Prom season is right around the corner. Soon pictures of adorable prom-posals will be popping up on Instagram and Twitter, and all of the girls will start telling their dates what color tie they need to wear, and what kind of flower they want for their corsage. The biggest thing that undoubtedly occupies a girl’s thoughts long before her prom-posal is the gown.

I personally picked out the color of my dress when I was photographing friends last year for their senior prom. I already have ideas for my hairstyle as well as ideas for what kind of corsage I want and prom-posals haven’t even started yet! Almost every girl that I have spoken to feels the same way about their prom dress. Even some girls who are not juniors or seniors have lined up potential dates to either prom and are planning for the big day.

Finding the perfect dress can be difficult, since so many stores are incredibly expensive. Last year, when friends and I went shopping for our gowns, we found one that was absolutely stunning for a friend of mine. What dissuaded her from buying it was the price. It was easily over $300, and neither she nor her parents could justify spending that much money on a gown that she was going to wear once. This is a common roadblock for many girls and their parents. Sometimes a girl finds the perfect gown and tries it on before looking at the price tag. Situations like these can be such a huge disappointment.

Moments like these can now be avoided. This year sparks the first annual Prom Dress Swap. Organized by the junior class, the dress swap allows girls with gowns they will never wear again to be sold at the swap. You don’t have to bring in a dress to sell in order to be able to buy a dress. You will only have to pay the entrance fee of $5.00.

For girls who are apprehensive about buying a “hand-me-down” dress, Mrs. Baumgartner, one of the teachers helping arrange the swap, says not to be nervous.

“We’re going to try to open it up to local schools,” said Mrs. B. “You won’t necessarily be wearing someone from last year’s Waterford senior or junior prom. You could get an East Lymer’s dress, and it could be brand new for Waterford.”

The Swap will be held on Saturday, March 8, from 12 to 4 in the afternoon. Students who donate a dress will set a price for it, and if it is not sold at the end of the swap, the owner of the dress is required to pick up the gown by 7:15 PM. If it is not picked up on time, it will be donated to one of the local consignment shops. All of the proceeds will be going into the class of 2015’s budget.

The entire field house will be set up for the swap.

“We’re going to have the whole fieldhouse and the locker rooms. We’ll have tons of changing areas and mirrors. There will also be a tailor on site if you need to have a dress hemmed or taken in. If you decide to purchase it, you will just have to go to the tailor to pick up up after it’s been altered,” said Mrs. B.

For those of you stressing about finding an affordable, stylish prom dress, come to the Prom Dress Swap in March.