Parents and grads prepare for the hefty price tag that comes with prom

Parents and grads prepare for prom and the hefty price tag that comes with it.

June can be a costly time of year for parents of graduating students.

Retail analyst Bruce Winder says, with inflation over the last five to 10 years, the price of everything related to prom has gone up.

“So, you know, whatever that number is, 20 to 30 per cent (inflation) over the last several years… but there’s another issue at play and it’s the fact that proms have become sort of bigger occasions now,” he told CTV.

Lorelei Burgess works at Oxford Learning Centre in Halifax, N.S., and is also a mother. She works with students from schools across the city.

“We see ticket prices for prom range anywhere from so far I’ve heard $70 all the way up to $125,” she said. “What kids are getting as their prom experience is totally different, but the costs can be quite a bit more than just your ticket price to go to prom.”

Gender also plays a part in the overall cost of prom.

“Vastly different between boys and girls. So, you know, last year my son went to prom. This year my daughter went to prom and they were completely different experiences,” said Burgess. “So, boys get to go buy a suit or rent a suit, they ordered the corsage or a boutonniere and they’re good to go. Their dates usually choose their tie color, their pocket square it’s so easy.”

Burgess says the experience is different when it comes to girls.

“They are shopping for their perfect prom dress. I think they sort of have in mind what they want, but there’s so much to choose from and they have to be careful they don’t get the same one as somebody else who’s also going to the same prom,” she said.

“But then with the girls, there’s not only the cost of the dress, which is insane, but there’s also all the other things that go along with it. So, hair, makeup, nails, shoes, purse, jewelry, it just goes on and on.”

Winder says the costs don’t end there.

“You look at the transportation, it’s not good enough just to borrow mom or dad’s car. You’ve got to rent a limo and you’ve got to have high end flowers, and you’ve got to have Instagram worthy moments, and you’ve got to dress like a Kardashian and dress like a pop star if you’re a man,” he added.

“And the cost, the pressure on cost is significant. So, the whole prom thing can, can easily cost you well over $1,000.”

Sometimes, that’s just the price of the dress.

“We have some simple style dresses that start around $200 and then the other ones, they can range up to $1,000, it just depends on what they’re looking for,” said Mary Burtt, a consultant with Karma Bridal in Dartmouth, N.S.

But there are ways around the price tag.

“We’ve got a really awesome deal, a head-to-toe package for $349 and that comes with absolutely everything that someone would need in a suit or tux for the prom day,” said Burtt. “It’s jacket, pants, dress shirt, vest, shoes, tie pocket square or bow tie… all the works. We do this because we want everyone to be able to find their dream suit or tux, and we want to make it as accessible as possible so that everybody can experience that amazing dress.”

Mother’s Against Drunk Driving (MADD) – Halifax chapter helps students who may be unable to purchase a new gown by doing a dress drive.

“They set it up at a store, and they have donations from bridal shops of prom dresses, but they also take donations from the public as well,” said Burgess.

“I think that’s a really great opportunity because their dresses, I believe, are all $25 and all of the proceeds stay local within the Halifax Regional Municipality.”

Another way to cut costs is to prepare.

“I think that’s definitely challenging for a lot of parents. I really like the idea of a prom budget,” explained Burgess. “If it is your daughter, maybe you’re giving them a certain amount of money that they can spend on prom, and that way it’s up to them how they choose to spend it. If they can find a dress at a reasonable price then they can get the shoes and the purse and the jewelry or whatever else goes along with it that they need. But if not, then they might have to figure out how to top that up sort of thing.”

Winder suggests doing research several months ahead of time to learn how much everything will cost.

“Put it on a spreadsheet and try to do some homework and try to estimate the cost of the event, including everything,” Winder said. “And then you work toward that budget. ‘I’m going to need $1,200 for my prom. How am I going to get it? Well, Mom and dad said they’ll chip in $200. My part time job can get me another $700.’ But the best thing to do is to do some estimates, but probably include, you know, 3 to 5 per cent increase year-over-year for the same things that occurred a year before.”

While it may seem like a lot for one day, Burgess says it is a rite of passage.

“It’s something a lot of kids have looked forward to since they started high school. You know, I think you could ask any one of our junior high students here, you know, what they’re most looking forward to about high school and a lot of them say prom,” she said.

“These are core memory moments,” added Burtt. “They’re always going to remember when they got their prom dress. So, I want to make that experience as special for them as possible and as personal as possible, because I know that it is something that they’re going to think back on for forever.”