How much will you be spending on prom?

[mrsbornkuntry]

We have already bought the dress. Here DSIL is doing her hair and I think she has about earned the cost of her prom ticket doing fundraisers at school. They were planning on a limo and a nice dinner, but nobody is in charge so they may be too late for the limo. If I still had my car I had planned on letting her take that, but since someone decided to hit me head-on and total my car, that plan is gone too!

The class sponsor had planned on having a bbq buffet at prom but the kids vetoed that and last I heard they were doing a dessert buffet. Not sure about after prom yet.

Spring break is week after next and we are going to Charming Charlies for her jewelry and I think she is getting either sparkley vans or toms since she has really big feet that are hard to fit! I think she can wear her bra from last year. She is paying for her tan and if she decides to get a mani and pedi, she will pay for those too. I asked her about flowers and she hasn't decided yet what she wants.

One of the other moms in her group and I are going crazy because we just want them to finish making their plans and stop changing their minds and putting everything off until the last minute. As hard as it is for me not to step in, I am not doing it. I told her at this point she will be driving her 22 year old car and eating at the local drive-inn if they don't firm up some plans soon.

Ugh, last year my DD and her bf hadn't decided where to eat dinner yet on the day of prom. I finally told them where to go, his mom drove them and she (his mom) was being difficult about it. At least this year one of the kids can drive.

Last year I spent $120 on a dress, $20 on shoes, another $30 on jewelry and nail polish. We did her hair and nails at home. $20 I think for his boutineer.

This year will be much less. We spent $36 on her dress, $17 on her shoes. I think we have jewelry already that she can wear, we might need to get her a new bag because last years is black and won't match. We should come in under $100 when it's all done.

Their prom here is pretty much just a dance, no food or after party. It's actually the only dance their school has, no homecoming dance or anything. DD has already told me that she doesn't want to go next year. She didn't really want to go this year (it's her junior year), but her bf wanted to go since he's a senior so she agreed.

 

[minnierocks]

We paid $200 for her dress and she is wearing her shoes from last year's prom. She is a senior and has plenty of accessories from previous dances, but if she wants something new, then she will buy it (she works). We will pay for her hair, which runs $40. Her date will be paying for her ticket, which includes dinner. That's it...around here almost everyone drives, so no limo expense.

 

[cats mom]

I have a question. I have seen many times people post their children go out to eat before the prom. Here dinner is part of the prom, dinner and dancing. Then there is an after prom party back at the high school till 6 am. So what does your prom consist of?

I don't think prom details for this year have even been announced, there's nothing on the web store yet, and it won't be until May.

In the past it's always been dance only though, generally from 8pm - 11:30pm.

I wish our prices were as reasonable as some I've seen posted here. Last year tickets were $65 w/ASB or $70 w/o ASB

DS was a soph last year, but got asked to prom by an older woman.
He paid for:
ticket $65
dinner $75-ish
coursage $45
The only thing he had to buy clothes-wise was a tie to match his date's dress. It was a tricky color, so when I finally found a nice match I paid full price. I kept it under $100, but not by much.

There was some talk of an over the top after party, but we nixed that by offering to host a low key get together here. It cost a bit for dessert, heating the pool & hot tub, and of course lost sleep... but worth it.

I imagine there may be more noise about tuxes, limos. and lavish after parties for future dances, but no way we were doing that for multiple years in a row.

 

[karliebug]

My dd isn't going to prom because we can't afford it. The tickets are $80 each. My hubby has been off work for a month with a brain injury so unfortunately there is no extra money for tickets, gown, hair,etc.

 

[Tom999]

bump

 

[aprilgail2]

There was some talk of an over the top after party, but we nixed that by offering to host a low key get together here. It cost a bit for dessert, heating the pool & hot tub, and of course lost sleep... but worth it.
.

I am DREADING when my daughter is in 12th grade- the after parties are the part you worry about. I know this year 30 kids have rented a house out east and they are all going after the prom out there. One of the stupid parents signed the rental agreement and they are now on the hook as far as the social host law goes- I would NEVER put myself in that spot! In the past the kids have driven a car (filled with beer) out to the rental and left it there while they went to prom- then they all went back after prom and partied. I remember our after prom "party" was we came home from prom, hung out and slept on the beach until dawn and then drove to six flags LOL.

 

[mjkacmom]

Wow- our prom tickets are 125.00 per person. It is basically the same venue as a sit down wedding reception. And almost every kid comes by limo- most split the limos with other couples, some rent the limo party bus where they fit 30+ kids on it. So different from region to region.

