its purpose is to lavish God’s love on friends with disabilities and remind each guest that they are a valued son or daughter of the King.
“The Royal Prom flips that script for one night,” Marlene Stewart, the Royal Prom Coordinator, said, referring to the isolation and lack of resources that can characterize life for people with disabilities. “Individuals, churches, and organizations across Northern Kentucky pool everything they have so that every guest walks a red carpet and gets treated like royalty.”
The community has embraced the event from the beginning, with some businesses supporting the prom since its first year and others joining the effort more recently.
“When people hear about, and see a video of the Royal Prom, they want to be a part of it,” Stewart said. “Our volunteers look forward to this night every year, and we are so grateful.”
That enthusiasm is reflected in the hundreds of volunteers who give their time to serve as one-on-one escorts and help create the evening.
Stewart said the volunteers come from all walks of life, from high school students to working professionals.
“Each year we’re blown away by how many people give their time to someone else,” they said. “They come not out of pity but out of love. What they discover is that making someone else feel like royalty does something to you. That’s why they keep coming back. That’s Northern Kentucky.”
The relationships created through The Royal Prom can continue well beyond the event itself. Capernaum Young Life provides opportunities for volunteers and “buddies” to remain involved throughout the year, including monthly Club gatherings, summer camp, and outings such as lunch with students.
“Capernaum Young Life couldn’t exist without buddies and volunteers,” Stewart said. “We always love having our buddies come and hang out at Club, go to Camp, or go out for lunch with our students.”
The Royal Prom also represents a significant collaboration among local businesses, churches, and professionals. This year, more than 40 Northern Kentucky businesses and churches have partnered with the event, donating everything from food, flowers, and decorations. Tents, medical, security services, and financial support are also donated to complete the night.
“We truly couldn’t make Royal Prom happen without the incredible support of our NKY community,” Stewart said.
Crossroads Florence has partnered with the event from the beginning, opening its building and providing staff to help make the evening possible.
Local professionals also contribute their talents. Stylists donate time and products for hair and makeup, florists provide bouquets and decorations, restaurants and franchise owners contribute food, and photographers capture memories for families to treasure.
“There’s almost certainly an outlet at The Royal Prom for your talent,” Stewart said. “If it’s something we’ve never done before, even better. We’re always looking to make the night bigger.”
For the guests, the experience begins with the red carpet.
Guests begin arriving at 5:45 p.m., and the red carpet serves as their first introduction to an evening centered around dignity, celebration, and belonging. Community members can participate by volunteering on the red carpet and cheering for guests as they arrive.
For those unable to attend, the event can also be followed through a Facebook livestream on The Royal Prom page.
Every detail of the evening is designed around the central message that each guest is a son or daughter of the King.
“It’s not just a tagline. It’s the mission and it shapes every element of the night,” Stewart said.
Guests walk the red carpet, enjoy a banquet dinner where they are waited on, hear a message about God’s love, and then spend the evening dancing and celebrating. At the end of the night each guest receives a crown or tiara to take home.
“They leave knowing they are sons and daughters of the King,” Stewart said.
For families considering sending a young adult to The Royal Prom, safety and dignity are priorities. Volunteers are screened and trained while security and medical teams remain on site throughout the evening. Volunteers are present throughout the event and a quieter space is available for guests who need a break from the activity.
But perhaps just as important is the way each guest is treated.
“Your son or daughter will be welcomed by name, waited on at dinner, asked to dance, and sent home with a crown,” Stewart said. “It’s a night where everyone gets to be exactly who they are — and be celebrated for it.”
While The Royal Prom may be one of the most anticipated nights of the year, Capernaum Young Life hopes the sense of belonging it creates will continue throughout the other 364 days.
“Prom is the best night of the year, but we try to give that same care year-round through monthly hangouts, camp in the summer, and outings all year,” Stewart said.
For community members, getting involved does not require previous experience.
“What our friends need most isn’t just an event,” Stewart said. “It’s someone who remembers their name in September and is still there in March. You don’t need experience to volunteer, just a willing heart. We can help with the rest.”
Those who cannot volunteer can also support Capernaum financially. A $25 monthly donation can provide a leader and a friend lunch together each month for a year.
The Royal Prom may last only one evening, but its message reaches much further: every person deserves to be known, valued, celebrated, and included.
And in Northern Kentucky, an entire community is coming together to make sure its friends know they are royalty.