Organising a school ball these days is almost as big a deal as a wedding, if an expo in Palmerston North is anything to go by.
The second annual school ball expo yesterday gave parents, students and ball committee members the chance to find everything they need for the big night, from venues, decor, photographers and DJs to spray tanning, hairdressers and makeup artists.
"It's an industry where they spend a lot of money, these girls," event manager Scott Eichler said.
"They want to look their best."
Then there's the dress.
"The girls spend anything from $200 to $600 on a dress, and everyone wants to be unique," Eichler said.
Suppliers brought in limited numbers of each style to make sure no two girls at a ball would look the same.
"It really is about the dress," said exhibitor Kirsty Davidson, of Etcetera Fashion and Bridal.
She said dresses were imported regularly from all over the world so girls could keep up to date with current styles, especially fashionable American styles.
"We only sell one of each, so we keep a log of everything that sells so the girls won't get the same dress. That's really important to them.
"No-one wants to look like a twin."
Eichler said the school ball industry was a big one.
"It's similar to the wedding industry in that they are happening every year, there's a lot of planning that goes into them, and what I love about them is the students themselves are proactive in organising them from year to year."
The expo was an event to bring everything under one roof to suit everyone involved, whether they were organising a ball or just attending. This was the second year it had been held in Palmerston North, although it has been running in Hamilton for 10 years and Auckland for eight.
Source: Manawatū Standard
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