Prom this year will be held on April 25th at the Minneapolis Event Center in downtown Minneapolis. It will be a whole night affair, including photos, dinner, and the dance. To fund events such as prom, Benilde-St. Margaret’s has increased many of the costs associated with attending, such as parking and admission. The cost of tickets, outfits, and other accessories has many people wondering if a one-night event is worth it for this price.
This year, BSM is charging $120 per student. This is a 20% increase in cost from last year, in which tickets were $100 per student, which was still expensive. This doesn’t count for the fact that many students also bring guests from other schools, which doubles the cost of the ticket to $240. Some students may have to pay for the ticket on their own, or their families might not be able to afford them, making this price a burden.
Outfits for prom are also really expensive. The average cost of a prom dress ranges from $150 to even $800. This is a big expense for students to spend for a single night, especially since no one wears their prom dress after the night is over. Suits are also pretty pricey, but at least you can wear them on multiple occasions. However, some students will choose more affordable options, such as renting or thrifting their outfits for the dance, making the cost less of a burden.
There are also so many other components in addition to tickets and dresses. For example, boutonnieres and corsages can be $30 to $60. Getting nails done in a salon for prom can cost $150. Going to a stylist to get your hair and makeup done can cost hundreds of dollars. All of these factors add up, since according to USA Today, the average teen spends $600 on prom.
However, prom is a memorable experience that many look back on and is an event that young kids look forward to. The idea of getting ready and taking photos is appealing to many students. I know many people will keep their prom dresses and will look at photos to remember the event. Many students remember the fun night spent with friends, which may justify the cost to some people. Nevertheless, the expenses associated with prom aren’t worth it because of the economic burden it places on students.
Although others debate whether the small fortune prom costs are worth it. Especially with the state of economic inflation within the United States, many are trying to decide if dropping hundreds of dollars for one event is necessary. While prom is a memorable experience, spending a large amount of money for that one night is not worth it.