Prom. It’s not just a dance. It’s the dance. The one that everyone remembers for the rest of their lives. The dress, the date, the music, the food. But the one thing your parents will remember is the price of prom.

For girls, the first thing to come to mind when they hear the word “prom” is “Oh my goodgollygosh! I have to get the perfect dress!” Prom dresses can cost however much you want them to cost. The best way to get the perfectly priced dress is to talk to your parents about a budget and then stick to that budget. The more you pressure your parents into spending, the less they’ll be willing to pay.  (Plus, the less you spend on the dress, the more you can spend on some killer shoes or a glam purse!)

Shopping for dresses can be a little overwhelming. The best way to do it is to do your research before you go. Find pictures of things you like, find pictures of things you don’t like. But when you get there, try on everything you have a picture of. You have a picture of it because something about it stood out to you. Then find what stores in your area carry that designer. A few suggestions are Alfred Angelo Bridals (there’s one in Firewheel!), Whatchamacallit’s in Dallas (this one has a ton of dresses arranged by price) and Terry Costa. (This one arranges dresses by size, so you can find the perfect dress for you!)

If you plan to get your hair, makeup, or nails done professionally, make sure to get your appointment at least two months in advance. Most places will book up really quickly! A good way to save money on beautification is to get a group of your girlfriends together and do each other’s hair and share tools (but not eyeliner or mascara. Ew!)

Limos are expensive, but they’re not the only way to travel to and from prom. You can save yourself and your parents a lot of money by renting a nice car and dressing your father up. Have your dressed up dad drive you and your friends around.

Dinner can go either way. If I had it my way, my prom buddies and I would so be partying it up at Chuck-E-Cheese’s. But most people don’t have my inner child. Talk to your friends in your prom posse about where they like to eat and make a decision as a group. Or you can go out for a one on one dinner with your date, but decide how to fund your food before you go.

Flowers are another thing that can be costly. The guy gets a boutonnière (a little flower that pins to his jacket) and the girl gets a corsage (which can either be pinned to her dress or worn on her wrist with an elastic band). Ask your date what color will go best with what they’re wearing or what their favorite flowers are.  Pick the flowers up either the day of or two days before prom and keep them in the refrigerator (but NOT the freezer!).

Prom tickets can be expensive. Find out how much they will cost for your prom and then talk to your date. Maybe you can pay for dinner if he gets the tickets, or you can split the cost. Keep in mind that your date is in high school and probably doesn’t have an unlimited supply of money.

Prom will be one of the best nights of your life if you don’t have to spend the rest of your life paying it off.