HOUSTON—Marche Taylor’s prom night experience wasn’t what you would call “the norm.”

That’s because instead of a night of dancing and hanging out with friends, the Madison High School senior ended up in a confrontation with school officials and escorted out in handcuffs. Officials said her dress was inappropriate for the prom.

“I actually like the dress. Everybody else likes my dress,” Taylor said.

Madison High’s prom took place at the Sugar Land Marriott, but Taylor only got as far as the lobby. When she tried to enter the ballroom, an official stopped her.

Courtesy photo

She was told her custom-made dress violated the school dress code.

“She shook her head, she was like ‘you are not getting into this prom,’” said Taylor. “We were arguing back and forth because I wanted to know why I can’t get into my prom.”

Even after offering to provide more cover, Taylor was denied access to the final soiree of the school year.

At that point, Taylor said she was furious. She said if she couldn’t get in, she wanted her money back.

Things got so bad that someone called the police. Officers showed up, handcuffed her and escorted her out.

A photographer snapped a photo of Taylor in handcuffs, being led out of the hotel.

It was not the prom memory Taylor was expecting.

Madison High School Principal Aubrey Todd said the dress was inappropriate and violated the rules.

“It was revealing in such nature it was not appropriate for the prom,” Todd said.

And while she regrets how things turned out, Marche Taylor thinks she had little choice.

“They didn’t give me any options but to go to jail or go home,” she said.

And she still loves her prom dress, even though in the end it will cost her dearly.