When picking the date for your party, don’t forget to take into account other events or obligations that your family or close friends might have. For example, if someone you know has a wedding in the summer, be sure to schedule your party during a different weekend. [2] X Expert Source Stefanie Chu-LeongProfessional Event Planner Expert Interview. 24 January 2020. If you’re celebrating a high school graduation, you might want to wait a few weeks after graduation so you’re not competing with a bunch of other parties. Try for a date in June or July, before your friends start to leave for college. For a college graduation, it can work better to have your party right away, since you and your friends may have to leave campus within a day or 2 after graduating.
Combined parties work well for high school graduations, as all graduates have achieved the same goal and have graduated at the same time. Keep in mind, though, that you may not be able to invite as many extended family members to a combined graduation party.
Many people choose to host graduation parties at their homes. You can have an indoor party or set up tables and chairs outside for a festive summer bash. This is the least expensive option, so take into account how much money you’re willing to spend on a party! If you don’t want to have your party at someone’s house, consider public party venues like restaurants, hotels, country clubs, beaches, pools, campgrounds, or parks. For a college graduation party, you can also have a simple celebration at a local restaurant or bar. But, keep in mind that local businesses will probably be super crowded during a graduation weekend.
Decide whether you want to send out paper or digital invitations. You could also send some paper invitations to family and virtual invitations to friends. With a paper invitation, you can add a copy of your senior picture as a keepsake for family members. Include all the basic information for your party: when, where, and how to RSVP. Make it clear in your invitation whether or not it’s okay for your guests to bring other people with them, as well.
“Tropical Hawaiian”: This is great for an outdoor party. You can light tiki torches, serve fruit punch, put grass skirts around tables, and play beach music. “Last Chance to Be a Kid”: This is a great way to let loose and let everyone have a bit of kid fun. Invite your guests to bring water guns, fill up water balloons, and have an outdoor water fight, followed by a barbeque. “Smart Cookie”: This is a fun and simple theme that will give everyone an excuse to indulge their sweet tooth! Choose cookie-themed décor and serve up some tasty baked goods, like cookies, brownies, and cupcakes.
You can have the party catered, make your own food, or have a mix of homemade and catered foods. If you go DIY, think of dishes you can make ahead of time, like casseroles and cold salads. Allow guests to assemble their foods. Choose dishes like tacos, spaghetti, chili, burgers and hotdogs, salads, or sandwiches that guests can make how they like them. Just have a table set up buffet-style. Consider making or buying a cake that says congrats for the graduate. In addition to cake, you might want other desserts, like an ice cream sundae bar, cookies, or bowls of candy.
Hang up balloons and streamers in your school colors or in a color that matches the theme of your party. Consider making a memory jar and placing pencils and slips of paper beside it. Ask each of your guests to write down one memory they have with you from school. This will make a wonderful keepsake that you can treasure for years to come. Add a bit of nostalgia. A graduation party is an ideal place to reminisce about the fun times you’ve had in school. Display pictures from throughout the years. If you’re throwing a graduation party for multiple graduates, it can be fun to have a baby photo guessing game. Tack up photos of each graduate as a small child and have each guest try to decide who is who.
Create a table where you can lay out all of your board games for people to choose from. Make sure you have plenty of chairs for guests to sit in. Offer a variety of games. Choose some that can be played with as few as 2 people. Board games are an easy activity to set up, and they will provide plenty of entertainment to your party guests without requiring you to facilitate.
Set up a large pad of paper have guests play Pictionary. If you don’t have a Pictionary game, come up with your own clues. These can be random, or you can relate them back to graduation. If you are outdoors, you can play games like Twister and cornhole. [12] X Research source
Use a large piece of paper or a sheet as a backdrop against a wall. This can be plain or patterned. Add a banner that has the name of the graduate’s school and the year. Use poster board to create props like speech bubbles, giant mustaches, and hats for party guests to hold up as they snap photos together on their phones.
Make sure to speak to the specific strengths and accomplishments of the graduate, and wish them luck in the future. If you want, you can use a favorite quote that seems fitting for the occasion. Toast with champagne or sparkling juice.
Some good options for a virtual get-together include Google Hangouts or Google Meet (which is currently available for free), Zoom, Skype, Facebook Messenger, and Houseparty. [16] X Research source Most of these apps allow pretty large groups, but check in advance so you know if the app you choose will work for the size of your party. For instance, you can add up to 50 people to a Skype group call. You can add up to 1,000 people to a Zoom meeting, and display up to 49 video streams at once on your screen! Apple’s FaceTime app has a user-friendly group chat feature that lets you add up to 32 people, but it only works on Apple products. If you choose this app, keep in mind that only guests with iPhones, iPads, or Macs will be able to join the party.
Include information like the date, time, and theme of the party. You can also add a link or invite code to your virtual meeting space and instructions on how to join.
For instance, you could hang up some balloons or a “Congratulations Graduates” banner in the background, or give it a more personal touch by putting together a poster or collage with pictures of the grad(s) of honor. If your party has a theme, choose décor that fits. For example, if you have a tropical theme, hang up some leis or set up an inflatable palm tree in the background. Some video chat platforms, like Zoom, will also allow you to use fun virtual backgrounds. Search for a premade graduation-themed background to use, or make your own!
You can order graduation-themed party headband boppers or party hats online for a fun and lighthearted touch.
“Most Likely To” is a great game for a graduation party, and it’s easy to play over video chat. Come up with a list of questions, like “Who is most likely to get elected as president?” or “Who’s most likely to run away and join the circus?” Then, have everyone vote on who in the group is the best fit!
You can either have someone give a short speech, or keep it simple with a brief toast, like “Here’s to the future!” If it’s a high school graduation, stick to some fun alcohol-free cocktails or sparkling white grape juice.
