Prom expense question...

[La2kw]

Wow! My kids each just spent $110 per person for the prom, but that included transportation (on a bus) and food/drinks. There was no question that they were all paying their own way. My kids paid for their own tickets out of their own funds. I paid for son's suit and half of my daughter's $200 dress. It was a crazy amount of money to spend, but they had the time of their lives.

 

[almburr]

Our junior class has about the same amount of money, but there is no way that would cover our expenses. The place and dinner is around $15,000 not even including decorations, chaperones, favors, the dj, and other odds and ends. We don't want to waste every cent we have because we also have to have money for next year's senior reception and other events, as that is our low cost dance which is only $10 per person. How many people go to your daughter's school?

The High School has around 80 students. the Jr. class has only 2 girls. We are a 1A school.

We have our prom in the 2nd gym, jrs decorate, and parents cook the menu that the jrs choose. They tend to spend half on Prom and the other half on thier sr. trip.
They start fundraising in jr. high, bake sales, magazine sales,pizza sales,and car washes. I swear my purse is always open.

All go to the afterprom too! they have blast at that. I remember getting home at 6am

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I didn't go to my prom, but with 3 DDs I had to peek and I am shocked how much it all costs. YEIKS!

Also, my DH is best man in a wedding this summer. I have been working on a budget because we really don't have the money for this but have been saving for it. I budgeted $100 for the tux and figured that would be over. When we got married about 16 years ago the tuxes were $50 and they were very modern, not old style at all. I guess things have really gone up. Now I want DH to hurry up and got get measured so we know, (he was trying to loose a few pounds, but now I really want to know!!!) Glad I read this so I am better informed and so when we go and hear the tux is way more I won't be shocked!

 

[snoopybabe]

My DD was asked by a "friend" is going as friends and she offered to pay. They have been friends since the 4th grade.

Of course it's our money because like you during the school year - school comes first and I want her to concentrate on her school work. Besides the way things are going she'll probably be working at least 5o years before she gets to retire

From my talking to her & her friends it is very different then 25 years ago where the guy paid for everything. Of course that was the time of dinosaurs and cavemen Hope your son & his friend has a great time.

 

[I Believe In Magic]

My son is taking a friend, but he is paying for the tickets, which were 140.00. His tux was 150.00, and her flower is 30.00 and that was a deal cuz I knew the guy!! SUCH an expensive night, thank God he is paying for it all except the flower, I offered.

 

[illuminationsfanatic]

Just a question since everyone here seems to know about prom. DS is going stag. Is he supposed to wear a buttoniere? (Not sure about the spelling, but I mean a small corsage for a guy.) I didn't think high school guys wore them anymore, but I'm not sure about that.

Where I'm from, all the guys wear buttonieres (sp?) and girls all have corsages no matter if they are going with a date or not. I think it's just tradition. Hope that helps

 

[MDTerrapin]

Did he ask her? Even if she's a friend- if he asked her- he should buy her ticket. Do you have any idea how much a prom dresss costs? (I have three daughters) They can't wear the same dress- and they only wear it one time. I have a whole closet full of prom and homecoming dresses- worn one time. I have been known to slip the date some money when they come over to get their pictures taken. These dances are definitely not cheap- dresses, tuxes, tickets, limos, flowers, dinners etc- But how much are memories worth? Priceless. I just feel sorry for the young people that can't afford to go.- I think it has gotten way too extravegant.

In case you want to get rid of the dresses there are organizations that will take them and make sure they are given to a girl who can't afford a nice prom dress. It is a wonderful thing!

Karen

 

[3mickeymom]

Girls paid for pictures. Worked out pretty even. Everyone contributed individually to the limo. Tux rental was in the 150 range as well. That was their prom special!! I will add that the pictures that the parents took came out much nicer than the pictures the photographer took. My sons and their dates met at a home that offered some photo opportunities -one had a nice porch and staircase, one had beautiful trees and a nece lawn. All the parents followed and took pictures a plenty.

