Keeping costs low for prom night

Prom expenses add up quickly. A good estimate is roughly $500 for a couple, if you consider the cost of a moderately-priced gown and tux rental, a nice meal, a traditional limousine, flowers, tickets and pictures.

But if you think you have to spend big bucks to have fun on prom night, think again. A little creativity goes a long way.

The clothes

Tradition: Spend hundreds of dollars on a designer-label dress you'll only wear once.

What you could do instead: Consignment or thrift stores are the easiest places to find gently used designer dresses at a fraction of their original cost. You also could save money -- and stand out in a beaded flapper dress or a 1950s cocktail gown -- shopping at vintage-clothing stores.

Jenna Anderson, a saleswoman at Bygones Vintage Clothing in Richmond's Carytown, said the average price for a gown there is about $85, with some starting as low as $50 and going as high as $200.

There are also groups, such as the Midlothian Junior Woman's Club Cinderella Dreams prom project, that provide donated dresses, shoes and even accessories for girls who otherwise wouldn't have a dress.

After you've found your dress, use your own shoes, or get an inexpensive pair that you'll wear again. Ask friends and relatives if they've got a handbag you can borrow. The same goes for accessories, but if you can't find anyone with a set of pearls, inexpensive costume jewelry often looks just as good as the real thing.

For the guys, some things never change. Most wear rented tuxedos, which range from $60 to $165 at S&K Menswear in Short Pump. The store's general manager, Michael Kascher, said the store has a scratch-off contest going now where kids can win everything from $25 off the rental fees, to a free rental, to a car. He also said 5 percent of every tux rental goes back to the student's school.

Hair, nails and makeup

Tradition: Spend a chunk of cash getting your hair, nails and makeup done at a salon.

What you could do instead: The cheapest way to go, of course, is to do your own hair, nails and makeup, or have friends or relatives help. But check the makeup counters at local department stores, which sometimes offer free makeovers.

If you prefer a salon, ask if they'd be willing to offer discounts for group services for you and your friends.

You also could check with beauty schools, such as the Nail Academy of Virginia, that often offer services at cut-rate prices. Ray Snead, general manager of the Nail Academy, said manicures by his students are $7, pedicures are $16, and nail sets start at $17.

The meal

Tradition: A nice dinner at a restaurant that you normally wouldn't go to except for special occasions.

What you could do instead: The possibilities here are endless. You could skip the restaurant altogether by having dinner at a friend's house and let everyone bring a dish, or have a progressive dinner, where the teens travel around to their friends' homes and have a different course at each stop. If you do go out, order appetizers and split them rather than entrees. And there's no rule about having to eat at a stuffy, high-priced establishment. If you like burgers and fries, go for it.

The pictures

Tradition: Buy the photos taken at the dance.

What you could do instead: If you're into the traditional posed pictures, choose a nice location and have photos taken by friends or family members. Or, for a fun alternative, take a disposable or a digital camera with you and get candid shots of your friends throughout the night.

The flowers

Tradition: Buy corsages and boutonnieres made of roses.

What you could do instead: You could make your own using less-expensive seasonal flowers, a little floral tape and a floral pin. Silk flowers are also an alternative. Or you could save money at the florist by buying less-expensive flowers, like carnations. Strange's Florist, for example, shows corsage prices on its Web site ranging from about $8 to $15.50. Boutonnieres range from about $3 to $5.50.

The ride

Tradition: Shell out money for a limousine for you and your date.

What you could do instead: The more people in your group, the less it'll be per person. Jack Joyce, owner of Down Under Limousines, said the average minimum rental is five to six hours. His limos average between $750 for traditional cars, up to $2,000 for a custom-built, 16-passenger F250 Harley Davidson Edition. Joyce said his packages include soft drinks, and the company participates in the prom pledge, which means there's zero tolerance for drugs or alcohol. Joyce recommends that students and their parents visit a company to see the vehicles, rather than just calling for a price quote. He also recommends checking to make sure the company is licensed and insured.

"The only way to know what you're getting . . . is to go out and look at the vehicle," he said. Over the phone, "you don't know what sort of condition it's in."

Of course, if a limo is out of reach, you could ask your folks to rent a special car for the night.

-- Holly Prestidge