Cost of the Prom for a Guy?

[MSSANDRA]

DS is considering asking a girl to the prom at school. They are friends and he really likes her but they have not dated before. Both are 17, He is VERY shy so we will see if this happens.

SO..DS does not have a job and while I am fine paying for this experence for him, I am trying to figure out the cost.

tickets are 80.00
tux-????
flowers???
dinner before???
pictures ??? do they split or what

DS drives but I am not comfortable with his driving to the prom location at night.
PArents of three of his freinds might want to go in with us and do a limo for them off to keep them from driving..????????COST???????

Been a long time since my prom days and tickets were like 10.00 and we ate at a local steak house for less than 20.00.

Anyone with a DS done this lately??

 

[princessmom29]

It will probably be a couple hundred dollars at least. Tux will run about $100. I would figure at least $20 for flowers, $50 for dinner. $40 for pictures. Here the boy pays for pictures. I can't help with the limo.

 

[ProudMommyof2]

Is it her prom too? If so she may offer 1/2 of tickets and pics. If he is asking to HIS prom then he owns the cost -IMHO.

We never did dinner before the prom as dinner was at the prom. If the tics are $80 that is probably the case.

 

[DizneeCM]

Hi, my DS went to his prom last year. We found that the largest expense was for the tux rental - $165 - I was surprised by the price. Sometimes the tux shops have discount coupons available around prom time (this price included the discount). His prom tickets included dinner, so he didn't have to pay for that separately (the tickets were $130 per couple).

Flowers were about $40 (a wristlet), so his total cost was about $335. DS and his girlfriend forgot to have their pictures taken, so I don't know what that would've cost.

I think the expenses vary depending on where you live, and what the traditions are in your area.

 

[christa112]

IMO--If he asks her he pays: her flower, his tux, pictures etc. As for the limo if they can go with some friends I would try to get them all to pitch in on it.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Thanks..He will pay. Just was not sure about pictures.

How much is a limo????

 

[msmayor]

The last two years that my daughter went to her prom, a group of them got a limo and split the cost.

It was about $70pp which included taxes and tip. This was for a 12-person limo; 10-person would have been a little cheaper, but not much.

I made every kid pay my daughter in cash BEFORE the prom so I had the money in hand that night. I wasn't going to get stuck with the bill.

Realize that you will be required to pay for a 4-hour minimum in most cases, and there is a per-hour charge over the contracted time. Many limo companies charge a premium for proms because of demand.

 

[MrsPete]

Thanks..He will pay. Just was not sure about pictures.

How much is a limo????

I've been teaching seniors for a long time and can talk about pictures:

Most people take extensive pictures before heading out to prom. Often they take pictures at her parents' house, then go back to his parents' house for more pictures. Around here kids go over to the Embassy Suites, where there's a fancy fountain and staircase, and they take pictures there. Before pictures are BIG.

The school will send home a flyer about professional pictures. Usually the girls want LOTS and the guys just go along with it. The largest packages offer a guy-only pix, a girl-only pix, and a couple pix. Some couples choose to get separate packages so there's no question of who owns which pictures. Professional picture sales seem to be on the downhill slide -- probably because so many people are taking extensive pictures beforehand, and because many people don't really care to have top quality pictures; they just want snapshots. Also, many people scan the pictures and copy them illegally.

I don't know the cost of a limo, but it's high. Personally, I'd be willing to split the cost with several other parents. Way too many kids drink before the prom, and it's better to have them traveling in something large and safe (at least my impression is that a big limo is safer than a little car). Remember that if you're going in together with a group, they've all got to agree on the dinner location -- that takes coordination sometimes.

 

[MrsPete]

I made every kid pay my daughter in cash BEFORE the prom so I had the money in hand that night. I wasn't going to get stuck with the bill.

Excellent advice. I've heard plenty of kids fighting about limo costs the week after prom. No money? No ride. Have them all give you enough for the driver's tip too, or you may be stuck with that part of the bill.

 

[MrsPete]

Hi, my DS went to his prom last year. We found that the largest expense was for the tux rental - $165 - I was surprised by the price.

WOW. I'm a girl-mom, and I had no idea they were THAT MUCH! I hope that was a fancy tux, not a plain one.

How does that compare to the cost of buying a tuxedo (perhaps even used)? If you choose a very basic style, he could use it for formals later in college, or you could re-sell it and recoup some of the cost.

I know I'm pretty stingy, but for that much money I'd consider getting him a very nice dark suit -- he's almost an adult, and every man needs a suit for job interviews, funerals, whatever -- which he would then have for future needs. I'm sure he wouldn't be the only one there in a dark suit.

 

[Inigo]

WOW. I'm a girl-mom, and I had no idea they were THAT MUCH! I hope that was a fancy tux, not a plain one.

How does that compare to the cost of buying a tuxedo (perhaps even used)? .

I saw men's tuxes at the JCPenney Outlet store in Columbus, OH late last summer. If there's one nearby, it might be worth looking into.