 

[Faith09]

I won't start an arguement regarding that but will say that we want him to put his studies first during the school year. He mows lawns and does odd jobs when the weather is warmer, it works for us, maybe not for everyone, but that's how we do it.

Good for you!! My son stayed back a year due to three surgeries so he want graduate until next year.I tell my son the same thing. I'm blessed to have a good job and education. My son studies and school come first during the school year. During the summer time he will be working.

I would agree pay for her ticket if you're able

 

[DebMcDonald]

Wow! Thanks for all of the quick responses. To answer the most urgent question, no, he does not have a job. I won't start an arguement regarding that but will say that we want him to put his studies first during the school year. He mows lawns and does odd jobs when the weather is warmer, it works for us, maybe not for everyone, but that's how we do it. .

I'm so glad to hear another parent say that because we have been saying that to our daughter all alone, keep up your grades and we'll foot the bills. If she wants a summer job that's one thing, but during the school year it's all about studies and anything she wants to be involved with at school, they are only kids for so long and once you start working, you never really stop.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Okay I must really be stupid, What are the tickets for? Here Proms are free. The Jr. class has all the fundraising, they do it all. Last years Jr. class had over $12,000. The Jr. parents are in charge of the meal.

The only cost the kids have is the clothes, accessories, and pictures.

DD14 is going to prom on Saturday, just decided last week, well we had no dress. Her friend a sr. had an extra dress.


Prom tickets are not the norm around here.

Tickets are to cover the cost of you the catering place/your plate. We have ours the same place you would have a wedding. I think they are around $50-$60 a ticket these days.

 

[CoP Luv]

Ou tickets were expensive too...roughly around$110 per couple and that was 8 years ago. Our HS only had a Sr. prom and then the post-prom was a midnight cruise down in the city and we got home at 6AM. It costs a ton, but it is a wonderful night!

We got married last summer and DH's tuxes were about $160 a person....though that is nothing compared to what girls spend on prom dresses. After alterations, a slip, hair, shoes, jewelry, flowers, and other accessories...it really added up quickly.

 

[allison443]

My dd's senior prom is $140 per person. It is held at a banquet hall/wedding reception place. DD is bringing a friend and is paying for his ticket. Apparently some people are going as friends with another senior, then they each buy their own ticket since it is both of their prom. Her friend is a junior so she is buying his ticket.
Plus limo, dress, flowers, etc.
She is really looking forward to it!

OP for $25 I wouldn't worry about it, since he asked her he should pay.
Hope they have a great time!

 

[DawnM]

I couldn't afford to go either if I had to get a new dress to wear only once for each event.

I just visited a consignment shop last week that had an entire rack full of prom dresses. I think the most expensive one was $20.

Funny side note....my cousin's daughter was a senior and wanted to be in a beauty contest. Her mother (my cousin) was quite against it and told her if she wanted to do it, she would have to pay for all of it, including the dress. She found a THREE DOLLAR dress at the thrift store and WON THE CONTEST!

If you want to go, you find a way!

Dawn

Did he ask her? Even if she's a friend- if he asked her- he should buy her ticket. Do you have any idea how much a prom dresss costs? (I have three daughters) They can't wear the same dress- and they only wear it one time. I have a whole closet full of prom and homecoming dresses- worn one time. I have been known to slip the date some money when they come over to get their pictures taken. These dances are definitely not cheap- dresses, tuxes, tickets, limos, flowers, dinners etc- But how much are memories worth? Priceless. I just feel sorry for the young people that can't afford to go.- I think it has gotten way too extravegant.

 

[daisy2jae]

If he asked her he should pay. Around here if people go as friends they pay for themselves. Are they going to post prom party? Here we also charge for that. Only $10 per person but that is something again that falls into the same thing as above. Last year my husband was in a wedding and he tux was $149.99. A few months before that he was a speaker at a fundraiser for The American Cancer Society (8 yrs and going). He spent $179.99 on that tux. The cost is crazy but I have never seen anything in South Dakota under $119.99.

