So let's get real here. Prom is very expensive, and it can really make a big dent in your wallet. When you look at it you have the 'Promposal', dress, shoes, hair, nails, tux rental, limo/car, dinner, and other random accessories.
At my own prom, I tried to cut costs as much as possible since I wasnted to save my money for other things that I wanted. I hope these tips help those of you who are going to prom.
Prom Dresses
I know for us girls that the dress we wear is a really big deal, but the thing is, you are probably only going to wear it once. And let's be honest, $300+ for just a dress, is a lot of money to spend for one night.
My suggestion would be this:
- Buy a dress used: The person before you only wore it once, and you can get a lot of money off and still wear a beautiful and expensive dress
- Go to boutiques and places they sell prom dresses at after prom season. Chances are you could potentially find a beautiful dress on sale, and nobody would know but you.
- Go to thrift shops and consignment stores. A lot of times people just donate dresses because they can't sell them.
- Check "Buy and sell" groups in your area on sites like Facebook. Girls will be trying to sell their dresses, and usually its 75% off or so of the original price tag.
- Buy a dress that you can wear more than once. Stores like "Pinupgirlclothing.com" and "tatyana.com" have retro reproductions of dresses, and are timeless pieces that are both approproate for prom and other special occassions. They are expensive off hand, but at least you will be getting more than one use out of the dress. And sometimes these dresses have a better fit to them due to being made for different body shapes.
Prom Shoes
For shoes, comfort is key. Wear something comfortable that won't hurt your feet from dancing or walking around for the 'grand march'. A lot of girls take their shoes off while dancing, so if you think you will do this, I wouldn't spend a lot of money on them.
First off, look in your closet. Is there any shoes that are super comfy yet will go with your dress? Or is there a pair you could DIY to fit your dress I mean we've all seen the glitter sole tutorial on youtube, right?
If you can't find any that you would like to wear, check places like Marshals, TJ Maxx, Kohls, Target, Payless, etc. The shoes at these places are very reasonably priced, and should fit your needs. If all fails, silver or black shoes go with everything, and can be easily worn again.
Accessories/Nails/Hair/Makeup
I'll be honest here, this is the place to be cheap. It's the best place to cut costs.
Hair:
Do your hair yourself or have a friend help you! There are a ton of hair tutorials on Youtube and Instagram. Practice your hairstyle the week in advance, and you'll have it down the day you go to prom :)
Nails:
Personally, I never got my nails done for prom. I shopped my nail polish collection and used what I had. You could always buy a nice nailpolish from the drugstore (Essie, OPI, Wet n Wild, and Revlon have really nice polishes). Or you could try those nail strips, which work really well.
Makeup:
When I went to prom, the girls around me had to go to Mac and Sephora to buy the items they wanted for prom AND get their face done for that special day. I'll be honest, sometimes getting your makeup done by a professional doesn't mean it will look professional. Like with hairstyles, there are a lot of tutorials on Youtube. I would suggest practicing different looks all week and finding one you like, and sticking to it. I would also skip on buying new makeup and use what you love, or maybe buying a new lipstick or eyeshadow for fun :)
Accessories:
Again, I would shop your closet first, and ask your mom/close relatives if they have any jewelry you could wear. If you are having a hard time finding jewelry, try a store like Claires. They have reasonably prices jewelry, and it looks amazing. You could also try antique stores, and markets. A lot of vintage jewelry has a great prom look to it, and it is also made better than newer things nowadays.
Prom Dinner
Talk this one over with your date first. My suggestion is to stick to a budget and each of you pay half the bill. Look for coupons online, and see if you can get extra money off or 'free appetizers' if you sign up for their mailing list. It all adds up at the end.
Ride/Limo
If you are going to do something along the lines of a limo, try to find other couples to go with. Not only will you have a lot more fun, but you can also split up the bill.
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