Your Graduation Party Planning Guide
Do you have a kiddo graduating from high school or college soon? Congratulations! This is definitely something to celebrate—it’s a major milestone for you and your soon-to-be-grad. If you are considering throwing a graduation party but feel bogged down by the details, use our planning timeline and checklist. It will help you organize a fun event while keeping your frazzle-rating at a minimum.
Four Weeks Before the Party
- First, set a date and time.
- Make sure it works for your grad and your immediate family, as well as a few extra-special people that you or your grad would really like to attend.
- If you can, find out from your grad’s circle of friends if anyone else may be having a graduation party. You may try to minimize conflicting party dates/times if there are other parties.
- Keep in mind that it doesn’t need to be the weekend of the graduation ceremony. In fact, it may be easier to do it a week or two after.
- Next, decide on the location. Whether you do it at home or at a venue, both choices have their own sets of pros/cons.
- Home considerations include space limitations, doing the shopping and cooking, set-up and clean-up, party rentals such as tents and tables/chairs, and possibly catering services.
- Venue considerations include a higher budget, reservations and a deposit, minimal set-up/clean-up, limited menu options, and more rigid party hours.
- Create Your Guest List.
- Be sure to include your grad’s invitees: friends and their parents, teachers, coaches, tutors, bosses, the family they babysit for, etc.
- Go ahead and invite friends and family who don’t live nearby. Even if they can’t make it, they can still send a card or present.
- Send out the invitations. Evite or Paperless Post are both free and easy for sending electronic invitations.
