And she doesn’t mean just shoes and jewelry. There are makeup and nails to coordinate, and the guys aren’t exempt as the tuxedos are usually color- coordinated with the dress.
With prom season under way in the Miami Valley, the dress is just one of the many components of the big night.
Here, we take a closer look at all of the many costs associated with planning the perfect night so teens (and parents) know what they’ll be in for at the end of the magical weekend.
What to wear
Shop till you drop: When it comes to finding the perfect prom dress, some parents spare no expense. Lisa Keys took her daughter, Peyton, to Chicago to shop for a dress.
“She wanted something no one else would have,” Keys said.
Peyton tried on more than a dozen dresses before deciding on her strapless blue gown.
“It was the first one she tried on, but she tried on the others just to be sure,” the Harrison Twp. mom said.
The dress is rarely a last-minute consideration.
“We start selling prom dresses as early as Valentine’s Day,” Price Stores President Edd Wimsatt said. “And if there are 20 dresses in their size, they will try on all 20.”
Carroll senior Maria Sparaco had her sights set on her prom dress for almost a year.
“I saw it over the summer and tried it on and my mom bought it for me for Christmas,” Sparaco said of her coveted red gown.
There are almost as many shops and price points as there are prom-bound girls. From Macy’s to Pure Prom & Pageant and Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th to Kohl’s, prom dresses are available in a rainbow of colors and fabrics — with ruffles and sparkles aplenty from $50 to $500 or more.
Then, of course, it’s time to accessorize with shoes and jewelry and possibly a purse. And don’t forget alterations for some dresses.
Quick and painless: While the girls may try on a dozen dresses or more, tuxedo selection may take little more than trying on a jacket or two and getting some quick measurements taken. But in the spirit of color coordination, there are still decisions to be made.
At Price Stores, for example, there isn’t a standard tuxedo — there are more than 30 different styles and colors ranging from traditional black to ivory, gray, navy, brown and white. Two-button or three-button? How about the lapel?
But the jacket is just the beginning. Herle’s Tuxedo Rental and Sales carries more than 100 colors of vests and ties. And every color and design gets a look every prom season with dresses running the gamut from florals to neon and animal prints to classic colors.
“Matching the vest with the dress is the big thing,” Wimsatt said. “They may come in with the dress, or a swatch of fabric, so they get a good match, because all reds or blues are not the same.”
The cost? A complete tuxedo including shoes and vest runs $79-$119 at Price Stores and $79.95-$109.95 at Herle’s.
Transportation
Of course, the family car is always an option, but if there is any high school event that warrants elegant transportation, it is prom. And the ultimate arrival vehicle is the limousine.
But arriving in class comes at a price. Several local limousine services offer prom packages. Premier Limousine has a five-hour package complete with a red carpet grand entrance and a 10-passenger white limo, which actually fits eight passengers comfortably, for $499 for five hours. The prices go up from there with a 12-passenger limo available for $629.
Emerald Limousine offers similar prom packages with some extras like a personalized souvenir die-cast limousine with the school name on it, and range in price from $700 to $995. But, more importantly to parents, Emerald Limousine has Prom Promise safety guidelines that they adhere to.
High school students cannot rent a limousine without their parent’s help both financially and legally. So careful consideration should be taken to make sure the group of prom passengers will behave in a responsible manner or the parent signing the contract will be responsible for any damage.
If your prom party is larger, a party bus is an option. Buses can fit 16-20 passengers comfortably. And these are no standard airport shuttle buses. Elaborate sound systems, lighting and comfortable seating are standard. Rates are comparable to limousines.
Flowers
No dress or tux would be complete without flowers.
From delicate roses to exotic dyed orchids, corsages are designed to complement the dress and are, more often than not, worn on the wrist. Wristlets can be simple or decked out with pearls or rhinestone accents. Ribbons also help tie the corsage in with the gown. At The Oakwood Florist, wristlets run between $21 and $35 on average. Promgoers bring in their dresses or fabric swatches and, even, jewelry to make sure they get a perfect match.
“We write down every bit of information because we don’t premake anything,” said co-owner Mimi Combs. “Everything is custom-made.”
Much simpler and smaller, boutonnieres for the guys are frequently a single flower wrapped with a ribbon that matches the couple’s prom night apparel. The simple floral piece runs about $9.95 at the Oakwood shop.
Combs suggests ordering flowers a week in advance, but she said her shop and other florists can usually accommodate procrastinating dates.
Finishing touches
A shower, shave and a haircut might suffice for the boys, but prom is glamour time for the girls. Beyond the ball gown, jewelry and shoes, there is also personal primping to be done.
Manicures, pedicures, preprom tanning and, of course, hair and makeup can all be on the prom day to-do list for the girls.
Prom preparation may start in the morning for some girls with hair, nail and makeup appointments spread out throughout the day.
Prices vary for services by salon, but an “event style” starts at $60 at Square One in Dayton and a “signature manicure” is $21. The services are similarly priced at Bellazio Salon and Day Spa in Centerville with occasion hair styling starting at $55 and manicures starting at $23.
How about prep time for the boys?
Chaminade Julienne senior Sam Auricchio had pictures scheduled for 6 p.m. and he started getting ready at 5:40.
“It’s a lot easier for us,” Auricchio said, smiling.
And that’s not all
Prom tickets, dinner, pictures and afterprom expenses are tacked onto the final bill. Restaurant choice plays a large part in the total cost. But from clothes to transportation and flowers to finishing touches, prom is no small expense even before the party-goers step out of the house.
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