❗Let's close the gap: We still need your help to raise $40,000 by April 1. Donate now
Crystal Kornegay and Romero Tyler, the prom queen and king at Oyler School in Cincinnati. Amy Scott/Marketplace

Will you go to prom with us?

Marketplace Contributor May 15, 2017
Crystal Kornegay and Romero Tyler, the prom queen and king at Oyler School in Cincinnati. Amy Scott/Marketplace

It’s the end of the school year and for high school seniors all over the country, that means going to prom. 

These days, prom is pretty expensive. First, there’s the ask. It’s often an elaborate (and sometimes costly) “promposal.” Then there are limos, tuxes, dresses and corsages — the list goes on and on. All that can add up fast. According to a 2015 survey from credit card company Visa, the average American family spends about $919 on prom.

Marketplace Weekend is looking for your stories of prom. What was it like, and what did it cost?

Did you shell out for a whole-nine-yards kind of night?  Did you manage to have a ball on a budget? And was it all worth it?  

If  you’re a parent, what are some of the random expenses you’ve been saddled with for your son or daughter’s prom night?

And we’re all about the hack, so if you have any suggestions for keeping prom expenses down, let’s hear them!

You can tell us about the big night by sending an email to weekend@marketplace.org. You can also tweet us @MarketplaceWknd. Or, pick up the phone and call (800) 648-5114 to leave us a voicemail. And yes, we might just feature you on the show.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.