The average family plans to spend $900 on prom. Let that sink in for just a little bit.
Prom and other fancy events can be super expensive. Here are 6 ways to save money on prom!
The Dress
That beautiful dress can be the biggest bank breaker, in addition to dinner, flowers (if you choose), mode of transportation, and photos! Your parents may offer to help out, but if you want to foot the bill it can rip your savings to shreds.
The dress is the most important part of prom to a lot of girls. Designer dresses, like Sherri Hill, are very expensive. They can start at $350 and increase from there! A more affordable option is to find a ‘like new’ used dress.
Many sites offer discounted or cheap prom dresses that are just as good as full price designer dresses. Shopping secondhand, like at a high end consignment store, can also save a ton of money.
Apps like Poshmark, where people buy and resell used clothing, are always full of dresses. Check local Facebook groups and social media, where girls will resell their like-new dresses for cheap.
Be wary of ordering from online sites that ship from China, because those might not always look like the beautiful advertisement picture.
If you have a bridesmaid dress lying around you might be able to transform it with stones or alter it to make it prom worthy. Don’t try to adhere specifically to today’s style of prom. If you like a different style, go for what you think is pretty.
Accessories can be super easy to find. Secondhand and consignment stores are great places to find jewelry, and there are always good deals on Etsy, Amazon, and inexpensive stores, like Claire’s and Charming Charlie’s.
The Guys
For the guys, it’s not too hard to achieve prom ready clothing status. If you want a simple tux there are easy rentals and they’re easy to piece together. Try secondhand stores and consignment stores. Now that the weather’s warming up, garage, yard, and estate sales are sprouting up. Any of these can be easy pickups for a one night suit use.
Hair and Make Up
For hair and makeup, things can get tricky. Lots of stores offer makeovers with a purchase or two, or can offer a service to give tips. You can also watch plenty of YouTube videos and practice until you get it right. If one of your friends is handy with a makeup or hair brush, ask them for some help getting ready for the day.
Local beauty schools often offer haircuts and styling for a discounted price done by students. Know that with either, you may not get exactly what you want. The day of a dance I went to, I got my makeup done at a local Sephora and has not happy. I had to redo everything once I got back to my friends’ house.
Here is a quick and easy pictorial for a style that can work on medium to long hair. So many styles can quickly be found on Pinterest, and easily perfected with practice.
This video only uses inexpensive makeup you can get from the drugstore. It works well for warm toned dresses and warm under toned skin.
This is another tutorial that’s a little darker and can be won with any dress as well.
Remember, that you don’t have to go out and buy super expensive makeup for this one occasion just use similar shadows you already have.
If you feel like amping it up, here is a helpful step by step video by CosmoByHaley on applying false eyelashes. It really does take some practice!
Ardell Demi Wispies in style 120 are my favorite lashes. They look super long and not too fake, and are lightweight to wear. They’re durable enough to be reused if you’re careful, too.
Transportation
Transportation can get really costly. Limos, depending on how many people are riding, can be a good option. A limo seating 7 people can total somewhere around $70 an hour, plus tipping the driver. Driving yourself is the most cost efficient solution if you are old enough to drive. Having someone drop you off and pick you up is an affordable option as well.
Food
Where I live, there aren’t very many ‘fancy’ restaurants close enough to the school or prom venue. A positive to driving to prom is being able to go through a drive through or eat in a fast food restaurant in full prom attire. Eating at home is a good option as well.
If you don’t think you should eat a ton to fit into your dress, or you don’t want your date to see you eat, a fun meal with friends is a good idea. Before every school dance, my friends and I will eat a salad or some chicken as a quick, easy, and stress free meal.
Flowers
Flowers can get expensive, especially if prices hike up during prom season. Check out local florists for pricing on corsages. Many greenhouses also make them, or have someone crafty that can.
