Tuxedo rental

Well, the high school Prom is just a few days away! Senior Prom for my oldest and first Prom for my sophomore. I think we’re all ready but I’m guessing I will still be running all over that Saturday morning grabbing a bunch of whatnots we didn’t think of. I keep saying “we” because I’m paying for all of it and as much as I have done to get these girls prepared, I almost feel like it’s my prom too. I just don’t get to get fixed up and go. Which is totally okay, because once the pictures are taken, they promenade down the stage for all to see, and then head off to boogie the night away, I’m gonna go straight home, plop down on the fat couch and kick my feet up!

Now, I know I’ve said it 100 times but having girls is so much more involved! There’s just so many details and worries and expenses. It’s just nuts! I overheard a conversation the other day, about how much a boy’s prom tuxedo rental is this year and how much the prices have jumped up, and I literally rolled my eyes and sighed. Hope they didn’t see me? Anyway, they were commenting on how it was only $130 last year and just couldn’t believe that this year it’d jumped $170. I just stood there thinking to myself, you’re complaining about $40.00! Could I maybe give you an itemized list of what it costs a girl for Prom? Maybe that’ll make you feel better about that “crazy” expensive tux rental.

Let’s see, well, first and foremost, the dress. Unless you’re lucky to borrow or find a good deal on a used, you’ll be buying new which for the average person, or at least in our house could be anywhere from $300 to $650. Yes, that’s dollars. Then we can’t go to Prom without shoes, obviously, and of course, the shoes we have at home don’t match so you can add on a new pair of heels which tacks on another $25-$40 and I would say that’s the cheaper ones. And of course, Prom is all about the bling so we have to find jewelry so there’s another $30-$40 for earrings, necklace, bracelet and a sparkly hairpiece, again from the cheap store. We’re not talking Von Maur here. So just for the outfit alone with shoes and accessories, we’re looking at least $400-$725. Seems like chump change to tuxedo rentals, eh?

THEN ... we have to tan and get our hair put up all fancy and get our nails perfectly manicured and maybe even our makeup done professionally, so add on at least another $100 for all that business. So basically $500-$1000 for one amazing night full of fun and memories of what’s supposed to be the best dance of their lives. So … if anyone wants to trade the expense of a tuxedo, a haircut, a corsage, and maybe a car rental, I would be happy to switch! And get this...I have TWO girls going to Prom this year. Whoo hoo!!! (I’m thinking about taking up a paper route.)

Anyway, when it comes down to it, I love my daughters and I love that they get this opportunity to go to the Prom and have this experience. And...I really love that they got asked to go by two of the sweetest and kindest young men I know. They’re all going to look gorgeous and hopefully have an awesome evening and when it’s all said and done, the expense will be worth it. Just forgive me if I don’t feel sorry for the tux rental costs. I’m actually just jealous!