After years of academic work, a graduating student deserves a festive send-off to prepare for life’s next big step. Whether your loved one is graduating from high school or college, now’s the time to plan a celebration to remember. Throwing the perfect party starts with considering the graduate and your budget. Here are some tips for throwing a fun and memorable event.
How to Throw a Graduation Party
Graduation is a huge milestone that brings together fellow students, friends, mentors, and family members who helped them along the way. The very first step to planning any sort of event is to set your budget. It may be the least fun aspect, but is perhaps the most important. Estimate how many people you’d like to invite, and how much to spend on food and drinks per person, plus the cost of the decorations, entertainment, etc. Once you have your budget and an idea how many people you can invite, start building your guest list.
A theme adds a fun touch to your event, and will also guide your decorating and menu planning. Kitschy luaus, school colors and simple summer backyard barbecues are popular graduation party themes with food and activities that all ages will enjoy. Pick a location for your party; rent a venue, host it at home, or in a park if you don’t have a ton of entertaining space, and choose a day and time for the gathering.
Once the logistics are squared away, it’s time for the fun stuff, creating invitations and a menu and choosing decorations, activities and entertainment. Whether you’re going to cater, have a food truck or prepare your own, decide what food, snacks, drinks and desserts to offer. Make sure to create a playlist or hire a DJ and have a few games or activities that guests can participate in. Incorporate decorations that reflect the grad’s personality and accomplishments. Choose decor that’s meaningful and memorable, match the overall theme and create a festive and celebratory atmosphere.
Decorating Your Graduation Party
The decor for any type of party is largely based on the theme. Choose a color scheme that matches the graduate’s school colors or their favorite colors, or something that celebrates where they’re headed in this next chapter of their life. If your graduate is one smart cookie, let it be known with a cookie bar, or deck out the party and tablescapes with things based on their degree or future career as a teacher, nurse, accountant, realtor, etc or use items things that relate to education in general like books, blackboards, pencils, diplomas, etc.
No graduation party would be complete without some sort of trip down memory lane. Create a photo display showcasing their journey from childhood to graduation. Use a clothesline with mini clothespins, a photo wall with framed pictures, or a photo album for guests to flip through. Set up a memory board where guests can write well wishes or share memories with colorful markers, sticky notes, or small cards creating an interactive and nostalgic atmosphere. Frame quotes and advice and display them on tables and serving areas and use personalized signs and banners.
Photo booths are a delightful way for guests to get pictures with each other and the grad. Design it to look like a classroom, or stock it with props related to graduation like caps, diplomas, glasses, and signs with funny graduation-related phrases. Provide a backdrop that matches the party theme and include a camera or photo booth app for guests to capture memories. A balloon arch or backdrop is a great focal point for the party and can also be used for a photo booth.
The more personalized you can make it, the more special and memorable your graduation gathering will be. Historic Acres is a wonderful venue in Hershey PA for graduation celebrations. You can choose to have your event inside or outside, and we can accommodate parties of all sizes. Contact us today for more information.