As Graduation Season approaches again, Im sure you are scrolling Pinterest for fun & helpful ideas & ways to create a Graduation Party your graduate will Love!! So here are a few tips to help make your party a success starting even now, months away, or for me close to a year away from the Graduation Ceremony!! I’ll be bringing you ideas from a middle school graduation party I just had for my daughter!! It was an absolute blast!! It was wicked hot but so fun!!
Location
Graduation parties can be held anywhere!! Your home, a park, or a rented space!! We rented a space and loved loved the space!! Working with Scott was amazing 🙂 I recommend if you rent a space try to find a place where you can set up the day before, or need little decorating to create memories in!! If you can’t decorate the day before, give yourself enough time to decorate the day off!! We had 2.5 hrs!! It wasn’t a lot of time but we got most things done!!
Also because graduation season is often in the summer make sure you have enough air conditioning to the amount of people attending your function because if not you will all be suffering!! Lol! Or have a shelter for your guests if your having an outdoor event!!
Theme
Picking out a theme is probably to me the most important!! Will you use his/her school colors? Is he/she into something that you can incorporate into your theme?? Is there a theme that he/ she loves?
For my daughters Middle School Graduation, we chose a Boho Garden theme!! I love pampas grass and my daughter loves that style of clothing so it was a win, win!! She loved the theme too!!
Decorations
Here’s the reception backdrop!! It was behind the dj!!
Where to find decorations!! So you can shop locally like at Walmart, Hobby Lobby and stores near you! My inspiration came from a store called Mardens that I absolutely love, I got so lucky because they carry random things and they had a huge lot of internet stuff.. looks like Amazon items!! Yay!! So I found artificial flowers, and even an awesome backdrop there!!
Ordering Online is another option, you have Walmart.com, Amazon, and my other favorite Temu!! Ordering Pampas grass from Temu was not ideal because I couldn’t send it back if I wasn’t happy with it but I loved both the artificial pampas and the real pampas that arrived! So for my backdrop I used a combination of both types!!
Food
What party doesn’t have food as center stage of the event!! Some people even just go for the food!! Lol!! Or that’s what’s I’ve heard!! Lol!! Most people love getting together but they look forward to snacks and eating with friends!!
So here are a few fun food ideas
- a simple burger and hot dog theme
- bbq or smoked meats
- taco bar
- mexican
- pasta
- potluck
- lobster/seafood bake
We went with Pulled Pork carnitas, bbq pulled pork, and smoked chicken, Mexican rice, rice, beans, salads which included pasta, potato, broccoli & for Dessert we had cake!! I ordered two large full sheet cakes!! It was a perfect menu!! We Fed almost 200!! It was amazing!!
Keeping food Hot/cold
So how to keep food hot and/or cold?? We used chafing dishes!! I have to warn you that there are drawbacks but there are also some benefits!!
Pro’s
- looks fancy and unified
- Can reuse
Cons
- Best used outdoors unless you have great air conditioning for your crowd!!
- Need storage space
- can be expensive
So my suggestion would be to purchase disposable chafing dishes, the stands are light and pretty compact if you have limited funds and space!!
Entertainment
What do you plan to add to your evening for entertainment?? Music, dancing, or games?? How about a backdrop for pictures?? I love backdrops for pictures!! I think my friends do too!! How about hiring a dj? Or karaoke?? Both fun choices!!
We hired a DJ!! He did a great job!! Overall it was a fun night!!
Here are a list of some fun activities to incorporate for your party to make it memorable!
1. Photo booth: Set up a photo booth with props and a backdrop where guests can take fun and silly photos. 
2. DIY station: Create a DIY station where guests can make personalized crafts or keepsakes, such as custom graduation caps, keychains, or photo frames. Provide supplies and instructions to inspire creativity.
3. Outdoor games: Set up outdoor games like cornhole, ladder toss, or giant Jenga for guests to play and enjoy. These games encourage friendly competition and provide entertainment for all ages.
4. Karaoke or lip-sync battle: Set up a karaoke machine or create a lip-sync battle area where guests can showcase their singing and performance skills. This interactive activity is sure to bring laughter and entertainment to the party.
5. Memory jar: Set up a memory jar where guests can write down funny or heartwarming memories they have with the graduate. This activity allows everyone to share their special moments and create a meaningful keepsake for the graduate.
6. Graduation-themed trivia: Create a trivia game with questions related to the graduate’s school, achievements, or memorable moments. This activity tests knowledge and adds an element of friendly competition to the party.
7. Graduation cap decorating: Provide plain graduation caps and art supplies for guests to decorate their own caps. This activity allows guests to express their creativity and personalize their caps for memorable graduation photos.
8. Dance-off or dance party: Create a dance-off or simply have a dance party with a playlist of popular songs. Encourage guests to show off their dance moves and celebrate the graduate’s accomplishments on the dance floor.
Remember to consider the interests and preferences of the graduate when planning the activities to ensure they have a fun and memorable graduation party.
Graduation Memorabilia
Some fun things to add to you party can include Pictures and graduation signs and Memorabilia, I think they really brings the party together!! It’s what takes your party from drab to fab!! So go ahead and celebrate your graduate!! They will love it!!
In conclusion, planning a memorable graduation party is all about personalization, creativity, and attention to detail. By incorporating these tips into your party planning process, you can ensure that your guests have an unforgettable experience. Remember to consider your graduate’s interests and preferences, create a festive atmosphere, provide delicious food and beverages, organize fun activities, and capture the special moments with photographs. With these elements in place, your graduation party will be a celebration to remember for years to come. Cheers to the graduates and their bright futures!
Here’s my Amazon affiliate link, as an affiliate with some of the items I used for the party!! Some I ordered from Temu, like the pampas grass.. but the backdrop and Macrame I purchased online.. I do recommend you check measurements to ensure it will be large enough!! The one I purchased was abit smaller than I would have liked but the graduate loved it so it stayed!! Lol!! But I’ve included a larger one that would work well!! As an Affiliate I receive a small, very small at no additional expense.. also i will be renting these backdrop’s & chafing dishes if anyone wants to rent these for their event!! Thanks!!