Getting Started
Graduation, especially high school graduation, is a very busy time of year. You may be overwhelmed by the number of activities and there never seems to be enough time to plan.
But don’t worry! This website will inspire you to get to work, make your life easier and help you plan a special graduation party. It will also prevent you from getting to that panic stage and avoid some common mistakes.
But don’t worry! This website will inspire you to get to work, make your life easier and help you plan a special graduation party. It will also prevent you from getting to that panic stage and avoid some common mistakes.
Grad Party Tip: Consider buying our book, Graduation Parties! Everything You Need to Know From Start to Finish. It has much the same info as our website but you can read it at your convenience & make notes in the margins. We offer the book in paperback & a downloadable pdf file. Click here for more details.
When planning your college or high school graduation party, the first thing you need to decide is what type of party you and your graduate want to have.
There are many options!
There are many options!
- an open house with a few people
- an open house with a hundred people
- a party in the daytime
- a party in the evening
- a celebration on the week-end
- a celebration during the week
- you can have it at home, in a park, on a beach, in a hall, in a restaurant, or even on a boat
Dare to be different!
You don't need to spend an arm and a leg to create a memorable event. Whether you are striving for an exciting gala with dancing and laughter or a quieter, more dignified event, take the time to plan ahead and be creative.
One approach that is becoming more popular is to throw a party for a group of friends graduating together.
Does your graduate have friends or relatives who are also graduating? Perhaps two or three families could go in together and host one large get together. Joint parties take some coordinating, but sharing in the planning, shopping, food preparation and expenses is often worth the effort.
One approach that is becoming more popular is to throw a party for a group of friends graduating together.
Does your graduate have friends or relatives who are also graduating? Perhaps two or three families could go in together and host one large get together. Joint parties take some coordinating, but sharing in the planning, shopping, food preparation and expenses is often worth the effort.
Money Saving Tip: Throw a graduation party for a group of friends or relatives graduating together. You can share in the cost of food, beverages, decorations, etc.
If there is any one single message we want to emphasize, it's ... let your party reflect your graduate and dare to be different!
Whatever you do, don’t feel compelled to keep up with your friends and neighbors or the Joneses.
Whatever you do, don’t feel compelled to keep up with your friends and neighbors or the Joneses.
Parents ...
Stop and think. Who are you doing this for? Hopefully your interest in planning a graduation party is to celebrate this major milestone in your son or daughter’s life. Since graduation is a monumental experience for your graduate make them the center of attention, make them the "Guest of Honor".
If you lose sight of this as you plan for their party, you may find yourself screaming “you never appreciate the things I do for you!”
Let your graduate make choices right up front. Begin by asking them:
If you lose sight of this as you plan for their party, you may find yourself screaming “you never appreciate the things I do for you!”
Let your graduate make choices right up front. Begin by asking them:
"What kind of graduation party do you have in mind?"
"Should we invite just our close relatives and a few friends, or do you want a big party?"
"Would you like to have a joint party with a friend?"
"Do you have any ideas for a theme?"
"Where would you like to have the party?"
"What kind of food would you like to have?"
"Do you want to select photos and items to display?"
"Should we invite just our close relatives and a few friends, or do you want a big party?"
"Would you like to have a joint party with a friend?"
"Do you have any ideas for a theme?"
"Where would you like to have the party?"
"What kind of food would you like to have?"
"Do you want to select photos and items to display?"
As your party plans take shape, be sure to keep your grad involved in the decision making process. Let them help select or make the invitations and the invitation list. And select items to display that put your grad in a good light. While some photos may be funny, don't put them out if your grad doesn't like them.
Help them schedule their time for attending other graduation parties and school events.
Always remember ... this is your senior's graduation. Help them celebrate!
Help them schedule their time for attending other graduation parties and school events.
Always remember ... this is your senior's graduation. Help them celebrate!
Take Notes
This is a good time to get a notebook to use just for planning your graduation party. Use it to keep track of all your ideas and decisions.
Take notes about the type of party you and your graduate want. The time of day you prefer, where you want to have the party, who you want to invite and how you want to invite them (with mailed invitations or online through Facebook for example), themes, decorations, food ideas, things you need to buy, things you need to rent ... pretty much anything that has to do with the party.
You can also keep track of other graduation parties that are planned and what school events are happening around graduation.
This notebook will become your "memory" for all the things you've talked about and for all the decisions you'll make.
Take notes about the type of party you and your graduate want. The time of day you prefer, where you want to have the party, who you want to invite and how you want to invite them (with mailed invitations or online through Facebook for example), themes, decorations, food ideas, things you need to buy, things you need to rent ... pretty much anything that has to do with the party.
You can also keep track of other graduation parties that are planned and what school events are happening around graduation.
This notebook will become your "memory" for all the things you've talked about and for all the decisions you'll make.