Prom Season - Circa 2009

Prom season is in full swing and some families may be affected by the loss of money in their wallets. The country’s current economic situation may not have been foreseen when initial prom planning occurred, but like everything else these days, reality can sometimes hit hard. Many may have been asking themselves, “How much did they spend on that dress?” It is a fact that students and their families do spend quite a bit of money on Prom, but to what, exactly, is this large sum of money going?

For girls, the main expense is the dress--along with other extras such as manicures, pedicures, hair styling, tanning, make-up, and flowers. This year some girls spent well over $300 on a dress for Prom. Some may have spent much less than $250, but in most cases, the dresses seen at Prom usually came with a considerably large price tag. Accessories are also an additional expense. This category may consist of gloves, tiaras, jewelry, shoes, purses, etc.

Another prom cost is grooming, which includes manicures, pedicures, styled hair, make-up and tans. Some girls may spend as much as $100 to simply get their hair highlighted and styled for the special event. A manicure costs around $20, and a pedicure costs around $25. Needless to say, these extra costs add up.

For boys, renting or buying a tuxedo or suit can be quite costly. This year, some boys spent around $100 simply to rent a tux. If someone decided to buy a suit to keep, it may have cost them upwards of $180 on sale. Added costs may include ties or bow ties (around $12), hats, belts ($30), shoes ($45), and other accessories.

For all prom-goers, flowers, transportation, and dining are additions to the total expense.
Regarding transportation, some teens rent limousines to get around for the night. For a smaller limo, each person in a group of six may spend around $60, if the group splits the cost. Renting a larger limo will cost even more, depending on the number of passengers and hours of usage. Some students prefer not to overburden themselves with the extra cost and, instead, use their own vehicles. In that case, the price of gas would be their main expense.

Needless to say, Prom has its expenses, but, of course, everyone enjoys a bit of luxury once in awhile. A fun time is usually had by all who attend, and memories are made.