There was a time when the milestone of leaving school, or moving up to sixth form, was marked with an end-of-term disco.

Usually held in the school hall, they generally involved swapping your school uniform for a pair of jeans and shuffling awkwardly around a dance floor, slurping pop.

Then came the Prom, an American high school tradition that crossed the Atlantic a decade or so ago and is now an integral part of our own school calendar.

Prom nights are big business. Prom dresses are often sold for hundreds of pounds, then there are the accessories and beauty regimes, not to mention the elaborate modes of transport that go hand-in-hand with the whole ‘passing out’ experience.

Usually held for Year 11 students, aged 15 to 16, and Year 13 school-leavers, aged 17 to 18, the prom has become a cultural phenomenon, reintroducing a sense of formality to the school party.

More than 85 per cent of secondary schools in Britain hold proms, ranging from no-frills dinners in school halls, to glitzy extravaganzas in five-star hotels with such extras as ice-cream vans and photo booths.

It was when Lou Jones got talking to her friend, Sarah Page, about the hassle of preparing for her daughter’s prom that she had a lightbulb moment.

“Sarah and I met at school 30 years ago and have remained friends,” says Lou. “Sarah’s daughter, Eleanor, attended her school prom in 2012 and, while she had a fantastic time and looked stunning, Sarah commented on how much time and effort it had taken to prepare for it – almost like a wedding. She said it was week after week of trailing round, and spending whole weekends going to dress shops. It became a bit of a nightmare.

“That’s where the idea came from – everything ‘prom’ under one roof, in one afternoon.”

Lou and Sarah teamed up to organise a prom fair, showcasing various products in a one-stop-shop format.

“We held our first one last year – it was a bit of an experiment to see if the appetite was there from both stallholders and prom-goers – and it was really popular,” says Lou. “We had 32 stalls and just under 300 guests, it was a great success and there was a real buzz.

“The idea is to bring everything together in one place, a bit like a wedding fair.”

Now the pair, who call their venture 1 Stop Prom Shop, are holding another prom fair this weekend. The event will showcase prom dresses, shoes, jewellery, corsages, hair stylists, beauticians, nail technicians, tanning salons, luxury car suppliers and photographers, and there will also be two fashion shows, with models taking to the catwalk in prom dresses and suits.

“You get chance to see what the dresses look like, as well as hairstyles and make-up,” says Lou. “Proms are a big part of school life now, and the feedback we got from last year was that girls liked being able to see different types of dresses. Some have very fixed ideas about what they want, while others aren’t so sure.

“The fair gives prom-goers chance to see all sorts of ‘looks’ and talk to various stallholders about that all-important dress or beauty treatment package.

“We have an agency that deals in secondhand dresses, the majority have only been worn once. One which was flown in from America cost £480, and was sold on for £170. We also have a dressmaker coming along, who can make alterations if needed.”

Lou and Sarah have written to schools in Bradford, letting them know about the fair.

“We’re hoping that, like last year’s fair, it’ll be a lovely afternoon out for mums and daughters, and in some cases grandmas too, as well as friends. But we want to appeal to prom organisers too. Some schools now have prom committees, so we’re hoping they’ll come along,” says Lou.

“It makes the whole process of shopping for things like a dress and hair and beauty treatments that bit easier. Often you have to trail around lots of different venues, which is time-consuming and can be more expensive.”

While the prom fair is predmoninantly aimed at girls, the boys needn’t feel left out. Boys and menswear will be modelled on the catwalk too. “All the models are local, and Year 11 age,” says Lou.

Businesses showcased at the prom fair include Bella Rouge in Saltaire and ICO Entertainment in Bradford, and the Cake Emporium, Proms & Pearls and Glamorous Hair, all in Shelf. Lou plans to hold future fairs in the Bradford district, and would like to broaden the range of stalls.

The 1 Stop Prom Shop fair is at the Cedar Court Hotel, Huddersfield, on Sunday, February 9, from 1pm to 4pm, with fashion shows at 2pm and 3pm. For more information, call Sarah Page on 0757 6071583 or visit 1stoppromshop.co.uk.