As prom day drew closer, the two worked longer and longer every day on their dresses.

“I stayed up very late the night before,” recalled Oakes. “I had to get up early to get my hair done. My boyfriend stayed up all night working on his.”

Her mother and sister had to help her get dressed, taping parts of the dress together as she put it on.

“I couldn’t bend,” she said with a laugh.

When the four arrived at the prom, all their hard work paid off.

One unexpected benefit became apparent at the end of the evening. When they left the prom, it was raining.

“We were the only ones who could go outside,” Oakes said. “We were waterproof.”

The contest

Photos of contestants in the Duck Tape prom dress contest may be seen online at www.stuckatprom.com.

The national contest closes on June 11, after which a panel of judges will select the top 10 dresses, basing their decision on the amount of tape used, color and style.

Then people from around the country will vote online for their choices, and the top three vote-getters will receive scholarships and cash awards for their schools.