Same here - same venues as wedding receptions. And everyone comes in a limo , party bus, stretch Hummer, etc. Dd16 is wearing the same dress to her junior formal as she wore to her xbf's junior formal last year, and she will get another dress for her bf's prom (I told her we would split it). I think she will do her own makeup this year, not sure about hair, mani/pedi's are only $23 here. I guess I will pay for the tickets to the junior prom, and her bf will pay for prom tickets.

She is paying her portion for the house in the Poconos after (Sandy stalled the tradition of going down the shore after prom).

 

[pigletto]

I am DREADING when my daughter is in 12th grade- the after parties are the part you worry about. I know this year 30 kids have rented a house out east and they are all going after the prom out there. One of the stupid parents signed the rental agreement and they are now on the hook as far as the social host law goes- I would NEVER put myself in that spot! In the past the kids have driven a car (filled with beer) out to the rental and left it there while they went to prom- then they all went back after prom and partied. I remember our after prom "party" was we came home from prom, hung out and slept on the beach until dawn and then drove to six flags LOL.

Oh my god. Can you imagine being stupid enough to sign that agreement?! Like you mentioned there is the drinking aspect (both underage and legal age) but that is someones property. Do you think they know the adult who just rented from them is going to let 30 12th graders go and drink there? The whole plan has disaster written all over it

Oh and I forgot my answer lol. Dd is only in 10th grade. We only have senior prom so there's still a few years to go but the night is expensive and it's in the $125 per ticket range and usually held in the ballroom of one of the hotels in a city close by. Limos are standard, and then there is hair, nails, shoes etc. It won't be cheap.

However she went to Christmas semi-formal this year. I sent her with a friend and her family to get a dress and gave her 150 dollars. She came back with 120!!! She fell in love with a little black dress at Macys, it was 70% off, her friends mom put it on her card for another 10% off and they gave her 10% off for being Canadian (incentive for cross border shopping). So she spent $30 on the dress and lunch lol! It was a beautiful dress too! I was stunned.

 

[ManyMinnie]

We have a son, so our cost is significantly lower.

We'll need to purchase new dress pants, dress shirt and matching tie to girlfriends dress (less than $100). Only Juniors and Seniors wear tuxes.

Dinner before Prom, tickets to Prom and a corsage for gf (around $100).

So total of approx $200.

 

[angierae]

Hoping to keep dress under $250
Shoes will be $20-30 from Payless unless she finds a pair that have some re-wear value.
Updo is about $50
Getting her nails done is $15 with tip.
Ticket (single person) is $60.
Dinner is served at prom, and she'll borrow my car.

I'd like to keep it under $400. There are a lot of other things to spend money on. I want her to go, I still have fond memories of my prom. But I don't personally feel a $500 dress is worth it. (Heck, my wedding dress cost less than that.)

 

[Pigeon]

This is dd's first prom. She's a sophomore and her date (not her boyfriend, just a male friend) is a junior. So, I'm not sure yet how much we'll spend.

I've done some preliminary scouting when I was at the mall this weekend and looking online at David's bridal. I'm setting a limit of $200 for a dress as it looks like there are plenty of nice dresses for less than that. The one she liked best (out of the ones I'll allow ) was under $100, but that may change when she tries them on. She may or may not get new shoes, depending on the dress.

All in all, I think we can keep it under $300. She can do her own hair and nails. Actually, she likes those press-on nails that look like a great french manicure. She plays the violin and has to keep her own nails very short. We're not paying for a limo, and we're not going overboard with other things.

 

[pixiewings71]

I am DREADING when my daughter is in 12th grade- the after parties are the part you worry about. I know this year 30 kids have rented a house out east and they are all going after the prom out there. One of the stupid parents signed the rental agreement and they are now on the hook as far as the social host law goes- I would NEVER put myself in that spot! In the past the kids have driven a car (filled with beer) out to the rental and left it there while they went to prom- then they all went back after prom and partied. I remember our after prom "party" was we came home from prom, hung out and slept on the beach until dawn and then drove to six flags LOL.

That's a parent who wants to be a "friend" more than a parent. My biggest rule is home after Prom, too many stupid things happen at parties like this!

I did forget to mention the boutonniere, we will have to get one of those for DD's boyfriend, I'm not sure how much it will cost but can't imagine it will be insanely expensive. I'm actually considering making it myself.

