We hosted 32 kids for the prom dinner, in order to save money after the expensive party bus and prom ticket expense. Pasta (3 kinds) and salad with bread is cheap and everyone likes it (take-out from an local Italian restaurant). I added mini Perrier waters and Martinelli's carbonated apple juice with plastic champagne glasses to make it elegant, and rented matching place settings. Also, I darkened the room and lit it with about 70 candles. The total came to $14 per couple. At these events, the girls eat next to nothing, I guess because they are self-conscious and trying to look "feminine" (??? Maybe their dresses are already too tight???
) I did this too, way back when, but I don't remember exactly why.