If you’re throwing a graduation party this year, check out this post for tips and tricks.
It’s that time of year again! The time when proud parents celebrate their children’s accomplishments with a big ol’ party. Whether you’re planning a high school or college graduation party this year, check out our tips below to make life easier for you and to ensure it’s one your grad will never forget!
1) Pick a theme and stick with it.
A cohesive theme will make your party look more put-together and polished. Plus, it’ll be fun for guests! Check out this post for so many fun party theme ideas! My favorites are the classic School Spirit – celebrating your grad’s new school or the whimsical “Taco Bout a Future.” Whichever you choose, chat with them about what they want their party to look and feel like, and you’ll have a winner!
2) Choose a date ASAP, send out invites, and consider hosting a joint party.
Often the graduation weekend is full of parties and other festivities and could make it hard for some guests to get to your party to celebrate! To help, consider an alternate weekend and combining parties with one or more of your grad’s besties to help lighten the load of partygoers making the rounds. A benefit of choosing a joint party is that you can split costs and to-do lists!
Once you’ve decided the who, when, and where, get those invites out! You can either go the traditional route and mail personalized paper invitations or go digital and use an electronic invitation.
E-vites are cost-effective and help manage your guest list, but a mailed invitation can double as a graduation announcement and be a keepsake. Either way, ensure the party’s date, time, and location are clearly stated on the invite.
3) Create a fun atmosphere!
Decorations
Use decorations and entertainment to create a fun party feel! This is your chance to get creative and have fun with it.
Whether you go all-out with decor or keep it simple with some creative signs, an easy way to give your decor a cohesive look is to keep to one color scheme – choose the theme of your party or school colors! I love to include personalized touches like this banner that displays pictures from each school year!
Games & Activities
Family and friends at your party may come from different areas of your life and not know each other. It’s a good idea to create ways for guests to mingle without having to force small talk. My favorite easy activity is to set up yard games such as cornhole, Kan-Jam, or giant Jenga. You could also create fun photo ops and have a memory table set up where guests can sign in and leave well wishes! You may also consider hiring a DJ to keep the party going or create a killer playlist full of your grad’s favorite songs.
4) Remember the food & drinks!
No matter what menu you choose, just make sure there’s enough to feed all your guests—and then some! It’s always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to food because you never know how many people will show up (or how much they’ll eat). I wouldn’t expect a full meal at a graduation party – so heavy apps are the perfect fit – think wings, sliders, fruit & veggie trays, and your favorite dips!
I’m always a fan of outsourcing food, but if you want to DIY it, check out this post for make-ahead items and this post for fun buffet-style DIY food bars! Of course, we can’t forget dessert! Go easy with simple cupcakes with personalized cupcake toppers or find a local baker to create a show stopper – either way, make sure it’s delicious!
Also, make sure there’s plenty to drink. In addition to non-alcoholic beverages like soda and water, have beer and wine on hand for the adults. If you’re hosting a high school graduation or choosing not to serve alcohol, opt for a delicious mocktail! You can create batch mocktails that highlight your grad’s school colors! Check out this post for recipes of bright & colorful, yummy mocktails. Set up a drink station so guests can serve themselves!
5) Finally, Take lots of pictures (and videos)!
You’ll want to remember this event forever, so document it as much as possible. I love the idea of setting up a photo op with an Instax camera and having guests take two photos with the grad – one to keep as a memento and one to stick in a memory book!
In addition to taking tons of photos, consider hiring a professional photographer or videographer to capture the event from start to finish. If it’s not in the budget to hire a professional, give the job to a family member or friend who will be there for the entire party, has a steady hand, and attention to detail. That way, you’ll be able to relive all the memories for years to come!
Graduation parties are a time-honored tradition that should be celebrated in style!
By following our tips above, you can be sure that your graduate’s big day is one that they, and your family and friends, will never forget. So get planning – the best is yet to come!
While planning, be sure to check out RegistryFinder.com for more tips and tricks to make your life easier and your party the best it can be!
