Prom: Despite some cuts, students still going all out for big dance

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. - During these trying economic times, some prom-goers are saving money by taking mom or dad's car to the big dance. Sharing the limo is also in. So is splitting the dinner bill.

But, OMG, skimp on the dress? Never!

"My dress was $220, which I wasn't planning to spend in the beginning," gushed Stone Bridge High School senior Erika Cuevas. "But I loved the dress!"

With Loudoun in the midst of prom season, students are making tough decisions on how to cut prom costs as gas and food prices continue to climb skyward.

Despite the nation's economic downturn, a recent survey by Your Prom magazine showed that its readers plan to spend an average of $1,000 a couple for prom this year, with boys slightly outspending girls.

To help students with prom expenses, Loudoun schools spokesman Wayde Byard said some area nonprofits are selling "slightly used" dresses, while schools are holding fundraisers to keep ticket prices moderately low. Tickets in Loudoun run about $50.

As for the students themselves, "Lots are going to prom in groups to save money," Byard said.

Dominion High School senior Andrew Livingstone, 18, said he knows of students at his school who are actively lobbying classmates to go in together on limos and dinner to reduce costs for Dominion's June 7 dance.

For him? "I plan to get a summer job and make up the money over summer," he said.

Kevin Burke, 18, estimates he spent $225 to attend Heritage High School's prom May 3. His largest expense was the $150 he spent on renting a tuxedo.

"But I know some people who went for the $80 to $90 tuxes to save money," he said.

To curtail his spending, Burke said he passed up on a limo and instead "carpooled" to the event with friends. His group also hired a caterer to supply food for a pre-prom dinner. His portion was $25.

"I wanted to go all out and do more stuff, but I didn't want to spend a ridiculous amount," he said. "I want to save some money for college."

When Pamela Smith started teaching at Park View High School nearly three decades ago, she said, prom tickets were $8. Limos were not the must-haves they are today. And dress prices had not yet reached triple digits.

But now, "the cost of some of these dresses blows me away," said Smith, who has helped organized 14 proms while at Park View.

To save money, she also said many of her students are going to prom in groups. What's more, some are making their own dresses.

"You're also assured no one else will be wearing that same dress," she said.

From ticket, manicure and makeup to a limo ride, Stone Bridge's Cuevas, 17, estimates she dropped $400 to attend Broad Run High School's prom at the Reston Sheraton on May 10. Because she was out of town, she did not attend her school's prom on May 17.

After the dress, renting a limo was her next largest expense. But going with a group of 10, she said, her part of the bill was only $63. When limos average $100 an hour, that's a welcome savings, especially for someone still waiting on a high school diploma.

"I think that spending the money was worth it," Cuevas said. "The whole experience is so much fun -- planning and everything. It's an experience I'll never forget."

Contact the reporter at jjacks@timespapers.com

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