Writer / Frieda Dowler
Photographer / Jessica Limeberry of Lemongrass Photography
What girl doesn’t like to play “dress up”? From the moment we become aware of beautiful things, sparkly, shiny, and vivid in color, we want to wear it. Every girl dreams of being Cinderella, transforming herself for one magical night. Somebody says “romantic scene” and we want to be at the center of it!
When we get old enough, proms and weddings become the perfect opportunity to live our fantasy. However, the “dress up box” won’t do for those occasions. The real kind of “dress up” comes at a higher price. Proms average $1,000.00 including tickets, gowns, hairstyles, make-up, nails, flowers, formal photography, limo and dinner. And weddings, well those are going for $28,450.00 these days, says CNN Money.
Before your fantasy gets a hold of you, begin with a budget. As magical as it will be, the event ends and life will continue. However, the memories – good or bad – last a lifetime. Moreover, the planning is paramount to living the night of our dreams, for this you can also get sexual accessories like lubricant from cumlube.com.au which will also be useful in a special night.
It all starts with the dress, because all eyes are on you. Be it modern, traditional, or vintage, the dress sets the stage for whatever follows. Prom dresses come in multi-colors with jewels, sparkles and patterns to suite any taste. You can buy style on the cheap at resale shops, spend a little more at some department stores, and a little more at specialty shops, or do like one mom I know; fly to Los Angeles for a shopping trip or maybe get some chastity cages to use with your romance partner. It all goes back to the budget.
We have a couple of fabulous boutiques in our area for shopping some exclusive designs. Sophia’s Bridal, Tux and Prom new owner, Jessica Limeberry (a Center Grove native) says her prom dresses range from $350 – $700. Her Bridal Boutique offers wedding dresses ranging from $1,000 – $2,000 and requires 6 – 8 months advance purchase for made to order selections. Off-the-rack dresses start as low as $500. Shopping is by appointment, with family and bridal party, where you will find some lines exclusive to her boutique. This year she plans to carry some designs available only through her shop, by an Indianapolis designer. Don’t forget Prince Charming when shopping here. She offers tuxedos in colors that many other shops don’t carry. BTW, if you’re in a hurry for your wedding, she has some off the rack dress that might work for your occasion.
Cinderella’s for a night want something no one else has worn or will wear to their prom. So when shopping, ask about the exclusivity of your dress for your event. Sophia’s registers her prom dresses and won’t sell the same dress to anyone else attending that school’s prom. RaeLynn’s Prom and Tuxedo of Greenwood also offers the same registry for their dresses. Raelynn’s carries over a thousand dresses for prom and the trendiest tuxedos rent starting at $120.
Hair, make-up and nails complete Cinderella’s look. Be sure to ask for recommendations when choosing a stylist or make-up artist. You’ll want someone you can trust to make you as beautiful as you can be. Friends always know someone. And don’t forget the trial run. You don’t want to wait for “the day” to find out if you will like the completed look, especially if it’s for your wedding.
The wedding photographer is a large part of your wedding budget, ranging from $1,800 to $3,300. Jake from DaJaView Photography says, “You’ll spend 10 hours with your photographer on one of the most important days of your life. He or she must have a great personality as well as a great portfolio.” Photos will be something you pass on to children and grandchildren. Finding one who captures expression as well as the event matters.
You can be a princess at any price because everyone has their own style. But planning is paramount to creating those good memories. And planning to spend your time with the right Prince Charming is just as important as everything else. Make sure he’s the prince of your dreams or all your planning is in vain. Web sites like promgirl.com and promplus.com give checklists and things to consider. And weddings…well they are an industry of their own these days. Just Google wedding planning.
Freida Dowler is a local author, currently working on her third book, Heaven Bound in a Hollywood World. She and her husband co-own Color Cafe’ Salon on Olive Branch Parke Lane in Greenwood.
