Great Places to Start for Discount Prom Shopping
A high school prom is one of those events that can create memories that people hold onto for a lifetime. Skimping on some of the elements because of costs or skipping the prom all together because of cost is something that many teens and their families face. To help fight the cost of the prom, here are some creative ideas and discount options so you can have a great prom experience, while putting less of a burden on your wallet.
The All Important Dress
Finding the perfect prom dress can be one of the most exciting parts of prom planning, but it can also be one of the most budget busting parts. One tip that can help teens get an idea of what they can afford is to check out PromGirl. With its shop by price tool, you can easily stay within your budget and avoid tempting higher priced dresses. Each price grouping has an excellent range of styles, fabrics, colors and designers. The website offers a price grouping for budgets under $50 all the way to over $500.
For those who want more of a show-stopping dress, check out eDressME. They offer hundreds of styles and brands with great guarantees that include no additional fees at checkout and free ground shipping for all purchased over $150. This site offers styles that range from vintage trends to cutting edge pre-order couture. The site also provides a helpful planner for necessary undergarments to provide one-stop prom dress shopping. Another great feature of eDressME is the sale section which offers discounts of 30%-90% off from original prices.
If you are the type of shopper that just cannot stand to pay full price- and even the sales price isn’t quite discounted enough for you, try TJ Formal. This site offers a ‘make offer’ option for some selections. No returns or exchanges are permitted in these cases but it might be worth the risk for the right price. The site also offers free ground shipping to most U.S. and Canadian locations, another benefit the savvy prom shopper will appreciate.
Shoes, Shoes and MORE Shoes!
Gone are the days of hunting around through the limited inventories of department stores! With sites like ShoeBuy, shoe shopping is not only CHEAP, but there are way more styles, colors and designers to choose from. The site not only offers free shipping and free sales tax, but also offers free return shipping (if you don't like the shoes). This is a great benefit for any shoe shopper who has hesitated to buy online because they cannot try the shoe or match the color with their dress the same as they would in a traditional store. Plus, save an additional 10% when you enter "SHACK10" in the promotional code box during checkout at ShoeBuy.
Another great shoe site that offers coupons is Shoes.com. As an example, enter "MSAVE" into the promo code box during checkout for a 20% discount. The discount has been tested and verified. Shoes.com already has an excellent prices on a huge selection of shoes, so the promo code just makes it even better.
The Guys Need to Look Good Too
The guys used to have it easy when all he had to do was go rent a generic penguin suit. This was the same look that all the other guys had, but it was never that big of a deal. Now, there are far more expectations. Coordinating vests and ties. Jackets of stylish cuts. Tuxedoes that come in colors other than black. The combinations are endless and, of course, must be just right. For this, I suggest Men's Warehouse, where you can find a great selection of complete tuxedoes to rent or buy. The site is a great guide for shoppers before they head into the retail outlets, including providing a tuxedo building tool. Men’s Warehouse also provides tuxedoes at many price points, beginning as low as $49.99.
Men's Warehouse also offers some great cost savings features if you register to become a prom rep. By signing on to the program and following the guidelines, you can earn a free tux simply by getting your friends to rent from Men’s Wearhouse as well! (tip: sign up for the Men's Warehouse newsletter and you'll receive a coupon code good for 10% off your purchase)
Don’t Forget the Flowers!
Saving money is one thing, but pulling some flowers out of your mom’s garden on the way out the door won’t cut it. If you plan ahead and order your flowers online you can save money and please your date. Check out 1-800-Flowers for a great selection of corsages and bouquets at reasonable prices. Boutenirs in many different styles and colors are also available to help couples select coordinating options. There’s also nothing like FORGETTING the flowers at the last minute, so plan ahead and have the flowers delivered for your special night!
Getting a Cheap Ride
Many teens don’t relish the idea of heading to prom in their own junker or even their parents’ car. Nowadays, it's not cool unless you arrive in a limo. But, sometimes, that's just an expense you have to cut. Here are some tips on transportation:
- Go in on a limo with friends
- Consider an untraditional or quirky rental which might be far cheaper than a Hummer stretch limo such as an old fashioned car, a refurbished chauffeured yellow cab, motorized trolley car or private bus
- Contact a local car club for a chauffeured entrance in a classic
- Get creative and offer to pass out advertisements for the rental company at your school in exchange for a discount.
Finding a great ride to the prom doesn’t have to blow the budget. With a little thought and creativity, couples and even groups of friends can end up being the talk of the party before it even gets started with their unique, yet cheap transportation.
Eating on the Cheap
One of the first budget cuts prom couples consider is their pre-prom meal. Instead of an elegant dinner, many prom goers opt for a cheaper family style restaurant. But with Restaurant.com, you can enjoy a fantastic dinner for a bargain price! As as an example of the savings, Restaurant.com lets you buy a $25.00 gift certificate for just $10.00. Not all restaurants in the area accept these gift certificates, but many do, so it is worth a look for couples heading out for a bite before or event after the big event.
Capturing Memories Without All the Costs
Almost everyone has had the opportunity to laugh at the static and cheesy professional prom picture lying in their parents’ stash of embarrassing moments. Instead of springing for these expensive pics, take your own pictures and share them with your friends. Sites like Snapfish allow you to view and share all your prom pictures from one easy to look at gallery. Then you can combine your pictures for a photobook or keepsake or have Snapfish professionally print it for you. Not only do you get more pictures, but you also get them at a much cheaper price!
Getting Salon Looks WITHOUT the Salon Prices
One of the toughest corners to cut is hair and makeup. A salon appointment can be very, very expensive not to mention difficult to get on prom day. With the website Sally Beauty, the you can find an extensive collection of hair, nail and general beauty supplies that can help you look great on prom night. There are quite a few coupons available for Sally Beauty so be sure to check them out before your purchase.
For prom goers, the night should be about making memories and having fun, NOT about regretting breaking the bank. There are so many more options for saving money and finding creative shopping solutions so teens and their families can enjoy the prom experience without the worry of how to pay for it all. And best of all, looking great is more simple than ever with all the online planning tools. Styles and selection which are cheaper than ever with coupons, promo codes. Throw in free shipping and there's no reason to go to the store for your prom needs!
Posted by Sok on March 19, 2010 Tags: Deal
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