<p>We are up to $700. Isn’t this crazy!</p>
<p>I have to say, $700 is a ridiculous number.</p>
<p>My daughter’s ticket was $65, and she had to foot the bill for that one 100%. I paid for her dress, which she shopped VERY well for…only $127 on sale and its gorgeous (we returned one purchased as a ‘safety’ that was $190). Her aunt treated her to shoes and a purse, so I saved there. Her hair will be around $60</p>
<p>The limo costs are being split between 11 kids…that’s the most ridiculous cost. Because they pushed over the magic number of 10, they need a bigger (read: $$$$) vehicle. One guy quoted me a price that was nearly $200 per kid for the night…$2000 total! I told him I refused to pay more for the limo than I did for the dress. Found a stretch SUV that will cost each kid $70.</p>
<p>So total cost to me, give or take last minute stuff, $257. Add the prom ticket to that and its $322. If I had to pay for the shoes and the bag, that would probably have pushed the total to $400.</p>
<p>Limo $72, dress $70, shoes $89, ticket $40, nails $25, corsage $25, hair $30. $351.
She is paying for her own dinner (going with a group of kids). Dad is getting the corsage as a surprise.<br>
A few years back the tickets were much more expensive and DS didn’t go. Said it was worth the money given that he wasn’t dating anyone. This year our school opted for a much cheaper venue (sigh of relief here).</p>
<p>My mother would have killed me if I’d done this to her. I pay for prom myself. Yay having a job. o_O</p>
<p>Anybody know if a “party bus” is the same as a limo? Also, what does this cost? D is going with a large group and they are supposedly renting this party bus.</p>
<p>I have (or should I say had) a closet full of prom and bridesmaid dresses that I just donated to a local charity because my daughter did not want to wear them. She decided on a short, green cocktail dress from JCrew, which she says she will wear again to a sorority rush party or an alumni function (but that was $250). Since her dress was short, she needed “killer shoes” so we picked out these beautiful Kate Spade pink high heals which are beautiful, and again she claim she will wear again (but they were $350).</p>
<p>The rest of prom is chicken feed compared to her outfit. I think I am getting bamboozled with all this “I’ll wear it again” talk.</p>
<p>Wow…I hope she appreciates it. I have never owned a pair of shoes that expensive in my life.<br>
A party bus is generally the same as a limo, just bigger. Your D needs to check with the person who rented it and find out what her share would be. Cost is going to be based on number of hours, number of people, distance driving, etc.</p>
<p>How do I say this…</p>
<p>DD insisted paying her own part - prom ticket, dress, etc. Now it is our DS’s turn, he insists on paying for both him and his date. The total cost of prom tickets, shared limos, and after prom tieckets, plus his tux rental is not $700 expensive but close to that.</p>
<p>Since girls typically has to get a dress and have their hair done, I think the boy paying for the prom tickets is a fair deal.</p>
<p>PS: about $350 shoes - WOW. I don’t think I spend that much $ for all my shoes purchased in the last 10 years. If you are in that kind of standard of living, go with the flow.</p>
<p>Wolpackmom,</p>
<p>I am feeling you, those girls can spend some money to get glammed up! D’s had $1000 budget for prom (5 years ago) as a result of my matching what she saved.
Went over budget. Ticket was $125 but the venue was really nice. Ordered a Vera Wang dress ($400 not counting cost for alterations) and a pair of strappy silver Stuart Wietzman shoes (~375). By the time you add in hair, make-up, mani-pedi, etc she was over budget.</p>
<p>I have to say that her shoes did serve her well (she took great care of them and still wears them to date). D sorority held 3 formals a year not including her sophomore summer and the formals the formals that she attended as a date. Yes, there will be a lot more dresses to be purchased (the great thing was the formal dresses were purchased on her dime).</p>
<p>I’ve said this in previous threads on this subject, but I’ll repeat it, just to (re-) make the point that one <em>can</em> have a good time at prom on a reasonable budget.</p>
<p>I went to prom in 2002 (so factor in inflation appropriately). I spent less than $100 total. $60 of that was for a dress, on which I received many compliments. We split a limo with several other couples, and none of us paid much as individuals. We went to Steak & Shake afterward. I borrowed shoes from my mom.</p>
<p>Because it was his prom rather than mine, and he invited me, he bought the tickets, but if I remember correctly they were around $15 or $20 each, so it wouldn’t have added that much had I been the one buying.</p>
<p>My daughters presented me with an interesting proposition. The said they would wear dresses from proms past. In return, they asked that we purchase a dress and shoes appropriate for college functions (a little black dress suitable for departmental dinners and events that could be dressed up for a dance in a pinch). I jumped on it! They will be doing their own hair and nails as they will not return home from a track meet until 6p.m. Not a bad deal. I love when they think this way!</p>
<p>Both my D’s schools were low key regarding prom- ( well kinda)
For oldest- attended a small private prep school with much input from parents.
Kids had dinner as a class ( and their dates) at the Columbia Tower club, but it was a reasonable cost- don’t remember where it was held- but small.</p>
<p>She took a friend she had known since grade school, their limo never showed- but it saved them money ;)</p>
<p>Her dress was on sale ( actually a two piece), had to buy underwear ( strapless bra- which I think cost as much as the dress!)- I budgeted $150 -$200 for every thing, I had never attended prom and she was my first so I was enjoying myself- that left room to get shoes, a spangly bag, gauzy wrap and a tiara & some jewelry.