Don’t go straight for roses, just because they’re a classic. Carnations usually make cheaper boutonnieres and corsages because they can be dyed. If all else fails, get crafty! If someone puts effort into what their date likes it will be appreciated 100x more.
Here is a tutorial on making your own corsage.
Photos
A professional photographer could cost hundreds of dollars. Is it really worth it for one night? Almost every mom I know has a nice camera or can take pictures using their phone. If your parents insist on getting pictures, just smile and relax. Of course this will be much easier to do if you haven’t spent your life savings on a photographer!
These are the main areas where you can make a dent in your prom budget. There are probably more ways to save money on prom but this will get you off to a great start!
It really doesn’t matter how expensive your dress is or if you smudge your make-up a little at some point in the evening. None of those things will affect a great night unless you choose to let them. Remember to have fun, save some money, enjoy your friends, and dance the night away no matter what!
You touched on so many great ways to save money this prom season! Going to one prom is expensive, but some girls and guys might even go to two proms in just one month! If you aren’t great with hair and makeup, paying your best friend or sisters best friend is a cheap alternative too!
I didn’t even think about people who go to more than one. Even more reasons to try and save as much as possible!
These are such great ideas to save money on prom! Thank you for putting the time in to write this. Because prom is coming up for me, it is really nice to see that there are very cost effective ways to still have a good night. It is honestly so much less stressful when you don’t have to worry about money.
I couldn’t agree more. Life is hard enough without spending money you don’t have!
I love the app you suggested. I actually have my prom coming up pretty soon and I can’t afford a fancy dress that my heart desires. I downloaded Poshmark and looked at the prom dresses and I found a couple really nice dresses that I might just purchase. Thank you so much for all these amazing tips.
I would love to hear how you like them if you decide to place an order!
this was a very well thought and well structured blog post!! you are one of the best bloggers I have seen in a while!! Its a very smart one too!
Keep it up!!
Thanks so much Esther. Lexi is a great writer and I’m so glad she’s a part of the TeensGotCents team! 🙂
Hi Eva,
How about renting a prom dress? Have you ever thought at this?
Good point! Just be careful because sometimes you can buy a dress for about the same as it would cost to rent. Thanks for coming by! 🙂
So my prom is coming up on March 2nd. I’m very excited as it is my first and last prom! I am saving money these ways:
1. I bought 4 dresses off of amazon to try. I plan on only keeping one but wanted to have some options! My dress is also doubling for a black tie event on a cruise I am taking with my family this summer so I needed to go with more an evening dress then prom. Anyway I got my dress of of Amazon, and they range from $60-$90, granted I got four but will be getting my money back on 3 of the four. I love all the ones I got and they are all well made and beautiful! So don’t ignore amazon as an option! Plus if you have prime (or if a family member does) you get free shipping and returns!
2. Hair and makeup: So I am not going to a professional for my hair, I plan on either having my mom or a friend curl it and then I am going with a simple braided headband. No cost! For makeup, well I usaly dont wear it, but I already have some eye makeup and basic foundation and highlighter so I plan on doing it myself. Again, since i already have the supplise it is no cost!
3. Dinner: So for my prom the ticket included a 3 course meal! So that was taken care of! I belive the ticket was $50.
4. Nails: This is something I am debating spending money on. I love getting my nails done and go to a local bar, spend about 2.5 hours there. You get a really nice massage and the whole thing for 35$, but if I wear closed toed shoes I will not get this.
5. Pictures: This is easy. I already have a nice camera and actually had a friend offer to take my picture along with the group I am going with.
6. Travel: My group is car pooling with one of the guys. He offered and so this is a no cost thing as well! Hurray!
7. Flowers: I am not going with a date and don’t plan on getting them!
All together I am spending less then $120, which is pretty good for prom. I forgot to add shoes but I found some I like for 20$ that I can also where to other fancy things. Thanks for reading! -Hope
Amazing job Hope! To spend less than $120 on everything is awesome! Hope you have an amazing time! 🙂
These are great suggestions! Love your ideas!