Makeup sits scattered across the bathroom countertop, with assortments of gold and silver spilling from an open jewelry box. Boys stand in the mirror adjusting bow ties and cufflinks, with black shoes polished to shine. Girls squeeze shoulder-to-shoulder, fixing eyelashes, adjusting dresses, and lip-syncing to TikTok audios before the night begins.

Prom is one of the most anticipated nights of the year, but with students spending hundreds—and sometimes thousands—of dollars on just a few hours of celebration, many high schoolers and parents are beginning to question whether all the preparation is worth it.

From spray tans to corsages, the average high school student spends anywhere from $150 to more than $2,000 preparing for Prom. With social media amplifying expectations surrounding appearances and aesthetics, the pressure to create a picture-perfect night has become greater than ever.

Before the build-up even begins, students first have to purchase Prom tickets. At Latin, tickets cost $135 each to help cover the cost of the venue, food, and entertainment for the evening.

“Traditionally, at Latin, the guys are supposed to pay for [their and their date’s] tickets, but I didn’t mind paying for them because I knew the experience would be worth it,” junior Graham Bennett said.

Yet while Prom tickets go on sale in April, for many students, outfit shopping often starts four to six months in advance—or even more—to secure the perfect fit and style.

“I’ve had my dress picked out since eighth grade,” junior Kavina Aggarwal said. “But a lot of my friends bought them in January or February from websites like Revolve or Retrofête.”

While many girls shop from high-end online retailers—like Retrofête, where most dresses cost over $500—others find creative ways to spend less money.

Senior Autumn Mendoza, for example, used her artistic talents to design and sew her own Prom dress.

“I looked on Pinterest for Prom dresses and combined all the things I liked into one dress,” Autumn said. I don't think I spent more than $60 on the dress, and I started the dress two weeks before [Prom].”

After finding a dress, many girls rush to send a photo of the dress to the @latinpromdress2026 Instagram account, followed by more than 100 Latin juniors and seniors. The account helps girls keep track of popular Prom trends and coordinate their looks before the dance.

Senior Sahana Aggarwal, who runs the account, said, “I think it helps girls choose what dress they want to wear by looking at ones that other people have picked out and helps them not buy the same dress as someone else.”

Sahana said she decided to run the account because she was “super interested in fashion and interested to see what dresses people were wearing.”

Although girls often spend months searching for and sharing the perfect dress, boys usually focus on finding a suit or tuxedo that balances style and affordability.

“I rented my suit from a store called The Black Tux for about $250,” junior Julian Heller said. “I mean, it was definitely expensive, but a lot cheaper than buying one that I was only going to use for this occasion.”

After they select outfits, students turn to purchasing a corsage and boutonniere. They usually visit a flower shop to purchase arrangements that match the color and style of their date’s outfit.

“The most popular flowers are classic white roses or greenery like eucalyptus,” Sarah Garner, an employee at Bunches flower shop, said. “I think the number one color of the last few years has been navy blue.”

Traditionally, the girl purchases the boutonniere and the boy buys the corsage, though many couples choose to split or combine the cost. Junior Naomi Herman said, “I bought the corsage and boutonniere because I wanted them to match, but my date bought the tickets.”

Naomi was still deciding between two dresses, so she bought flowers for each.

According to Ms. Garner, the starting price for wrist corsages is $45, with simple boutonnieres at $20.

“Specialty flowers such as renunculus or orchids, or if you want anything special—like gems or metallics or something nicer—it's closer to $60,” she said.

But Prom preparation and spending extends beyond clothing and flowers. In the weeks leading up to the dance, some students adjust their workout routines, beauty regimens, and self-care habits in preparation for photos and events surrounding Prom weekend.

“I went to Solidcore every day for the week leading up to Prom, and it's a 50-minute workout Pilates class,” Naomi said.

While some students attended scheduled workout classes, which cost around $35 per class, others took advantage of the warmer weather and incorporated exercise into their daily routines.

“I did go to Solidcore the day before, but other than that, I was doing the [exercise] bike at my house or walking outside,” senior Lauren Hanover said.

In addition to workouts, as Prom approaches, beauty appointments fill students’ schedules. One of the most common pre-Prom appointments is a spray tan.

“I went to Glamour Girl in the Gold Coast Thursday night, and I ran into a bunch of Latin people there,” junior Charlotte Flandina said. “The spray tan itself was $60 plus a 25% tip.”

Spray tans typically cost between $45 and $70 before tax, though many stores lower their prices for Prom to accommodate the increase in clients.

“We usually get a lot of high school students coming in before Prom, especially for our spray tan option,” L.A. Tan employee Dana Rafati said. “We offer a discount for students 21 and younger, so it’s $25 for a spray tan.”

Nail appointments are another common expense. At a popular nail salon in Chicago, Midcity Nails, a classic manicure costs $25, a pedicure is $30, and a full acrylic set costs $60 at a minimum.

“For Prom specifically, I see a lot of girls get really long nails,” Midcity employee Raven Deeter said. “Some people get more intricate designs, while others get more of a solid color with chrome.”

While the week before Prom is packed with appointments and preparations, the day of Prom is when everything comes together.

Some students, like junior Ariya Desai, chose to do their own makeup and hair for the event.

“I spent hours practicing my makeup and hair a couple of days before Prom,” Ariya said. “My parents wouldn’t let me get my hair done professionally because they thought it would be a waste of money. I also just didn’t have the time with all my school work and sports practices.”

Ariya’s parents aren’t alone in deeming the pre-Prom treatments too expensive.

“When I was growing up, we always did our hair and makeup,” Latin parent Felicia Di Silvestro said. “I don’t see why kids nowadays feel the need to spend extra money when they could do it at home.”

Ms. Di Silverstro’s qualms come with numerical backing. Professional makeup appointments can range anywhere from $100 to $400, while hair salons such as Blowout Junkie charge around $60 for a blowout.

However, some students are able to save money through family connections.

“My mom owns Blowout Junkie, so I got my hair and makeup done for free,” senior Jacqueline Stojka said.

Considering the combined costs of dresses, suits, workout classes, beauty appointments, and accessories, Prom has become an increasingly expensive tradition. According to a 2015 Visa survey, the average high school student spends $919 on Prom preparations.

These high costs stem not only from changing behaviors, but rising prices.

“I can definitely see the cost of Prom increasing over the past couple of years,” Lavery Griffin ‘25 said. “I probably spent more on Prom when I went than the juniors and seniors in the past, but it's also because everything has become more expensive.”

Indeed, as inflation continues to drive prices upwards, Prom prices have risen by 40% since 1998. However, despite the growing expenses surrounding Prom, whether students decide to spend more or less is a personal choice.

“I understand why people spend so much money on Prom, because at the end of the day, we all want to look our best,” Kavina said. “Whether someone spent a lot or chose not to, I thought everyone still looked great.”

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