Parents, teens speak out on spending thousands on prom send-offs

This prom season, some of the biggest celebrations across the country are taking place before the official dance even begins.

Prom send-offs -- when friends and family members gather to celebrate high school students before they leave for prom -- are now events of their own, with some families spending thousands of dollars on the celebrations.

Lakya Gartei, a student at Pennsbury High School in Fairless Hills, a Philadelphia suburb, told ABC News her prom send-off was months in the making.

Lakya wore a $3,000 gown custom-made by celebrity fashion designer Qaysean Williams for the occasion.

Along with the cost of hair and makeup, decorations and a Lamborghini rental, Lakya's mom, Lanise Gartei, estimates the prom send-off cost about $6,000, but she said it was "priceless."

"I feel like it's definitely a celebration, and you should go all out if you can for your kid," Gartei said. "Just for her to make it here, and I could see the smile on her face, I'm very proud of her."

Lakya's send-off sent her to Pennsbury High School, which is known for having what's billed as the "best prom in America."

This year's surprise prom entertainer was singer Jesse McCartney, while past performers have included John Mayer, Natasha Bedingfield and DJ Pauly D of "Jersey Shore" fame.

The school's prom was attended by 900 students this year and featured a community-wide prom send-off with more than 2,500 friends, family and community members.

Parents like Gartei say the biggest reward is seeing their children thrive as they finish high school.

"I'm happy that my baby's happy," Gartei said. "You know, I just want her to know that hard work pays off."

Wanda Matos, who organized an elaborate send-off for her daughter Madison Matos in Philadelphia this year, also said she views prom send-offs as celebrations of hard work.

"This is an accomplishment," Matos told ABC News. "She deserves this, and that's why we did what we did and we went out for her."

The prom send-off Matos put together was inspired by the hit show "Bridgerton" and featured a string quartet, catering, a large floral display and a horse-drawn carriage to escort Madison to prom.

"My prom send-off was better than prom, I'll be honest," Madison told ABC News of the experience.

Matos told ABC News she spent around $12,000 on the send-off, which was attended by more than 60 family members and friends.

For Matos, the send-off was a celebration of Madison making it to prom while growing up in Philadelphia.

"Philadelphia is filled with gang violence. A lot of our children die young. They die early. A lot them don't finish, right?" she said. "It's not that we're showing off, 'Look at what we got.' It's not that. It's just celebrating them, celebrating their life."