Graduation Day Extravaganza

Graduation day is near for local high school and college graduates — and what better way to celebrate their hard work, achievements and future than hosting a party dedicated to them? Here are some ideas we’ve gathered from over 16 years of helping plan graduation parties for clients and our own families!

  1. Pick a location Make sure it is location that your graduate will love and that your guests will fit in! Maybe it’s you backyard or a local park. Maybe a local museum or unique venue. The best locations are those that allow guests to interact, participate in a variety of different activities and that suit the star of your party. You can also bring the location to you — for example, if your graduate loves the beach, use inexpensive props to create a beach feel in your backyard!
  2. Send out invites several weeks, even months, in advance Graduation parties usually fall right at the onset of the summer season, when weddings, family events, vacations and other events are plentiful. Therefore, making sure to get on people’s calendar early to ensure they can attend your graduate’s party is ultra important. Another idea — hold the party a little later in the summer, when people’s schedules have calmed down a bit.
  3. Remember the graduate Graduation is a time of looking forward and back — so reflect that in the party décor! Make a few collages of photos from the past and present, display photo albums, and reflect back on what your graduate wanted to be when he/she was little. Other ideas include creating a time capsule for your graduate to look back upon, having a sign-in board where family and friends can include a favorite memory of the graduate and purchasing an address book for guests to fill out so your graduate can stay in touch throughout their future.
  4. Plan the menu First determine how much you have to spend and how many guests you expect. Then plan a menu that suits your graduate and guests. Some of the more popular menu items for graduation parties include buffet meals, snack trays and dessert items.

“Plan a menu that suits your graduate and guests. Some of the more popular menu items for graduation parties include buffet meals, snack trays and dessert items.”

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