The prom discussions

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Registered: 02-14-2000
The prom discussions
32
Mon, 04-30-2007 - 3:37pm

made me wonder about the differences in prices around the country.

Pam
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Registered: 10-16-1999
Tue, 05-01-2007 - 7:47am
As I said, I'm happy with the low key approach to prom here - most of the parents here make under $50,000/year for the family, and a single parent making under $20,000 is the norm per the latest census data (only got that piece of info coz of some research I'm doing at work), so spending $1000 on one night for the kids is really out of people's reach. In the social scheme here, we're "upper middle class" and it would be a real stretch for us too. Most of the kids seem to be happy with what their parents are able to provide - until they go away to college and are exposed to kids from more affluant areas. My DIL definitely falls into that category... she was always happy with the life her parents provided until she got a free ride to a college where the tuition is $20,000 a year.
Rose
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Registered: 11-28-2000
Thu, 05-03-2007 - 11:11am

Prom tickets at my daughter's high school are $100 per couple. They include dinner and DJ. It's being held at our museum which is a cool idea according to dd.

Her boyfriend's tux was $140 which sounds about the same as my husband's for a wedding he stood up in.

Now for the dress.... You could probably find one for $200 or so, but my daughter and I fell in love with one for $395! Well she had a rough Fall during her break-up with bf and now they are back together so I caved in and bought it for her. (what can I say, she's an only child)

We live in Milwaukee, WI.

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Registered: 07-19-2003
Thu, 05-03-2007 - 11:30am

I live just north of Toronto in Canada. Prom tickets at my dd's school are $65. They also have a semi-formal that is attended in 11th grade which costs maybe around $50.

A $65 ticket gets them a formal sit-down meal at a banquet hall with 3 courses plus dessert and drinks. They will also have a DJ, rather than a band, at the event. Its a formal affair.

A dress, depending on how formal you want to go, can range anywhere from $100 to $400 and I'm sure some have spent more. My dd is a petite girl, being a dancer, and she's easy to buy for so her dresses are always on the lower end of this range. Shoes might be another $80 (or more again depending on how much to spend) and then there will be a trip to the hairdresser that might run $50 or so if she wanted an up-do.

Of course though prom often means arranging for a limousine. A limo for a few hours runs perhaps $160? But typically a few girls will get together and split the cost.

All in all it could be an expensive night running about $500 if you don't go nuts on the dress...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
Thu, 05-03-2007 - 11:37am

I'm a bit late on this one, because DD is a sophomore and not going to Prom. I figured that since everything this school does seems to be over-the-top, prom would be too.

When I just checked the school website, I was pleasantly surprised that the bids for prom are only $40 per couple. That's half the cost of winter formal and students can go solo at prom, whereas wf was couples only.

But the $40 doesn't include anything at all ... just admittance to the event, which I imagine is off campus, but the website doesn't indicate where. WF was at the House of Blues in downtown San Diego and I would venture to guess that prom is at a venue just as unique.

Again, venturing a guess that the entire night will be an enormous expense for those attending ... expensive dresses, limos, dinners, etc.

 

 

 

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Registered: 08-17-2005
Sat, 05-05-2007 - 3:48pm

Like everything else in San Diego, prom tickets are expensive too. For couple the ticket price ranges from $50- $75 and that does not include dinner. It is at the Aerospace Museum, which is better than a hotel, even though Reagan thinks that it is a little lame. The ticlets are one of the cheaper things of the night.

Stephanie

Avatar for soccermom03
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Registered: 03-27-2003
Sat, 05-05-2007 - 8:24pm

I think we win the prize- senior prom tickets at DS18's school are $10 per person, obviously not including a dinner. No clue about dress prices or tux rental (though we need to move on the tux as the prom is in two weeks). DS will spend around $60-75 on a nice dinner, another $40 or so on flowers. He hasn't mentioned a limo, and I'm sure they won't do that unless someone asks them to come along and share expenses. His GF is flying up from AR that morning (her graduation is the night before) and will wear the same dress that she wore to her own prom last weekend, where she went stag with a group of girlfriends. DS had a track meet and didn't fly down for it.

I also like a little lower key approach to prom- it is just a dance, and one of many that my high schooler has/will attend. He blew off the junior prom last year- just wasn't interested. I think the whole "last bash together" thing has hit home with him this year though, he knows this is one of the last times he will spend an evening out with many of these kids since he is going so far away for college. Besides, prom day is also his best buddy's 18th birthday, so they are really celebrating in style, LOL.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2006
Sun, 05-06-2007 - 11:58am

What part of San Diego are you in? We're in East County but DD attends a private high school in more towards North County.

DH's employer held it's annual Christmas fling at the Aerospace Museum this past December and it was freezing inside!

 

 

 

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Registered: 10-25-2006
Mon, 05-07-2007 - 1:16am

Ahhh...Milwaukee. DH & I went to UW-Milwaukee and lived there for 17 years. We DO miss it, especially Albanese's on Keefe and Kopp's custard. YUM.... We stop at Kopps pretty regularly when we drive up to Manitowoc to see my mom, but our timing rarely works for dinner at Albanese's. I'm now in SW MI (not so nice) and will soon join DH (and other relatives) in VA. Can't wait...there's no one like family!

$400 for a dress..OUCH! Guess that $140 tux rental isn't so bad after after all.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2005
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 12:17am

We live in the Rancho Penasquitos area. My kids go to a public high school in a great school district. Their prom tickets are expensive, but only my poor son is feeling the burden.

Stephanie

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Registered: 09-13-2006
Tue, 05-08-2007 - 1:52am

We live in the Suburbs of Chicago.
Prom tickets $200 per couple - includes appetizers and soft drinks only.
Limo $150 per couple (the prom is held in downtown Chicago we live 45 minutes outside of Chicago. Almost all kids go in groups in a limo)
Tux $190 (which included the purchase of an optional $40 hat)
Dinner after prom $50 per couple
Dresses (although I'm not sure exactly because I have a son... $300 and up)
Weekend after activities about $100 per person
Girls flowers $55

Whew!!!! Only Seniors and juniors attend... but can ask a guest from any class. My son only attended Prom as a senior.