For many families, the cost of basic living expenses can be difficult to manage. Lavish purchases are typically not in the budget, but for students attending prom, that expense is often expected. Prom prices can feel overwhelming for students trying to plan for the dance.
Prom dress prices can range from $100 to $600. These prices do not include if the dress needs to be altered or other expenses such as tickets, hair, makeup and shoes.
As a result, many families feel discouraged when shopping for prom, knowing they may not be able to afford the higher quality or more dazzling dresses.
Senior Emma Volkstorf attended prom last year and plans to attend her senior prom this year.
“Last year, I spent around $500 on my prom dress. It was my junior prom, so I definitely wanted to save the best for senior year,” Volkstorf shared. “This year, I spent around $800 for my senior year prom dress.”
Volkstorf said she and herfamily agreed they were willing to spend more on her senior prom dress to make her senior dress more special. Although Volkstorf’s family decided it was something they could do, for some, it can be hard to spend the same amount.
As prom dresses have become more flashy, prices have increased parallely and the increase in inflation within the industry doesn’t help.
Volkstorf believes that prom can be expensive.
“I honestly think there is a ‘right’ amount to spend on prom. Everyone is different and has their own preferences and budget,” Volkstorf said. “I think what matters most is you finding what you feel comfortable and confident in.”
It is not only the students who feel the effects of rising prom costs. Pleasant Valley’s Social Committee, who is in charge of planning the school dance, and have also seen prices increase.
Decorations and the venue for prom can be expensive, and Social Committee is researching and working to create the best experience for students.
Kathyrn Buchter, an advisor for Social Committee, has worked with students to plan PV’s proms.
“With the prom venue, we are limited in choices due to our large class size. We have researched many venues, but find the River Center can offer us the size of space and the price point that works for PV,” Buchter shared. “Decor is where we will see the most inflation from year to year, but we are already researching and comparing what we are hoping to purchase with our budget.”
The Social Committee uses funds from ticket sales for the dance and leftover money from the homecoming dance to pay for the venue and decorations.
“We do have a budget in mind. Our goal is to always make the ticket cost and the price of Prom hit as equal as possible,” Butcher said.
Both students and prom planners have felt the inflation in prom prices in recent years. Although it can be a fun and a memorable time, for some families it is a stressful period for money. Regardless, all students will look amazing in everything they wear, no matter the price.
