How to Plan a Graduation Party

Congratulations! Your kid is finally graduating and you made it through 18 years! Graduation parties mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one, so it is definitely cause to celebrate. Parties should not break the bank though, so follow the steps below for how to plan a graduation party.

What Do People Do at Graduation Parties?

Graduation parties have a different feel than most parties. Graduation parties are generally a time for mingling. People might have 2-3 other graduation parties to attend the same day, so they come and go, showing up late and leaving early.

It is important to keep this in mind when planning a graduation party because you do not need to think about how to entertain people for a long block of time. Don’t feel like you need to have numerous activities or a big dance floor. Just make sure you have good food and tables & chairs where your guests can sit.

Select a Date

Your child will likely have numerous graduation parties to attend, many stacking up on the same days. Pick your party date early and send out invitations right away. It won’t prevent others from holding a party on the same day, but it will help you kid’s best friends from scheduling the same dates. Ideal dates for graduation parties are on Saturdays, May-July.

Venue

You do not need an over the top venue for a graduation party. This is not a wedding! Think about how many people you want to invite and just make sure you have enough space.

Many people opt to throw a graduation party in their backyard, renting a tent for shade and enough tables and chairs. I hosted my graduation party in a small room we rented at a nearby hotel. You can also look into renting local fire halls or a park pavilion for a relatively cheap price as well.

Hot Tip: Note that not everyone will be there at the same time and will come and go throughout. So, if you invite 50 people, you really only need enough seats for 35 people at one time.

Food

Remember that people will be coming and going so a sit down meal is not ideal for graduation meals. I recommend having a buffet option or many light hors d’oeuvres that people can snack on throughout. If you can budget for it, save yourself the stress and order catering. Panera or Chipotle offer great catering options for parties.

Cakes are extremely customary to have at a graduation party as well. I have seen many people do a photo cake with their child’s senior photos on it. Cakes are great because they can be cut and then left out on individual plates for people to take whenever they arrive. Cupcakes also make for an easy dessert option and can have cute graduation decorations on top.

Music

In high school, I only went to one graduation party that had a dance floor and a DJ. All the others were mainly sitting around mingling and gossiping. Because of this, I recommend saving yourself the money and only having some general background music. It help fills dead air and gives a more lively feel to your party.

Decorations

Decorations for graduation parties do not need to be extravagant. The best, cheap option is to do balloons the color of your child’s high school. You can also head to Party City for a number of graduation decoration items with their graduation year.

Also, decorate with a lot of photos! This is the time to show off how amazing your kid has been through the years by displaying childhood and school photos. You can put photos on each table or have a sort of display table.

Diploma

This is what your child worked so hard for so make sure to have their diploma on full display! This works best on a display table with photos all around. You can also include a guest book next to it where guests can leave words of encouragement.

Card or Present Table

Family and friends will want to get your graduate a small gift. More often than not, this is in the form of a check and a card. Make sure you provide an easy spot for guests to drop those cards. It is best to have a small box set next to your child’s diploma or near the cake.

The main thing with graduation parties is to not overthink it. It is a time for your family and friends to celebrate your child’s biggest achievement. As long as you have food and good company, then your graduation party is bound to be memorable.

Planning more parties? Check out my post for how to plan a kid’s birthday party.