Fashion
Highschooler can’t afford dream gown so prom date makes her one from scratch
Parker didn't even know how to sew. But it didn't stop him from learning, all so he could make his date the beautiful dress from her dreams.
Jenny Brown
04.17.23

Prom night is supposed to be a magical evening full of fun and festivities. But let’s face it, it can be expensive too.

When Addi Rust decided to go to the high school prom with her best friend Parker Smith, she had no clue it’d cost a pretty penny.

But fortunately for her, her creative date got to work to create a specialized, dream dress!

Unsplash - Darling Arias
Source:
Unsplash - Darling Arias

Parker decided to do this after realizing how expensive prom dresses are.

He became motivated to create something unique for his date after they both realized the high cost of prom dresses.

USA Today reported that the average cost of going to prom is $600.

That is quite expensive and if you don’t want to spend that kind of money, making a dress at home is a great backup option.

Unsplash - Todd Cravens
Source:
Unsplash - Todd Cravens

Initially, Addi was only joking about Parker making her the dress.

But after some careful thought, Parker was up to the task. He had never sewn anything before.

He didn’t have any experience with sewing before making this dress.

Twitter - @AddiRust
Source:
Twitter - @AddiRust

Parker was determined to make his date her dream dress though.

With no prior sewing experience, he began by sketching an idea based on what his date wanted, and then went to his grandma to get some sewing lessons.

YouTube Screenshot - FOX59 News
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - FOX59 News

He worked on the dress for months and didn’t stop adding finishing touches until the night before prom.

He tells Fox59:

“I’m such a perfectionist that I was up adding more stones to the dress even the night before prom.”

After wowing his date with the dress he made for her, more requests for dresses came.

It’s not surprising – she looked like a real fairytale princess!

Twitter - @AddiRust
Source:
Twitter - @AddiRust

Addi says that when Parker showed her the final product, she teared up.

The dress meant so much to her and it was truly her dream gown.

Twitter - @AddiRust
Source:
Twitter - @AddiRust

But the “dreams coming true” didn’t stop there.

When his story hit the news, other clients came calling.

Soon, local theater companies started asking him to make costumes for their productions, and Parker was more than happy to take on the challenge.

For one production, he designed Cinderella’s costume that has to turn from a peasant dress into a beautiful ball gown.

Despite all his success, Parker is still surprised by the reception.

YouTube Screenshot - FOX59 News
Source:
YouTube Screenshot - FOX59 News

He is shocked that something so special could have happened to him.

Additionally, this chance to create has had significance for him personally. He tells FOX59:

“Extremely sentimental to me. Especially when you see everything all together, and there’s just no other feeling. It’s just crazy to think that something like that can come from, like, a simple kid…It only enriched the kid I know myself to be already.”

This teen is now eyeing a career in design.

Twitter - @AddiRust
Source:
Twitter - @AddiRust

Now, Parker is studying costume design and musical theatre in college.

His new goal is to design costumes for Broadway.

Who knows if he would have realized his passion without sweetly deciding to make a dress for his date?

Watch the video below to learn more about this heartwarming story!

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: FOX59 News, USA Today, Twitter – adrianna

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