Prom: Does the experience outweigh the costs?

One prom ticket — $35, a dress or tux — $200, beauty and accessories — $50. 

A night full of memories?

Not exactly priceless, but for most area students, the cost is worth it in the end.

Recently, prom committees from four area schools — East Peoria, Morton, Washington and Illinois Valley Central — answered questions about the cost of prom. 

“I have no problem spending money in exchange for a fun time with friends,” said Dylan Henricks, of Morton.

Over in Washington, another student shared a similar view.

“It is something special that you don’t get to experience except in high school,” said Lauren Schmidt, of Washington.

Still, the cost of the night can become quite expensive.

Prom tickets in the area range from the most expensive at $50 each, which includes a served meal, to the cheapest, at $15 each.

And at IVC, where a ticket costs just $35 per couple, there is no dinner.

“The rent on the location was at an affordable price and we don’t serve dinner, but that just means we can splurge in other areas like fancy desserts and decorations,” said Tina Jones, the school’s prom coordinator.

In some cases, the schools’ sophomore and junior classes have fundraisers to lower the cost of next year’s proms.

At Morton, “The ticket price has not changed in at least 10 years,” according to Mary Holmgren, Morton’s prom coordinator.

While the ticket may, or may not, be affordable, there are other factors that weigh into the cost, and they are entirely separate for a male and female student.

The majority of girls’ cost is focused on dresses, accessories, beauty items and keepsakes, which can add up quickly. Of 12 female students from all the schools, the average total of these costs came to $335 per person.

The signature item, a prom dress, can be the biggest prom expense of all.

Girls from IVC, Morton and Washington said they would travel to Bloomington, Naperville and even Chicago to find the “perfect dress.”
The average cost for prom dresses amounted to $160, with several girls spending more than $300.

“There were $400 dresses that I would have liked to buy but didn’t,” said Shannon Mulhern, a junior at EPCHS who spent $220 on her dress.
“Originally, my mom said I could spend $100, but there really isn’t anything out there for that much.”

While appearance empties the wallets of the females attending prom, many males uphold traditional date-night costs.

For instance, the male students were in charge of paying for their tux, ticket, transportation and dinner if it was not served at the event. The average cost of a male’s prom, from the five interviewed students, came to $267 per person.

The costs are recognizably different, yet most of the students interviewed believed that the cost of prom was quite equal, or even believed the boy pays more.

“I feel terrible that guys have to pay so much,” said Candace Preley of Washington. “I’ll be sure to thank him and offer to cover costs of After Midnight and pictures.”

Some of the students believe that it is “tradition for the guys to be in charge of costs,” said Liz Siron of Morton. It can also be said that what is being purchased is a major factor.

“I don’t know if the girls’ cost and guys’ cost evens out,” said Cody Margetis, of East Peoria. “Girls can sell their dresses, but guys are kind of … stuck.”

Whether the male or female part of the couple ends up having the bigger bill, it may not be them who is actually paying for the night. For instance, at an IVC prom committee meeting, six of the eight students admitted that their parents actually pay the costs.

Not every student relies on help from their parents.

“I am paying for my dress and nails and accessories with my own money,” Breana Overly, of Washington, said. “It’s my prom, not my parents.’ I am going to splurge on myself.”

In other cases, parents are simply there to help with the cost. Lauren Farris, of IVC, and Taylor Reinhofer, of Morton, both stated that each of their parents would pay for some of the bigger items, while they would pay the rest of the cost.
While Morgan Ciota from EPCHS could not afford her dress at the time, “I have been working every weekend to pay them back slowly.”

In the end, the majority of students find the costs worth the experience.

For the girls at IVC, they are excited for the event.

“The best part of it all, the thing I am most excited about, is to get dressed up and be able to see everyone else in their dresses and tuxes,” said Cassidy Losey, Rachel Miester, Brianna Keffeler, Liz Norris and Melanie Duvall, who were finishing each others’ sentences in excitement.