How much would you pay for the perfect prom?

A trend that arrived from the US thanks to TV shows such as Glee and Hannah Montana and films like High School Muscial, the prom is now the hottest date on the calendar.

Forget the humble disco in the school hall, the sky is literally the limit for school leavers with Hollywood helicopters, hairdos, limos, designer gowns and pre-prom pamper packages all part of the glitzy end of term party.

With the event in planning up to a year in advance, parents can spend up to £1,000 at the post GCSE party with the prom ticket itself just a small part of the bill.

I spoke to one Hampshire family to ask how much they spent on their daughter’s school prom and why.

My profile

Name: Hollie Traynor

Age: 17

School: Wildern School, Hedge End

Prom venue: Grand Harbour Hotel, Southampton

Parents: Sharon and Paul

How much? 

Hair and beauty 

Spray tan £20 Hollie had a spray tan four days before so it had chance to settle.

Professional make-up and hair £65 We managed to find someone from college who did her make up for £25 and I’d budget £40 for the hair which includes a trial before the prom. There are some brilliant prom pampering packages available.

False eyelashes £8

Accessories including hair and jewellery £40

We didn’t need much more sparkle because the dress was very detailed so we kept the accessories quite simple. People say the prom is now like a wedding day and that is so true, I was more stressed than Hollie, says mum-of-two Sharon, talk about Promzilla and that was only me!

Nails

Many of the girls go for fake nails but I run The Nail Bar in Hairlounge at Romsey Rapids so I did Hollie a Shellac rock star manicure and chose soft pink with some glitter.

People should allow from £22 for nails and £25 for toenails

Dress £250

The crystal-adorned dress with net skirt Hollie fell in love with was £550 from American fashion designer Sherri Hill but we couldn’t justify that so we got it made for less than half the price from a local dressmaker.

When we went to the designer shop in London there were a couple of other girls from Southampton who spent more than £700 on dresses.

Handbag £20

There was a matching bag for Hollie’s dress but that cost £200 so we ended up trawling the net and High Street to find one from Matalan.

Photography

A friend of ours who is a photographer took snaps of Hollie getting ready for free but this can cost up to £200

Transport £70

This is a big deal on the day because it’s all about who turns up in the best vehicle. Hollie really wanted a white London cab which wasn’t too expensive to drop her there but you see everything from Ferraris to fire engines and we heard one person arrived in a helicopter.

Shoes £75

Shoes were an important part of the outfit because Hollie wore a short dress. We got them from Love Lemonade, a mail order company which is very popular with the girls.

And finally...

Prom ticket £45 There is normally a theme for the prom which is held in a nice hotel. It includes a meal and entertainment.

Spending money £10 For soft drinks on the night.

After prom party £20 This is also huge and often girls buy another dress for the after prom party! Hollie didn’t go to hers, instead she had some girl friends back for a sleepover and I got some popcorn and a few drinks for them.

Total cost £623

Top tip from Hollie's parents..

“For them it really is everything but just remember when you are spending, it is only for one day so don’t go too mad. Some parents buy Tiffany & Co jewellery as a prom present and they will spend whatever it takes to buy the best tiara, dress and transport. Your budget could be absolutely endless if you let it.”

How to be a prom princess on a budget...

1 Hire a dress – Many dress shops in Hampshire offer options for you to borrow your dream dress and website, Girl Meets Dress, offers designer gowns to hire for a fraction of the price.

2 Charity shop chic – Oxfam in Shirley has a specialist bridal room and prom section selling designer and vintage dresses for bargain prices.

3 DIY beauty – Cut costs by meeting up with the girls for a pre-prom pamper. Take inspiration with free step-by-step make-up and hair tutorials online such as Pixiwoo on YouTube.

What to do with your dress post prom...

1 Recycle your dress by wearing it again. If it was a long gown, get it shortened to turn it into a fab cocktail dress or dye it a different colour.

2 Transform your bedroom into a glam boudoir by putting your pretty tutu dress on display for everyone to see.

3 Sell it online to recoup some money or donate it to a charity shop to help others feel beautiful on their special night.

4 Wear your dress everyday by using small samples of it set into charms hanging off necklaces or bracelets 5 Get crafty and turn your dress into cushions, a throw for your bed, a shawl or even a handbag.

• The Southern Daily Echo will be on hand to capture all the magic of this year’s proms. Two picture specials full of photos from proms across the county will be released on July 2 and July 16.