Celebrate a graduation with a party.
Whether from kindergarten, high school, college or graduate school, a graduation is a milestone to celebrate. Make the day even more special by having a party for the graduate. Planning the event is more than setting the budget, choosing a venue and making a guest list. Create a checklist so you are sure to mail invitations, purchase decorations, prepare a menu and follow up on every detail. Does this Spark an idea?
Invitations
Send invitations three weeks prior to the graduation party, according to Emily Post. Be sure to let the guests know the time, date, venue and RSVP deadline. Some high schools and colleges provide each student a limited amount of graduation invitations and announcements. If you want to send these as your invitations, make sure you can order an additional amount for all of the guests on your list. Depending on your budget, you can also order invitations from a printing service, purchase from a party center or card store, or print them at home from your computer. There are also online invitation resources.
D cor
Use school colors to decorate the venue. Party centers carry balloons, streamers, signs, confetti and other decorations in the colors of local schools and colleges. Buy plates, cups and napkins to match. Depending on your guest list, determine if you need additional chairs, tents and serving equipment. If so, order these six weeks before the event.
Food
Decide what type of food you will serve at the party. If you are cooking it yourself, plan to serve food that you can prepare ahead of time and freeze until the big day. If catering, choose the menu and reserve the date with the vendor six weeks before the graduation party. Purchase non-perishables such as chips and drinks the week prior to the party. If you have enough room, buy the non-perishables on sale in the weeks before and store them until the graduation party.
Details
Check your list the week before the graduation party to see if you forgot anything. Call guests who have not responded to find out whether or not they will be attending. Contact the caterer to confirm the menu. Get in touch with vendors to confirm delivery and set up of party equipment. Shop for last-minute items or anything that you forgot to purchase. Decorate the graduation party venue the evening before, if possible, and ask for help. This will help alleviate any stress on the big day. Be sure that a thank-you note is sent within the week after the graduation party to anyone who brought a gift.
Tags: graduation party, weeks before, before graduation, before graduation party, Depending your