For many high school seniors, prom is not just a dance, it’s the one night students have been dreaming about for years, a night with a mix of music, friends and memories. But, it doesn’t have to be the night that breaks the bank. Usually, the average cost of prom dresses, tuxedos, tickets and transportations estimates to be hundreds of dollars. However, through a few smart tips and a little bit of creative thinking, prom can be truly a budget friendly magical night.
One of the biggest expenses of prom is formal wear. Instead of immediately running to luxury stores, there are alternatives. Some affordable dress stores could be thrift stores which often carry for barely worn dresses or suits for a friendly price. On the other hand there are other affordable stores, such as windsors, macys, or many online stores, etc. All these stores have dresses that students can find under $200. Dress shoes are often the last thing students worry about, yet they can be quickly added up. For example, students can go to Ross, Macy or other local stores and find shoes under $20-$40.
Traditional, fresh corsage and boutonnieres can cost around $30-$50. Students can be creative and design their own corsage and boutonnieres for under $20-$30 dollars. Some students this year are buying fresh flowers from Aldi which usually cost under $10.99, then, turning into a custom corsage and boutonniere themselves. Ribbons can be found at dollar trees or maybe there might be some in your house.
When it comes to nails and hairs, the cost of beauty appointments can match the price of formal wear. Students are able to buy hair tools for under $50 and DIY on their own or with friends. At Target, Walmart and many other stores there are $10 packs of press on, gel kit and acrylics kit around $20. Youtube and TikTok are one of the go to hair and nails tutorials platforms. A little bit of teamwork and cooperation can be done without paying a massive amount of money.
Prom isn’t all about how much money you spend, it’s about the laughs and making one last high school memory together. Years from now, the cost of dresses will be forgotten, but they won’t forget the music, dance and laughter with their friends.