Saving Money on Prom

Prom night is one of the most memorable occasions in any teenager's life. It is only natural that one would want to go all-out and experience the moment no holds barred. But the unfortunate truth is: prom can be pretty expensive. Between a dress, transportation arrangements, a nice meal out, flowers, gifts, an after-prom hotel stay, etc, prom can easily transform from a high school moment to be cherished into a wallet-draining headache.
The great news is, prom doesn't have to be expensive. Consider some of the following tips for saving money on prom:
1. Rent a dress or make your own dress. The easiest way for a girl to save money on prom is to cut some corners with regards to the dress. Most prom dresses cost several hundred dollars at a minimum. This is quite simply a ridiculous amount of money to spend on a dress that will be worn for no more than 12 hours. Consider renting a dress. You get the same great dress for a fraction of the cost as long as you're willing to concede to not getting the chance to wear it again, which girls who buy their prom dress never do anyway. If you're really creative, make your own dress. That makes for a great conversation starter.
2. Make your own dinner. Customarily, prom entails some trip out to a fancy restaurant for an expensive meal. It's stuffy and it costs a lot. Why not do something more fun and less expensive? Get together with a couple of other couples and make your own prom dinner. Each person can be assigned a task. Spend a few weeks creating a menu and make the experience something that everyone takes part in.
3. Let Mom and Dad chauffeur. The idea of arriving to prom in a limo sounds great, but the sad truth is that no one is going to notice or care. Limos cost an arm and a leg, even if just rented for one hour. And at the end of the day, all the limo does for you is give you a short ride to the prom facility. Why pay so much for that? I'm sure if you asked, your parent or guardian would be happy to drop you off while you and your date enjoyed each other's company in the backseat.
4. Throw an after-prom party at a house. After-prom parties can either be incredibly cheap or incredibly expensive. See if your parents or one of your friends' parents may be interested in opening up their home for your very own after-prom party. I'm sure they'll be receptive to the idea of saving money but also being available in the event that their assistance is needed. And despite what you may think, your parents were kids once too. They'll understand your need for plenty of personal space without your having to ask.
If you follow these steps, you'll almost certainly have as enjoyable and memorable of a prom as anything you could have done for ten times the expense.