Thiis the season for graduation parties. If you’ve got a graduate in your family, here are a few tips to help you plan the perfect gathering that celebrates this important milestone and lets you enjoy the day as well.
Keep it Simple
Unless you choose a fully catered, professionally hosted affair, the only hope you have of enjoying the event yourself is to keep things simple. This year especially, when pandemic restrictions are still in force for much of the country, parties need to be small in scale. But that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate in style - far from it. Creativity and fun will make this an event to remember.
Choose a Theme
A theme will really help things come together. Once you have a theme, ideas for decorations, activities, and even food will start to flow. Any theme will work, but these are some of our favorites:
- School – School colors, mascots, and other school spirit elements
- Hawaiian Luau
- Sports
- Your student’s passion – dance, theater, music, math, etc.
- Stars, shooting for the moon, or other similar ideas
- Picnics or BBQs
You get the idea. With the help of a theme, the whole party starts to take off.
Consider Your Guests
Being a good host means putting the needs of your guests first. Here are a few things guests really appreciate:
- A clear invitation that includes all the details. This means the time, place, theme, and other important info about the party, but also some basic information about the graduate, including what program they’ve completed and maybe where they’re headed next.
- An open house format. Chances are, your graduation guests have more than one event on their schedule. An open house allows guests to move between parties comfortably.
- Some hand sanitizer and social distancing. Everyone is experiencing COVID differently. In deference to your guests, follow COVID guidelines carefully.
- Easy access to the graduate. Your guests have come to the party to see the graduate and offer their congratulations. They likely also come bearing gifts. Do what you can to help the graduate greet and thank each guest.
- Timely thanks. Keep track of gifts and send thank you cards within a few weeks of the event.
Choose Mingle Friendly Food
Mingle-friendly foods allow your guests to munch easily while standing and moving. If you’d like to do the food yourself, follow these tips for a stress-free day:
- Choose items that can be prepped ahead of time.
- Enlist help.
- Plan to keep hot things hot and cold things cold.
- Purchase pre-made items when possible such as sandwiches, cut fruit, meatballs, or mozzarella cheese sticks.
- Remember that not everything you serve can or should be special. Choose one or two items to be the showpieces and keep everything else simple.
Enjoy!
Celebrate your graduation in style this year. With the help of these tips, you’re ready to enjoy the day.