 

[klacey1]

Both of my proms were $82 each (jr/sr)-- way too much for one person to foot! We each paid for our own ticket/outfits/etc-- but bought the flower for the other person (I bought my date's boutonneire and he bought my corsage).
The only time anyone in my school paid for the other person's ticket was if they invited a freshman/sophomore or person from another school.
$25 or $82, I don't see any reason why you/your son should have to pay.

Also, I never had a job during high school except baby-sitting, so my mom fronted my prom bills. However, we kept costs down fairly well-- jr prom we all traveled in a "luxury van" that cost $15 pp. We found my dress on a clearance rack the July before my May prom-- $30 for a beautiful, Cinderella like ball gown at Macy's! Senior year, we did the Hummer limo, but had 22 people in it, making the cost only $75 pp. We found my dress in the evening gown section of Macy's (not prom!) on sale for only $100-- a beautiful red evening gown that isn't too prom-y that I can definitely wear again to weddings, etc.

So, like everyone else is saying, there's always ways to cut back and still have a great, memory-filled time!

** Also, a great thing my best friend and I did senior prom, instead of paying up to $100 for a professional make up job, after we got our hair done at a salon in the mall, we went to the Clinique counter and they did our make up for free! You can make appointments weeks in advance, and if you go to the Clinique counter, it's absolutely free, with no pressure to buy anything! My make up was one of my favorite parts of my attire-- it was beautiful and fresh and stayed on all night! For FREE!

 

[mmouse1239]

My daughter just informed me that the senior prom (boyfriend is a senior, she's a junior) is costing $85.00 per person. Large class, have to go to Baltimore to accommodate large number. That cost includes meal and transportation to/from on coach busses. I am paying for hers because her boyfriend lives with his mom who can't afford it and dad who can afford it, won't pay for a darn thing. I'm even buying him his senior yearbook because dad is too cheap to buy it. Don't flame me please, but I get so frustrated...great kid, works hard, good grades, going to college....Dad makes in the three figures, but won't give this kid ANYTHING. Okay, we were lucky. Found DD's dress online. Only will cost about 150 w/ateration. Shoes and jewelry another 80. Hair and makeup another $100. Boyfriend rented tux for $125 and flowers will probably be $25 or so. Haven't thought about pictures yet. I guess I'll be paying for those also. All in all, a darn expensive night!

 

[Faith09]

My daughter just informed me that the senior prom (boyfriend is a senior, she's a junior) is costing $85.00 per person. Large class, have to go to Baltimore to accommodate large number. That cost includes meal and transportation to/from on coach busses. I am paying for hers because her boyfriend lives with his mom who can't afford it and dad who can afford it, won't pay for a darn thing. I'm even buying him his senior yearbook because dad is too cheap to buy it. Don't flame me please, but I get so frustrated...great kid, works hard, good grades, going to college....Dad makes in the three figures, but won't give this kid ANYTHING. Okay, we were lucky. Found DD's dress online. Only will cost about 150 w/ateration. Shoes and jewelry another 80. Hair and makeup another $100. Boyfriend rented tux for $125 and flowers will probably be $25 or so. Haven't thought about pictures yet. I guess I'll be paying for those also. All in all, a darn expensive night!

LOL!! I hear you...but the event will be priceless...I still look at my prom picture. hey I was even stood up. Till this day my grandmother still talks about Charles standing me up...It's been 20 years...Charles was too embarass to let me no his mother couldn't afford it. If my grandmother, mother, or aunts knew this they would have paid for his tux as well.

I respect you!!!

 

[marthachick]

DS is going Sat. nite to his prom. He is a junior and asked a girl who is a friend but is a sophomore so he bought her ticket and his own. He's on the prom committee so he got his ticket for like $15 & hers for $25. The earlier you buy, the cheaper the price. His tux is $125, flowers $25, dinner - probably around $60 (because their prom food is refreshments only), pix - who knows how much?, and gas. And they will go bowling afterwards. He worked some to pay for part of it but we're paying for the rest. I didn't go to my prom & later regretted it. Just hope they have fun & everyone is safe.

 

[maraki527]

He Should pay for the tickets