OttawaHerald.com -- Community News. Community Connections.

	Franklin County, Kansas, USA

Subscriber Services Home Delivery Gift Subscription Stop-Start Delivery Missing Paper Back Issues Newsstand Locations Shopper Locations

Advertising Services Manage Your Account Place a Classified Ad Place a Display Ad Advertise Online Business Finder Directory

Other Services Submit News Laminated Items Photos & Keepsakes Article Archives Contact Us History of the Herald Our Policies

Suggest a poll topic

2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Friday, April 03, 2009 11:04 PM

Photo illustration by Elliot J. Sutherland/The Ottawa Herald

Prom can get pricey, but savvy shoppers can keep expenses to a minimum.

Can I afford prom?

‘Sometimes I think people go a bit overboard. It’s just a dance’

By COURTNEY SERVAES, Herald Staff Writer

Angela Bruna doesn’t think you have to spend a lot of money to have fun at prom.

Bruna, a junior at Ottawa High School, said she’d rather enjoy the special occasion than worry about the particulars of prom preparation.

“Sometimes I think people go a bit overboard,” she said. “It’s just a dance.”

The dress

It’s all about finding the right dress, Bruna said.

Even though Bruna’s prom isn’t until April 25, she and a group of her friends already have scoured the malls for the perfect gown to wear.

“It’s mostly just the dress that’s the big deal,” she said. “You can find the other stuff later.”

Bruna purchased her dress from Group USA in Olathe — a store that she said carries a wide variety of dresses.

Group USA dresses range from $99 to more than $200, but Bruna said it really depends on the type of dress a person wants.

If a local student can’t afford a new prom dress, she can go to the local Goodwill store, which currently has a few prom dresses in stock, or visit East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corp.

Lisa Rivers, volunteer center director, said prom dresses are available for free through the program.

Rivers said she has 75 to 100 dresses ranging in size and styles.

The accessories

Now that Bruna has her dress, she can start shopping for the accessories — a necklace, earrings, clutch purse and shoes.

“I actually haven’t found my shoes and accessories yet,” she said.

Bruna could shop at Claire’s in either Lawrence or Olathe where prom accessories run from $5 to $15 depending on the style and the number of items purchased.

The Ottawa local could opt to purchase something in town as well — though the jewelry might run quite a bit higher. Sutton’s Jewelry, 207 S. Main St., offers pendant necklaces starting at $99.

As for shoes, Payless Shoes offers a selection of formal heels starting at $19.99. For local goods, Brown’s Shoe Fit Co., 218 S. Main St., has an assortment of dress shoes as low as $24.97 that may work well for prom, depending on the dress.

Bruna said her friends often purchase their shoes out of town, though.

The updo

When Bruna got her hair styled for prom last year, she dished out $50.

This time around, she is having someone in her family do it.

“My cousins are going into cosmetology,” she said. “So they want to do my hair and makeup for me.”

Most high school students aren’t so lucky, though.

Salon updos can start at $35 and up, depending on the length of hair and desired style.

Bruna said it’s always smart to make an appointment in advance because salons fill up quickly.

The tux

Ottawa High School junior Eric Messenger rents his prom tuxedo locally.

Messenger goes to Treasures, 204 S. Main St., and said the store offers a variety of styles for him to choose from.

“It’s in town,” he said. “It’s local.”

For $145, Messenger was able to rent everything he needed for prom attire — tie, vest and even shoes.

Judi Fritts, store manager of Treasures, said it’s helpful to rent tuxedos locally.

“They don’t have to drive out of town to get it,” she said. “And they can be sure that they fit.”

Fritts said her store offers some special discounts for prom, and partners with Butler’s Florist, 530 W. 15th St., for deals on tuxes and flowers.

Butler’s also partners with Prairie Rose Collectibles, 202 S. Main St., for prom deals.

The flowers

Messenger likes to order his flowers in advance.

That way, he knows for certain that he’ll get what he wants.

At Butler’s Florist, Messenger could get a three-sweetheart rose corsage for just $14.50.

Of course, Bruna said the flowers aren’t the most important part of prom. She’s not even sure if she’ll buy any for her date.

“Usually everyone abandons them as soon as they get into prom,” she said.

But if Bruna decides to purchase a boutonniere for her date, she could order one with a carnation from Ann’s Flower Shoppe, 116 W. Second St., for less than $10.

The experience

Even though Messenger expects to shell out $250 to $300 this prom season, he said it’s all in good fun.

“If it’s fun and you like what you’re doing, it’s worth it,” he said. “It’s just a good time.”

Messenger and his date probably will travel out of town to eat, but that, too, is part of the experience, he said.

Bruna wouldn’t argue with that logic. She said prom is something she’ll look back on long after high school — expensive or not.

“It’s kind of an exciting thing,” she said. “It’s something fun. I think I’ll remember it.”