 

[deserrai]

My daughter graduated last year so no prom this year, but this is what i spent the two years she did go:

Dress: $200-250
Hair: $40
Nails: $30
Shoes: $20-30

I think her dates bought dinner and tickets, but I don't remember for sure. I went halves with the parents on prom pictures. I think that was the total expense.

 

[sk!mom]

Wow- our prom tickets are 125.00 per person. It is basically the same venue as a sit down wedding reception. And almost every kid comes by limo- most split the limos with other couples, some rent the limo party bus where they fit 30+ kids on it. So different from region to region.

Ours is also a wedding reception venue. I'm not sure how they do it so inexpensively. Maybe the venue gives them a deal. There is no food. The $30 per couple (last year's price- not sure about this year but should be similar)
covers the venue, music, and decorations.

 

[sk!mom]

My dd isn't going to prom because we can't afford it. The tickets are $80 each. My hubby has been off work for a month with a brain injury so unfortunately there is no extra money for tickets, gown, hair,etc.

I am so sorry! My DH was ill last year so I understand the cutting of all extras. Prayers for your family.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I am really surprised at the transport.

Several of my friends have had kids go through this last few years and the schools would not let kids drive . Transport to the prom was by bus from the school (you can bet how popular that was) or by limo or by a parent driven car. There were no kids allowed to drive themselves. The proms were not at school and the parking lots were "blocked" off to prevent "cheating"

(Of course the only reason I opened this was I thought it said "How much will you be spending on PORN" and I thought that was a strange topic for the DIS )

 

[NotUrsula]

Not a dime. My DS is a shy loner, and he probably won't ever go to a prom.

He did go to homecoming, because most of the kids don't do dates for that. He bought the $20 ticket himself, so that was on him.

Most kids here share limos or party buses if they cannot drive themselves, because having a parent chauffeur a date to the dance is HUGELY humiliating. However, we live in the city, so cabbing it is also an option. (When they do that, most boys get a parent to drop them at the girl's house and then have the cab pick up there; it saves money.)

Our school used to do the wedding-type venue, but they polled the kids and found out they were just fine with having the party in the gym; for them it was all about the fun, not the fancy.

 

[cats mom]

I am really surprised at the transport.

Several of my friends have had kids go through this last few years and the schools would not let kids drive . Transport to the prom was by bus from the school (you can bet how popular that was) or by limo or by a parent driven car. There were no kids allowed to drive themselves. The proms were not at school and the parking lots were "blocked" off to prevent "cheating"

(Of course the only reason I opened this was I thought it said "How much will you be spending on PORN" and I thought that was a strange topic for the DIS )

Grad night activities generally have no personal vehicle rules here, I've never heard of that for prom though.

BTW, our little after party last year was alcohol free. I think most kids were actually quite relieved that they didn't have to deal with those pressures. Of course DS didn't invite kids who were all about drinking and wild partying.

And to tie in the porn comment... the kids who came here were aware that along with no alcohol, no baby making activities was another rule. Again, I think that was a relief for most kids. We did have to break up one lusty little hot tub encounter though. It made me blush, and I'm definitely not prone to that.

 

[mndisneylovinmom]

Original OP here, and I just wanna say thanks for all honest replies. I posted in another thread ( I'm new, and apparently I didn't post the "right" thing on the "right" board about this subject. My but people do get their undies in a bunch about this stuff?
They ripped me apart because we spent about $900 on my daughters prom gown and everything else.
I must defend myself somewhat here though. Where we live people spend up to $600-$700 on a prom dress. We are fortunate, we can afford it. Not that I agree with spending money this way all the time -- whether u can afford it or not.
And, I do feel bad for those parents that the burden of this expense can bring.
Where we live, the kids aren't put down if they don't come to prom in a $600 dress either.
It is what it is. If you have it, you do, if not, that's ok too!
This night is just as much about my daughter and I spending fun, quality time together planning, arranging, and buying for this special night in her life that's do important to her!

 

[powelweb]

I am DREADING when my daughter is in 12th grade- the after parties are the part you worry about. I know this year 30 kids have rented a house out east and they are all going after the prom out there. One of the stupid parents signed the rental agreement and they are now on the hook as far as the social host law goes- I would NEVER put myself in that spot! In the past the kids have driven a car (filled with beer) out to the rental and left it there while they went to prom- then they all went back after prom and partied. I remember our after prom "party" was we came home from prom, hung out and slept on the beach until dawn and then drove to six flags LOL.

That's why our town does the after prom party hosted at the local sports center with prizes and other incentives to get the kids to attend.