There is nothing more exciting than graduation season. At long last, the time you’ve been working towards and excited for is finally here, and the people who love you the most are ready to celebrate! As you plan that amazing party, you may have questions about what methods and ideas work best, and how to throw a party that will please all your guests!
What kind of party will you have? Deciding between an open house and a traditional party is often the first step when planning your celebration. A graduation open house is a party that you host during a block of time. During the open house guests can come and go as they please. This type of party helps ensure that people who have other commitments or graduation parties can still attend. This is also a good way to throw a more informal party, and even though there might be higher guest turnover, you may see more people come through than a more formal party. It is always best to decide upon a budget when you are in the early stages, so you know what kind of event you can afford.
What does the host typically provide? What you provide as a host is dependent on the type of party you throw. Every party should at least have some type of light appetizer and drinks. Consider cake or light snacks, if you are trying to keep things simple. If you want a larger meal, you can add in appetizers with protein or meat included, in order to be more filling. Party favors are not obligatory, but they are a nice touch; such as a self-serve candy bar (guests fill little favor bags with their favorite treats), or a special snack with a customized label.
Create the perfect invitations: Your graduation party deserves the very best invitation, and what you choose will be the first impress your guests receive. Each March, we release our Gradulogue, which is our catalogue of designs that can be customized for your party needs. We have plenty of options, to ensure that your card matches your senior images and your personality and color scheme.
Decide who needs an announcement and who needs an invite: This is a pretty common mistake, but each type goes to a different group of family and friends. It’s best to divide your guests or guest list into those who may need an announcement versus an invitation, so that you will order the correct amount. Graduation invitations should be sent to the people that you are asking to attend a graduation ceremony, party or dinner. Graduation invitations should include the date, time and location of the event, as well as RSVP information. Graduation announcements are sent to family and friends to let them know about the momentous occasion. They often include the graduate’s name, photo, university and graduation year, but not the time or location of the graduation because that could be misinterpreted as an invite. You can also include information about the degree and/or any honors that are received.
Send out invitations: Once you have chosen your invites and have your list, it’s time to address and send them out. Start with a list of the guests you hope to invite, and don’t forget to include those out-of-town relatives and friends, who should receive theirs six weeks in advance. When deciding who should make the guest list, remember to include your parent or guardian’s input, as they are likely hosting your event.
Don’t forget the thank you notes! It is polite to send a thank you note to those who came and supported you on your big day, and anyone who may have not attended, but sent a gift or card. Keep track of those who attended, and make sure to mention their kind gifts when you acknowledge them. An old-fashioned snail mail card is a beautiful way to be a gracious recipient. Twelfth + Grace also offers customized thank you cards to match your luxury invitations, which will be a polished way to finish graduation season.