I did her hair and makeup-.</p>
<p>I budgeted the same for her sister, she found her dress (OMG * finally* :rolleyes: ) at a designer outlet- she and her friends had their makeup and hair done at a beauty school- they hosted a group dinner at a friends house and probably called a cab.</p>
<p>This casual attitude was one of the things that originally attracted her to the school, I think.</p>
<p>Kids were just as likely to wear vintage or homemade outfits as high style and " labels"
( except for the ubiquitous The North Face fleece- required wearing at some point by * every* Seattleite from 8 to 80), are seen as having more money than fashion sense.</p>
<p>We never spend much on strappy dress shoes- they are worn the least- I will spend $150 on a pair of work boots or $200 on riding boots, but dress shoes $30. ( but I do have about 4 pair of Born sandals- well made and comfortable)</p>
<p>Younger D is lucky, she is tallish, & has pretty feet- so didn’t need/want high heels, she doesn’t like them anyway, cause it takes a lot of practice to walk in them let alone run.
She probably wore some sandals from Urban Outfitters.
I hate my feet- which explains my predilection for boots! ;)</p>
<p>Not sure how much tickets were, she paid- she didn’t go with a date, but with a group of friends, which I encouraged- and she said it was more fun cause then you can dance with whomever you want. ( kids nowdays are so smart!)
She has lots of pictures and they all look gorgeous ( I admit I peeked in her room to see them- since she has been on her trip)
I don’t know where this glamourous girl came from.</p>
<p>Wow. All your proms are so expensive. Total expenses for mine are $160
Dress - $60
Ticket - $35
Party Bus - $25
Hair - $40</p>
<p>Dinner is served at prom, I’m doing my own nails, and I have shoes from last year.</p>
<p>Yea, prom is an expensive one. As a guy, I probably spent $300 for each prom. That was about $100 for the tux, $15 for a tie (needed a pink one to match my date’s dress), $100 for the tickets (bought both of ours) and $100 for dinner/limo. Junior year I paid for the limo but we went to a relatively reasonably priced place (~$25 pp) but senior year someone else’s parents bought the limo and we went to Ruth’s Chris. Both proms were at Disney hotels so they were very nice.</p>
<p>Homecoming is much cheaper for guys, I wore the same suit with switched out ties from dad’s closet each year and at most dinner was $20 pp and tickets were I think $30 per couple.</p>
<p>My D is a jr and her school’s prom is a senior prom (unless asked by a senior). So of course my D has a sr boyfriend so she is going. I told her this is not “her” prom and I would not spend a fortune for her to go. She is shopping in some friends closets this weekend to see if any of their formal dresses will work for the prom. Many of her friends go to other schools so if she finds a dress no one will have seen it before.</p>
<p>If she doesn’t find a friends dress that will work we will go shopping next weeked (prom is end of May), but will have a strict budget!</p>
<p>Not sure what the prom will cost this year! No dress yet. Looking for a size 0 to fit a 5’ 8" girl. And did I mention she is a very picky fashion diva? Tickets are $70 per person but that does include dinner at the venue. Limos aren’t the vehicle of choice here…party buses are so the groups get quite large. They will have pictures taken at a private garden that caters to wedding photographers. Mani/pedi will be approximately $100, hair is minimum $75 at all the local hair salons for a “prom style”, then add jewelry, shoes, bag, date’s boutonniere and we are well over $400 without a dress and lingerie!</p>
<p>So far–the dress was $44, which her uncle bought. (It was originally over $200, but you can get great discounts at Lord & Taylor where he bought it). The prom ticket is $40, which I was just hit up for :). We still need to shop for shoes. Hadn’t thought about hair and transportation–thanks for the kick in the head :). Also, there are going to be prom pictures, but she’s getting a discount because she’s on the prom committee. Last year the tickets were more, but my daughter was very aggressive about getting the cost down. She is also on yearbook–and got that down to $35 (it was $65 last year). It bothered her to see some seniors left out because of the high costs. So, she worked at getting the prices down, and they have some funding for kids who still can’t afford the prices. I never went to a prom, so it’s pretty fun to watch her.</p>
<p>“We are up to $700. Isn’t this crazy!”</p>
<p>Since you asked, I have to say, YES! Even if I won the lotto I don’t think I could bring myself to pay $350 for shoes. I just can’t imagine it.</p>
<p>Prom is low key here compared to many places–very, very few use limos. (I think that’s because there is a single limo company here and their prices are outrageous. I’ve called before for a limo to the airport and could not believe how much higher they were than in our previous residence.) I think D’s date will have the family minivan??? Dress–on sale at Lord and Taylor–130ish, shoes–$60; tickets for two=$60 total, young man’s flower–$15, purse-from last year; hair-to be determined; special hair “stuff”=$25, dinner is being hosted by another family–I’ll contribute dessert and some food for the after party–about $30 I guess. When it’s all done, it will cost somewhere in the $300 range. Compared to $700 I feel like this is quite a bargain. </p>
<p>D’s prom is this Saturday. It’s supposed to be sunny and 80 degrees here. I hope so!</p>
<p>Most recent prom: dress - $200, shoes - $60 at Nordstrom, hairdo - $25 at a local Gene Juarez training school, makeup and nails - done by her sister, prom ticket - free (earned by doing a fundraiser for her school), “bling” and makeup - used something that she already had, buttoniere for her date - $10, ride - provided by the date, pictures - $50. Could have gone with a cheaper dress, but that long black gown looked sooo good on her, I closed my eyes and pulled out my Amex… She still has the shoes and the dress and has worn them a couple more times.</p>