As the school year heads into the last few months, prom preparations are underway. The junior prom is April 26 at Palos Country Club and the senior prom is on May 2 at the Museum of Science and Industry. This brings excitement to many students, but this also induces stress over various aspects of the preparation.
The Dress
First of all, finding the perfect dress can be difficult. With so many styles, colors, and stores available it can be stressful trying to find the right one.
“I look for colors that look good on me, I love wearing pink and blue…so those definitely catch my eye right away,” says senior Maeve Briody.
Some stores such as Peaches only allow one style of dress to be worn at each school’s prom. This makes teen girls feel even more pressured months in advance to find a dress before an option they love is taken.
“I plan on looking for a dress within the next month at a few different places,” says junior Clare Johnson.
The Cost
There is another problem that can affect what students purchase for prom: prices. Without even realizing it, prices can quickly climb from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
“Prices really do add up with the shoes, the hair pieces, the makeup, the dress itself, prom-send off decorations, and food. It’s stressful,” says senior Paige Shannon.
Some students also go to multiple proms with their friends or date from other schools. This adds even more to the prices if they feel a need for new accessories and dresses. These prices may also cause students to stray away from the dress they truly want.
“It definitely affects what is out of my limit…sometimes you just have to save and make a compromise if you really love a dress,” says Briody.
The Plans
It is common to gather a group for pictures and hangouts after the dance, find a date, and a ride to and from the dance. This process is hectic with plans constantly changing and finding the right people to hang with.
“It’s all about talking to my friends and finding out what they want to do and you have to incorporate everyone’s dates so it is a lot of stress,” says Briody.
Oftentimes the plans fluctuate, inducing more stress. Locations, times, and invitations are not always permanent so staying up to date may be difficult.
“I like having a plan but I know it does not always go the way I want it to,” says Shannon.
Despite these challenges that may make prom seem strictly stress-inducing, there are many factors to look forward to. Setting a budget, having a good time, being in the moment, and making new memories help many students overlook the stress.
“Plan ahead, have a minimal amount of people, and prioritize fun,” says Shannon.
