On April 22, 2017, Air Academy will be having their yearly prom for its students. The prom theme for this year is still unknown, but what is known is that boys and girls will be struggling to find the perfect look for their first and last prom. Just because a dress is a perfect size, style, and color, does not mean it will be the perfect dress. On average, most prom dresses will cost between $100 and $400, and this is just the dress. The cost of prom as a whole will only increase when nails, hair, makeup, tickets, and dinner are added to the list. Prom is a fun yet expensive night, but there are plenty of ways to have a great prom but still be within a reasonable budget.

Many dresses in stores can be way overpriced. But with buying dresses online, alterations are almost always required and there is the risk of purchasing a dress that comes damaged or is too small. One solution that may sound overly simple is to borrow a friends old prom dress. Because prom dresses are usually only worn by the same person once, borrowing somebody’s can save money and time. Another solution is purchasing a dress through Rent a Runway. This company lends designer gowns for super low prices. After the fun of prom is over, you send the dress back, but hold on to the memories of looking fabulous in your beautiful, yet cheap, gown.

Having a friend do hair, nails, and makeup can be another big money saver. A prom hairstyle done at a salon can cost anywhere from $30 to $75.  Getting nails and makeup done can cost around the same.

Last year, prom was hosted at the Blue Spruce Mountain. Let’s see what Air Academy students have to say about their memories of prom.

Tori Johnson remembers her junior prom as, “Super fun yet tiring. Dancing for hours can really hurt your feet but the memories I have of prom are some of my favorites.” When asked about the cost of her dress, Johnson comments by saying, “My prom dress cost $30 last year. I decided to find a super cheap dress that had the color and fabric I wanted and re-make it to the style I liked. This saved me a lot of money.”

Allyson Stanley recalls spending “$300 on my junior year prom dress. It was a beautiful gown; however, the price was very expensive. I don’t regret buying the dress, I just hope this year I can find one that looks just as good but is cheaper.” Lucky for Allyson and other girls looking for a cheaper solution to prom dress shopping, there are numerous options to lowering the cost of prom.

Prom is a great dance that many students look forward to all year. It is a time to dress up have fun with friends. Don’t let the cost of prom keep you from having a great time. There are plenty of ways to minimize cost and keep a reasonable budget yet still have your dream look.