How to Plan a Graduation Party
Celebrate the graduate with an easy, cheerful outdoor party.
Graduation season is busy, and your guests will have more than one party to attend. A simple plan, an easy menu and a personal touch will make yours stand out.
Step 1
Pick the date early
Check the ceremony date and ask friends when their parties are. Choose a time that does not clash, and consider an open-house style so that guests can come and go. Send invitations before the season gets busy.
Tip: Send a save-the-date right after the school posts the ceremony date.
Step 2
Use school colors
School colors are a simple theme that is already decided. Use them in balloons, tablecloths and napkins. Add a board of photos from kindergarten to graduation, as people will gather around it.
Tip: Balloons at the entrance show guests they are in the right place.
Step 3
Set up the food table
A long table outdoors works well for a buffet. Offer a few main dishes that hold up at room temperature, and put drinks in a separate spot to keep the line moving. Provide shade for the food if the party is in the daytime.
Tip: Rent a tent if more than half the party is outside.
Step 4
Keep the menu simple
Choose food that can feed many people and is easy to refill, like tacos, sandwiches or trays of pasta. Add a large fruit platter for color. Open-house parties need snacks, not a full plated meal.
Tip: Plan food for more guests than you expect, as graduates bring friends.
Step 5
Order the cake
A cap and diploma design is a classic. Add the graduate's name, the year and school colors. Sheet cakes are the simplest choice for big groups, and they are easy to cut and serve.
Tip: Order your cake early, as bakers fill up in graduation season.
Step 6
Add personal details
Small details make the party feel personal. Cupcakes with little caps, a card box and a table for guests to write advice all work well. Thank guests on the way out, then send notes in the following weeks.
Tip: Give the graduate time to speak with every guest.
Your planning timeline
- 2 months beforeDate, place and guest list
- 6 weeks beforeSend invitations
- 2 weeks beforeOrder the cake and plan the food
- 1 day beforeDecorate and set up tables
Common questions
When should you have a graduation party?
Any time from a few weeks before to a few weeks after the ceremony. Avoid the same day as other close friends.
What is an open-house graduation party?
It is a party with a long time window, such as 1 to 5 p.m., where guests can arrive and leave when they like.
Photo credits
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, cropped and resized.
- UC Davis College of Engineering (CC BY 2.0)
- Rennett Stowe from USA (CC BY 2.0)
- HelenOnline (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Pseudopanax at English Wikipedia (Public domain)
- Jane Cooper (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- Apuch from Philadelphia, USA (CC BY-SA 2.0)
- Gandydancer (CC BY-SA 3.0)