| Your Prom Night is one of the evenings
you will remember for the rest of your life. There are many
things you can do that will make the evening an especially
enjoyable one. Of course everyone's idea of fun is different,
so each of you will have slightly different needs, but there
are some concerns and ideas that are relatively universal.
These are three areas that we have found are asked about most
often: How much will the evening cost? What are some ideas
to make the evening more fun? and What should I do to prepare
for unplanned occurrences? Remember, if you start planning
three to four months in advance, you will best be able maximize
your time and money.
HOW MUCH WILL THE EVENING COST ?
The cost of Prom Night can vary greatly from around $150
to as much as $1500. But you don't have to spend a fortune
to have a good time if you plan ahead and make intelligent
choices. Just be sure that when you decide to spend money
on a particular item the money spent is worth it to you.
It is your money and your night; choose wisely. The following
is a list of items that will probably be part of your evening's
expenses:
TICKET
This will vary from school to school. Some schools still
have their proms in their school gymnasiums, and in these
cases, the cost of the ticket could be as low as $20 per
couple. But most high schools have their Junior-Senior Prom
off-campus at a hotel, country club, or other ballroom facility.
In a few of these cases, the ticket will cost $40-$50 per
couple, but most prom tickets now cost between $100-$175
per couple. In these cases diner is included in the dance
price and your entire evening can be spent with your friends
at the prom itself. If your prom's ticket is in the $100-$175
range, you and your date may want to consider splitting
the cost of the ticket. Most students do. It is just too
expensive for one person to pay for the whole thing.
EVENING GOWN
The style of evening gowns varies tremendously from year
to year, and from school to school. Some years everyone
will wear cocktail-length dresses, and other years long
dresses will be the rage. For many years black was the best
color, while lately pastels have made a comeback. If you
aren't sure what you want, look in magazines and in stores
starting in about February. Give yourself a lot of time
to decide what type of dress you want.
Your first option for getting your
dress would be going to a dressmaker. You would need to
describe what you want, and the two of you can plan the
timing, fabric, and fitting schedule for making your prom
gown. Be warned however, that a dressmaker can be very expensive,
and the dress you have imagined may not be what you end
up with.
The safer way to get a dress for
the evening would be by shopping around. There are many
stores that sell evening gowns. Some even specialize in
them. Try on every dress that you think might work for you.
Dresses usually look very different on you than they do
on the hanger. If you don't try it on, you may eliminate
a dress on the rack that looks great on you--so take your
time.
The amount of money you spend will
be up to you. If you start early, you will probably be able
to find a dress on sale or at an -outlet store. Be a smart
shopper. Maybe even one of your friends will let you borrow
a dress! If that works, you will have saved a lot of money
you could spend on something else for your evening. But
if you do buy a dress, and most girls do, it will probably
be about $75-$250.
BOUTONNEIRE
Customarily girls buy a boutonniere for their dates. Usually
it is a pin-on carnation or rose with baby's breath to be
worn traditionally on the right lapel. You may want to order
this at the same time your date orders your coursage. Some
florists will make a slightly cheaper package deal if you
order the two items together. A boutonniere will cost $5-$15.
PHOTOGRAPHS
There will be a photographer at the prom ready to take posed
couple and group shots. These picture packages can often
run you a lot of money, so get a price list from your Activities
Office at school before that evening so that you will know
how much money you will need to have for this. Most photographers
will take checks with proper ID or credit cards; so if you
have either of these options available to you, it would
be safer for you than carrying a lot of cash. You could
spend anywhere from $50-$175 on pictures. Your parents and
relatives may want copies, so calculate those needs into
your picture order. These photographs will probably be a
keepsake for years to come.
You may also consider taking informal
shots of yourself and friends throughout the evening with
your own camera. These photos may turn out to be your favorite
remembrances from your prom night.
LIMOUSINE
A limousine is a very expensive optional extra for your
prom night. It can be fun for three or four couples to go
together to the prom in a limousine, and some do. Just be
sure that you want to do this and budget accordingly. The
standard cost for a limo for the evening starts around $400.
If you split the cost between eight of you, it might be
something you would like to do. But be sure to check to
see that the limousine service is licensed by the state.
Otherwise, there have been many horror stories about limo
drivers leaving kids, asking for more money the evening
of the prom, or not showing up at all if they get a better
fare. Research the references of the service meticulously.
Don't be sorry the evening of the Prom.
DINNER
If your dance does not provide dinner, or if you just want
to go somewhere to eat before you go to the prom anyway,
there are many choices as to where you can eat. It is often
fun if you go in groups of two to four couples. If your
group is bigger than that, you may have difficulty finding
seating in the restaurant of your choice. Be sure that you
make a reservation at the restaurant ahead of time. You
may want to tell the restaurant at the time you are making
your reservations that you are going to your prom after
eating, and will need to be served in a timely fashion.
Restaurants are usually cooperative if you tell them your
needs. In fact, many will try to help you make it a special
night. Expense here can also vary dramatically. Often each
person pays for his or her own dinner, but again that will
depend on your situation. Just remember that Prom Night
is expensive, and most students try to split the costs as
evenly as possible. Dinner could run anywhere from $10-$25
per person.
HAIR / NAILS / MAKE - UP
Often girls have one or all three of these items done professionally
for Prom Night. It is strictly a matter of personal taste,
and up to you as to which, if any of these, you would like
to have done for you. There are Beauty Salons that will
do all three, or you could schedule appointments at different
places for each service. Again, look in magazines and on
television to get an idea as to what is in style and what
you like. Talk to your friends to see what they are doing,
and then decide that you want to do.
NAILS-If you want your fingernails to look especially nice,
you can have extensions put on, get a french manicure, or
just have a professional manicure done. Again, depending
upon where you live and what you have done to your nails,
the cost will probably be $10-$50.
MAKE-UP-Some girls like to have
a professional do their make-up for the prom. You can go
to a Salon that offers this service. Get an appointment
and be sure that you communicate what you want to look like.
Don't be afraid to tell them to do it again if they mess
up some part of your look. You are paying them and you should
be happy with the result. Most make-up artists charge $20-$50.
You could also go to a make-up counter in a department store.
If you make arrangements in advance, they will often apply
your make up free of charge if you buy some of their products.
It may not be cheaper, but you will have make up to take
home with you to use for the next six months.
From: www.prom-night.com ©1997
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