Prom Time in Tahoe

Did you go to your prom? Was it the highlight of your high school senior year or was it a teenage nightmare?  I remember my prom as a pretty fun night, with only minor drama as my date’s twin sister got drunk, and subsequently tossed out of the prom before she even got there.  Luckily, my date could hold her liquor better than her sister and we partied away the night. I forget how we scored the booze as 18 year olds, although I am sure it took some act of daring and courage, and likely stupidity.

On the dance floor at a Tahoe prom.

Prom is the first contact a lot of kids ever have with a florist.  They learn what a corsage and a boutonniere are, and hopefully the girls don’t prick their date while pinning it on.  Prom, which is short for “promenade” is an enduring tradition in American society and actually is a nice post-Mother’s Day event for the floral industry.  According to a survey conducted by Visa in 2012, the average family spent $1,078 on prom, which was up 33.6% from $807 in 2011. 

 

Experts attribute this increase in spending to a few factors, including the decline of debutante and other coming out balls, teen’s obsession with celebrity and “red carpet worship” as well as, perhaps the most interesting factor, this being that teenagers don’t have much incentive to economize, since parents at last count were paying 61% of the bill.

Julie Reed designed this creative peacock feather boutonniere.

I remember the corsage I gave my date.  It came in a clear plastic box, and featured red roses and dark greens.  At the time it was beautiful, however it wasn’t very creative.  Creating a creative corsage or boutonniere is a challenge, since the canvas is so small.  Creating a lot of “Wow” with just a few stems is why you need a pro. Today, much more attention is given to flowers at prom, and this trend is great for the floral industry.  What better way to show coming of age adults the majesty of flowers and the amazing affect they have on the receiver?  Even though my date knew I would be arriving at her house with flowers, there is still a great amount of power in the ritual of the corsage, and the boutonniere.

I checked in with the premier photographers in the Lake Tahoe region, Eric and Beata Jarvis of Jarvis Photography, to ask them about what trends they saw at prom this year.  As well as weddings, they do a great business with upscale senior portraits, and this logically leads them to capturing the decadent prom activities for Tahoe. 

An elaborate corsage for prom

Beata reports that this year she saw a lot of non-traditional corsages. It was obvious that these were not just bought as an afterthought; they were beautifully designed and integrated into the color scheme of each couple. Rich, red, merlot tones were very popular.

Anemones make the scene!

The other trend which Beata says is getting pretty wild; is that all the parents are starting to get involved in the pageantry of the event.  The parents are showing up to watch their kids walk the red carpet, and they are coming dressed in formal attire with flowers! In one scenario, a group of kids got out of the limo, and a group of parents hopped in, to go grab dinner and watch the sunset as the kids had their party. It seems much like at a wedding, where a couple will remember their own wedding day as the bride and groom exchange vows. Now as high school seniors head to prom, the parents are taking the opportunity to remember their younger days and celebrate the accomplishment of their kids graduating high school. 

   

Dressed to the nines for 2013 prom

Another side of Jarvis Photography which is really interesting is their real estate photography.  This isn’t just the standard shots of houses for the MLS. The homes on the market around Lake Tahoe sell for millions, and the photography needed to convey the ornate residences has to be as impressive as the homes themselves. 

 

Eric Jarvis is the “go to” photographer, when a 2, 10, or 50 million dollar dwelling comes on the market.  Take a moment and have a look at some of these “cottages” on the Lake. Eric recently photographed Oracle founder Larry Ellison’s home, which just hit the market at $28.5 million, and a few years ago he did the Tommy Hilfiger mansion, which was great value at $100 million. 

 

The lifestyle and culture of Lake Tahoe's wealthy, international residents makes this area a style capital of the west. Tahoe seems to have the fashions and trends direct from Paris, sometimes faster than New York. We will check in with Beata and Eric again to see what happening on the Lake.