by Rachel Deena ’13

Only a month is left. Left to be asked to the prom. Left to go searching for a dress. Left to pull it all together. And then in a month it will be here, just like that and all of the preparing will have a purpose. In a little over a month, it will be Prom 2013.

This day is coming up fast, so let’s try and put this event into perspective from a girl’s point of view. All you need to do: find a dress that you’re in love with, one that you’ll look a perfect ten in and one that no one else has anything like.  Once you find that, you go off into the wonderland of shoes to find the pair to match your dress all the while staying a reasonable height for walking. Once that’s done you have accessories, hair and makeup. Doesn’t seem that much to some, but it’s costing more than we think.According to the Chicago Tribune, “A new survey from Visa Inc. shows that the average American family with teenagers plans to spend $1,078 — that’s for each child — on the prom, a 33.6 percent increase over the $807 spent last year”[1]. To some this is a perfectly reasonable cost for such an important night in a young person’s life. To others this might seem a tad on the extravagant side. I know many of you are wondering how could that little list that I gave you end up costing this much?

Well, the website Promgirl.com speculates about  the average cost for prom.

The website promgirl.com offers these price ranges:

• Prom tickets: Between $20 and $250, depending on location.
• Pre-prom dinner: From $25 to $130 per person.
•  Hair, makeup and nails: $30 to $275.
• Gown: Most prom dresses average between $100 and $400, but some spend far more.
• Photography: From $30 to $125 per person, depending on whether you use the official prom photographer or arrange for a private photographer.
• Limousine: Limo rentals range from $200 to $500, but this cost can be split between group members.[2]

Obviously, these prices vary for each girl but you get the idea. Some proms are very casual so some girls don’t go hunting for a red-carpet dress and go for something simple. For others prom is one of the biggest events in their high school experience and they want to look back on the moment and remember feeling like a movie star.

Another reason for the dramatic variation in amount of money spent is what you can afford. For example, I know some people who feel that a two hundred dollar dress is an appropriate price and one they can afford. I know other girls who find it totally acceptable to pay five hundred dollars or more on a dress. So, it really depends on what you feel comfortable spending.

If you’re the kind of girl who doesn’t really want to break the bank on this one night, I recommend using websites like Rent The Runway where you can rent a designer dress, jewelry, and accessories for at least half the retail price. The website even gives you an option of getting two sizes for the price of one, just in case you aren’t sure which will fit you best. If you want to go all out for this night I recommend hitting Bloomingdales prom section or BCBG Max Azria. They both have wide selections with varying price ranges. I even know some girls who are making this unique night more distinct by getting their own custom made dresses, which is amazing opportunity that they are fortunate enough to afford. The main point of this night though isn’t to outspend or outdo everyone else; rather, it is to enjoy the moment because it’s not going to happen again.

Stay tuned for the next prom edition that will be packed with dress inspirations straight from the red carpet.

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Sources: 

[1] http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-05-01/features/sc-fam-0501-prom-costs-20120501_1_prom-dresses-high-school-prom-prom-experience

[2] http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-05-01/features/sc-fam-0501-prom-costs-20120501_1_prom-dresses-high-school-prom-prom-experience