Swansea’s Venus De Milo Saved Prom Night From the Rain

When prom season arrives, students spend weeks planning every detail. Dresses are tailored, tuxedos are fitted, hair appointments are booked and families prepare for one of the most memorable nights of high school.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans Thursday night. As heavy rain and strong winds moved through the SouthCoast, many students found themselves scrambling for a backup plan after outdoor photo locations became unusable. That's when Venus de Milo in Swansea stepped in and opened its doors to help.

A photo shared by Joseph Case High School parent Natashia Machado first caught my attention. Her daughter and classmates were gathered inside the iconic venue taking prom photos, even though Case's prom itself was being held later that evening in Foxboro.

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Venus Opens Its Doors for Prom Photos

According to Machado, students needed a place to take pictures after the weather washed out their original plans. A quick phone call to Venus de Milo owner Monte Ferris Jr. provided an immediate solution.

Swansea's Venus de Milo Saves Prom Night From Rain

"I said, 'Of course,'" Ferris said. "Come on in, use our facility, use the outside, use the inside. If it's for any one of the regional communities that we support, I'm always open to that."

Soon, the venue's grand lobby was filled with students dressed for prom. Students from Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School, which was also holding its prom that evening, joined the gathering as well.

READ MORE: Remembering Back in 2017 When Gazelle Crashed a Prom at Venus de Milo 

Ferris said opening the facility wasn't anything out of the ordinary.

"No big secret, no big change," he said. "This is just what we've always done, and it's what we're always going to do."

A Community Effort

The generosity didn't stop with the venue. A local photographer, Sarah & Oakley Photography of Westport, volunteered her time and services to capture photos of the students free of charge. What started as a simple solution to a rainy evening quickly became a community gathering where students from different schools celebrated together.

Swansea's Venus de Milo Saves Prom Night From Rain

Ferris said similar situations happen several times each year.

"We've probably done this for half a dozen schools where they either get rained out of their photo location or they're local and want to take pictures here because we have a beautiful lobby," he said. "If we can do it, we always say yes."

A Tradition of Being Available

For Ferris, the decision reflects how his family has viewed the business since it first opened in 1959.

"We're the stewards of this business," he said. "Honestly, it belongs to the people. It's always belonged to the people. The people are the only reason it's here."

Swansea's Venus de Milo Saves Prom Night From Rain

On a night when students could have been disappointed by the weather, they instead found a dry place to gather, laugh, pose for photos and enjoy a milestone moment with friends.