I tried to get DH to get one, but he wouldn't. Bad decision in my eyes, but his choice.

 

[vsimeone]

WOW. I'm a girl-mom, and I had no idea they were THAT MUCH! I hope that was a fancy tux, not a plain one.

How does that compare to the cost of buying a tuxedo (perhaps even used)? If you choose a very basic style, he could use it for formals later in college, or you could re-sell it and recoup some of the cost.

I know I'm pretty stingy, but for that much money I'd consider getting him a very nice dark suit -- he's almost an adult, and every man needs a suit for job interviews, funerals, whatever -- which he would then have for future needs. I'm sure he wouldn't be the only one there in a dark suit.

I was thinking the SAME THING! My DD went to the prom in 2006 and I paid about $150 for a dress or so. Here, I thought I'd be getting off cheaper when DS goes to the prom this year. YIKES!!!

I worked at a high school for 8 years and I DO know that you can be an "ambassador" for a tux place. You have to wear their tux to school and hand out fliers but I think you either get a free rental or a big discount. This post just reminded me that I have GOT to get DS to look into THAT!!!

I HATE all the costs that come with senior year. On top of that, DD is graduating from college this year too. We just got all the "crap" in the mail about the costs of her cap and gown and miscellaneous "stuff!"

We just cancelled a trip to DC for Easter weekend and I am so sad that there will be no WDW trip for the foreseeable future

 

[DizneeCM]

Hi MrsPete, Sorry I don't know how to quote your reply, but as far as looking into buying a tux, that's a good suggestion - I guess I didn't think about that last year. As far as the price goes, one of my friends bought her son a tux because he had two proms to go to last year - she said it worked out better than renting twice.

A dark suit sounds like something to consider too.

 

[tiggrsbride]

DS asked a girl to the prom from another school last year...

Tickets for 2 (included dinner): $100
Tux: $100 (he got a discount for "modeling" at a prom fashion show/fundraiser)
Limo: $60-she insisted on paying her portion
Flowers: $20
Pictures: $35-they shared the package, he paid for it

Yikes! $315! They had an absolute blast and it was worth each and every penny!

He is now a senior and has a girlfriend so the same expenses will be repeated. Girls have is far worse, IMHO. They have to pony up for a dress, shoes, hairstyling and some do nails and makeup.

 

[ilovejack02]

I would look into buying a tux esp if he is going to go to college and join a fraternity . My BIL bought his and got to wear it for at least two years till he grew out of it due to all the junk food he ate while away at school lol.
He had many functions to attend since he was dating a girl in a sorority .

 

[MrsPete]

Girls have is far worse, IMHO. They have to pony up for a dress, shoes, hairstyling and some do nails and makeup.

I don't know. Practical girls can find dresses at consignment shops for very good prices -- or they can borrow from their out-of-town cousins! Shoes aren't too hard to borrow (and most girls of prom-age already have a pair of basic black strappy sandals). The hair, nails, and make-up aren't absolute necessities; they CAN get together with friends and do these on the cheap.

But guys' expenses are more set in stone.

 

[windycitymom]

I don't know. Practical girls can find dresses at consignment shops for very good prices -- or they can borrow from their out-of-town cousins! Shoes aren't too hard to borrow (and most girls of prom-age already have a pair of basic black strappy sandals). The hair, nails, and make-up aren't absolute necessities; they CAN get together with friends and do these on the cheap.

But guys' expenses are more set in stone.

I have all boys, but I was one of those practical girls. I went to a thrift store and bought my dress for jr. prom for $15. I don't remember girls getting their hair and nails done either (back in the late 70s). For my senior prom, I borrowed a dress from a girlfriend (No one remembered that she wore it the year before). So yes...once a thrify person, always a thrify person

 

[3boymthr]

We're not at prom yet - but 8th grade formal - so this thread intrigued me. For those who quoted the cost to rent a tux did that cost include the shoes? DH just bought the shoes for a wedding he was in and they were $100. Since he won't wear them much - I'm crossing my fingers that oldest DS's feet will stop growing between now and then and he will be able to wear them. But any way just curious about the shoe rental.

 

[Belle2667]

Renting a tux is way more expensive than I thought it would be!

My DS18 went to 2 proms and his tux rentals were around $150 each, but included everything, even socks.

Last year when DS25 got married, his tux (at another location) was $125. Shoes included, no socks.

If I was sure my son was done growing, I would have considered buying him a tux, but he's still growing. Even having a younger son to hand it down to wouldn't work since they have very different proportions.

 

[Atotty]

Wow....ours is much more than others who have posted and we do *not* live in an affluent area.

All prices for 2...

Tickets $150 (no dinner)
Dinner $120 (group dinner at local wedding chapel/reception place planned separately not through school)
Party Bus to go from school/dinner/prom and back $180 (planned separately not through school)

I'm the girl's mom. I've offered to pay part of the cost, but was told no. I feel really bad.

DD is renting a dress for $175. We still have to buy shoes and get hair/makeup done and buy a boutiniere.