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Pricey pre-game! Parents shell out upwards of $30K for elaborate pre and post-prom festivities: ‘Go all out for your kid’
NY Post ^ | 6/25/26 | Andrea Palladino

Posted on 06/26/2026 4:09:31 AM PDT by Libloather

Keeping up with the prom joneses.

Gone are the days of posing in gowns and tuxes at a designated classmates’ house while snacking on some chips and soda before hitching a ride to prom.

Today, highfalutin parents are spending upwards of $30,000 on over-the-top pre-prom parties that are in the same realm as an A-lister jetting off to a fancy award show.

Think professional photographers, stunning decor and catered food so good it could tempt high schoolers to skip prom altogether.

Proud Philadelphia mom Lanise Gartei spared no expense when it came to her daughter Lakyia’s prom send-off.

She not only funded a $3,000 custom Qaysean Williams dress for her high schooler’s big night, but Gartei didn’t bat an eyelash at spending around $6,000 for a luxe prom send-off, which included a roped red carpet that led to a stunning step and repeat, massive balloons and a Lamborghini rental.

“I feel like it’s definitely a celebration, and you should go all out if you can for your kid,” proud mom Lanise Gartei told ABC News.

Another Philly mom went as far as hiring an event planner to transform a city lot into a Cinderella-inspired pre-prom party for her teen that could’ve been mistaken for a Disney movie set.

It might’ve set the family back $27,000, but the smile on their daughter’s face? Priceless.

“It’s the family’s prerogative to do what they want to do, and prom send-offs are a thing now,” she told 6 Action News.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: History; Local News; Music/Entertainment; Society
KEYWORDS: disposable; loot; parents; prom
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Something nice prior to residing in mom's basement. Keep in mind, the commies are running on affordability.
1 posted on 06/26/2026 4:09:31 AM PDT by Libloather
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To: Libloather

As time progresses American kids are becoming more and more spoiled to the point many are just worthless when adult hood arrives. This is particularly true with the extreme wealthy. Those brats become the commie’s useful idiots when it comes to riots, protests and violence.


2 posted on 06/26/2026 4:16:52 AM PDT by redfreedom (The Forth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
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To: Libloather

Well, they ain’t getting married…so I guess the parent wants to spend money on them.

They are misguided.


3 posted on 06/26/2026 4:23:01 AM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: Libloather

This is very poor parenting. IMHO there is no other way to look at it. What’s the message?


4 posted on 06/26/2026 4:30:45 AM PDT by neverevergiveup
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To: Libloather

Both mom and daughter scream high maintenance.

Is this a chick thing, or are male attendees doing this, too?


5 posted on 06/26/2026 4:36:32 AM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away! 🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿)
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To: Libloather

Hood Prom...the peak of Ghetto Life.


6 posted on 06/26/2026 4:36:51 AM PDT by HombreSecreto (The life of a repo man is always intense)
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To: Libloather

Well that is just stupid.


7 posted on 06/26/2026 4:38:14 AM PDT by yldstrk
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To: Libloather

Do these same people vote for abortion?


8 posted on 06/26/2026 4:42:01 AM PDT by Track9 (Liberal tears make me smile. Thank you DJT!)
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To: mewzilla

A Facebook page on the subject...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1688114615260114/posts/2268603670544536/

Jeez louise.


9 posted on 06/26/2026 4:42:33 AM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away! 🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿)
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To: Libloather

So there’s a price tag on good parenting?


10 posted on 06/26/2026 4:43:56 AM PDT by TalBlack (Their god is government. Prepare for a religious war.https://freerepublic.com/perl/post?id=4322961%2)
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To: Vermont Lt
These are the parents that send their kids off to boarding schools or fill their child's life with after school activities and never actually spend any time with the child themselves.

Another Philly mom went as far as hiring an event planner to transform a city lot into a Cinderella-inspired pre-prom party for her teen that could’ve been mistaken for a Disney movie set.

They also have to make sure that they out do their child's peer's parents on these special events. They no doubt have someone who counts how many kids attend their child's event.

11 posted on 06/26/2026 4:44:18 AM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminisheRs the human spirit.)
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To: Libloather

Major credit card debt that will NEVER be paid back. Instead of putting that towards college, a savings account or a car where their child can use it for WORK, they WASTE this money on BS.


12 posted on 06/26/2026 4:44:42 AM PDT by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: Libloather

Too bad they just can’t steal it like they do everything else.


13 posted on 06/26/2026 4:46:37 AM PDT by Wilderness Conservative (Death to the DEATH TO AMERICA, Democrats.)
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To: Libloather

Seriously. If youre a billionaire okay but draining your 401k to fund a party for your kids as means to flex how “cool” of a parent you are is asinine…. And lets be honest this IS about the parents. This is why kids lack fundamental understanding of budgets and basic economics.


14 posted on 06/26/2026 4:53:32 AM PDT by MrRelevant
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To: Libloather
Everything is so degraded in this new country that simple high school has attained a fantastical status of achievement calling for putting the tribe in awe of a chieftain like potlatch celebration.


15 posted on 06/26/2026 4:54:45 AM PDT by ansel12
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To: neverevergiveup

I never went to a prom & can’t say I ever missed it,altho I would have to say I certainly missed certain things connected with it, but nothing that ever affected me later in life. My parents never had the money required for me to attend a prom, but they were the best of parents nevertheless.


16 posted on 06/26/2026 5:13:55 AM PDT by oldtech (oltech)
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To: Libloather

I equate that to the same idiots that spend $50-100k or such on a wedding to watch a divorce within 2 years.


17 posted on 06/26/2026 6:43:52 AM PDT by Resolute Conservative
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To: HombreSecreto

That seems to be the LCD when looking at the photos in the story. Obese LaQuishes, LaToyas, and Jamals…


18 posted on 06/26/2026 6:44:43 AM PDT by astounded (The democrat party is a clear and present danger to the USA)
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To: Libloather
Proud Philadelphia mom Lanise Gartei spared no expense when it came to her daughter Lakyia’s prom send-off. She not only funded a $3,000 custom Qaysean Williams dress f

Interesting names ...

19 posted on 06/26/2026 6:46:08 AM PDT by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: ansel12

And then when they get their diploma having a C average, they go and dance and twerk it up, as if they really accomplished something.


20 posted on 06/26/2026 6:46:56 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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