Gown Hire Monopoly! Discrace!

RachyClaire

elisebutt65 wrote: »

I only had to pay £36 for the gown hire but it was then £50 for the tickets - it's at Symphony hall in Brum so no free parking either - we're going to all train it up there and it's a flipping Monday so no chance of going to the ball that night either - hmppph!!!

Mind you at £45 per person for the ball - I prob wouldn't have gone anyways - LOL - as it is I had to pay for the kids to come to the ceremony as it's so late - 2.45 - I'm sure my 7yr old is just going to love sitting though 2 hours of names being called out - raflmao!!!!

Did you go to BCFTCS?? Just wondering as mine was at Symphony Hall (and our ball was £45! lol) I got bored watching hundreds of people I didnt know going up on stage never mind a 7 year old!!!! I went to my grad ball, so had the extra cost of new dress/shoes etc and a hotel room plus the overpriced drinks!!!

Nenen

When I graduated in 1980 I didn't go to my graduation ceremony as I couldn't really afford it and my parents weren't interested. I have regretted bitterly not going ever since. When my ds1 graduated last year I couldn't have been more proud and pleased to go to his ceremony.... I cried on and off almost the whole day! Yes it was ridiculously expensive (we paid for everything) but I would have mortgaged my soul to go! IMHO it is more important than a wedding even.... the celebration of something you've achieved that no one can ever take away from you.

I would encourage everyone to go and have their day, 'swanning around' in your gown and really enjoy yourself! My ds wanted to remove his gown straight after the ceremony but I [STRIKE]emotionally blackmailed[/STRIKE] 'persuaded' him to keep it on for the entire day!

At the grand old age of 49 I've decided I simply have to have a graduation ceremony of my own so have signed up for a masters! Must be the most expensive grad ceremony ever!

Having said all that, I fully support any way of getting costs down for everyone so I'll check the costs of Nottingham (ds1) and de Montfort (dd) and post these later. Good luck everyone and have a WONDERFUL day!

whitfreak

I can't believe some uni's charge for tickets for graduation. Durham graduation is a bit of a mixed bag. You have to choose between going to your ceremony or not. Not going is free, unless you said you were going to go then they attempt to fine you (presuming you don’t have a good reason, apparently). You get two free guest tickets, and you can request more but the extras are in bits of the cathedral with a potentially restricted view but they do have tvs and cameras to solve that problem.
Gown hire is technically for the day but most people don’t keep them for that long. That was also quite expensive £50-£60 if I remember rightly and that’s without a hat (Durham tradition for some reason). Although I pity the people who went to a “traditional” college who only really needed a hood, but had to hire the whole lot. Yes you have to dress smart, for it but other than practical advice nothing was too mandated.
The photograph packages were expensive, but the area around the cathedral is nice so there is no real need to get a pro to do it in front of a screen (presuming good weather).
As graduation is out of term time there is accommodation in the colleges which isn’t too expensive. But they were in general single rooms so the costs can mount up.
I enjoyed my graduation, but for many it is more for the parents than themselves.

jollyanna

Wonder why some enterprising person isn't making disposable gowns from black crepe paper - just staple the seams together, also not as noisy or rustly as an actual paper garment would be. As for caps/mortor boards, what about adapting one of those hopsital disposable bowls for unpleasant things, painted black. At the end of the day all graduates could have a massive pyre and set fire to it all.

elisebutt65

RachyClaire wrote: »

Did you go to BCFTCS?? Just wondering as mine was at Symphony Hall (and our ball was £45! lol) I got bored watching hundreds of people I didnt know going up on stage never mind a 7 year old!!!! I went to my grad ball, so had the extra cost of new dress/shoes etc and a hotel room plus the overpriced drinks!!!

Yeay!!!!! Actually my kids loved it in the end and they cheered really loud when I went up!!!
Going back in September to do my Masters so I get to do it all again - as well as the one this September at Oxford Brookes for my PGCE - LOL

ames123_2

Is anyone else having problems ordering on the Ede and Ravenscroft site?

vixarooni

I graduated in november. It was a really good day, but the actual ceremony itself was a bit of a snore. I was sat with people i didnt know, i was freezing cold and i had to shake some geezers hand i didnt even know!! It was expensive too, photos and the gown aswell as a meal, new shoes ect.

Trouble is, i gotta do it all again next year! ha. I'll go if its in greenwhich, if its in the location of my last grad i wont bother.

Horace

I do know that if you go to Birmingham Uni then they order their gowns from Ede & Ravenscroft. Gowns are normally delivered about a week prior to the degree ceremonies and they usually have staff there during the ceremonies themselves to help the graduands dress correctly. It can be a busy time with several ceremonies going on during the day (at Birmingham Uni sometimes up to 4 changes of ceremony per day). It's hard work for everyone not just the gownspeople but also the cleaning staff who are responsible for cleaning up after each ceremony as well as sorting out the seating arrangements and laying out programmes.

Ede & Ravenscroft do seem to be reasonable and they are friendly when you speak to them on the phone.

JohnDep_2

After 12K odd tuition fees, another 8k odd loans, I think the couple of hundred pounds to celebrate the end of you degree is too bad. You only do in once! (well... most of us)

moneysavergal

My graduation is towards the end of July, tbh im not too fussed about going but my parents are quite excited (im their firstborn :rolleyes: ). The ceremony is at the Barbican Centre in London, my ticket is free but for each guest ticket (maximum allowance 4, im taking my 2 sisters as well as my parents) it's approximately £20. The gown hire is £37 and as far as i am aware only available from Ede and Ravenscroft. For the rental of the gown for an extra week its £10, so you can have professional photgraphs taken after the ceremony privately. I still havent bought my outfit for the day and looking around at what is available it mite cost £60+. We live in london so we're spared the cost of accommadation.

Guest tickets: £80
My outfit: apprx £60
Gown hire: £37 + £10 (for an extra week)
Train fare: 4 adults and 1 child £30

Total cost of the day: £217 (Not including a meal we may have in the evening or the cost of a professional photograph later on)