My view on Proms

[SuitcaseAndSecrets]

School proms are relatively new in the UK.
Traditionally, British schools had things like:
A leavers' disco
A sixth-form ball
A school dinner or awards evening
The American-style "prom" only really became widespread in the late 1990s and 2000s, helped by US films and TV shows such as American Pie and High School Musical. Schools and parents started adopting the idea of a big end-of-school celebration with formal dresses, suits, limousines, professional photos, and fancy venues.
A lot of people have frustration with the cost. What was once a simple school dance can now involve:
£100-£300+ dresses
Suit hire
Hair and makeup
Transport (sometimes limos)
Tickets for the venue
Professional photography
For some families it can easily end up costing several hundred pounds for one evening.
The odd thing is that much of the pressure doesn't come from schools themselves. It's often social media and comparison with what other students are doing. A perfectly normal £30 dress can feel "not enough" when everyone's posting glamorous photos online.
My daughters age 41 and 33 didn't go to theirs.. l was happy with a leavers disco..
We seem to be becoming American.. with Baby showers too.

No need to spend that on a dress.
They can do their own hair and make up.
No need for a limo.
Never heard of having professional photos done.
It’s just a party.
Unclench.

@user404927 That’s your idea of strange? Someone having the same opinion on something as their daughter?

Proms weren’t common 40 years ago, they seem to cause a lot of angst. It’s good some people enjoy them but they are a bit baffling. Something used to be simple but is now expensive and complicated - for some people.

What magazine published this?

Well said. Everyone will have a great time.. Fab attitude.

I’m sat outside my daughter’s prom/leavers party waiting to pick her up - she did her make up and hair, dress rewearable and not ££££, dropped off by a mate’s mum. I hope they have had the most fantastic time - it has been a long few months preparing and sitting exams and I don’t understand anyone begrudging them a decent night out when some won’t be going on to sixth form/ same sixth form and they’re celebrating friendships formed and experiences shared over the last 5 years.

No.

I didn’t say any of that. 🤷‍♀️

We had a prom when I finished my GCSEs in 1997, so it isn’t new. My mum took me shopping and I got a dress from Top Shop and some amazing heels from Faith that she would have never normally shell out for. Wish I still had them both as would wear again now.

DS had one in 2019 and he needed a suit for 6th form anyway.

My friend’s daughter went to hers last year and just wore one of her mums much loved dresses from the early 2000s as the height of cool fashion again.

DD will have hers next year and will be given a budget for a frock and shoes and will probably go down the Vinted route. I imagine she will sweet talk a grandparent into some ghastly nails and if she wants her hair and make done she can get a Saturday job and save up or hang onto her Christmas and birthday money.

it doesn’t need to be a big deal.

We call them 'fornals' and they've been around for as long as I can remember. Mine was 30 years ago!

It depends what school you go to, and your own preference. Some spend very little and some want to show wealth. The real competition here is arrival transport. We are everything from arriving in horse & carriage, vintage cars, fire engines, trucks, even seen a hearse. My boss has a vintage car & formal season sees him leaving early for formal runs. He doesn't charge for it (just shows off his car!).

Most kids just want to do schoolies competitively as well (holiday after graduation). If you want insane, look that up!