5 Tips to Plan a Successful Graduation Party

It’s not every day that you have the chance to celebrate being a graduate. Graduation is a wonderful and momentous occasion where friends and family gather and share memories. Throwing a memorable graduation party does not necessarily mean that you must hire a professional event planner. 

When planning by yourself, it’s best to have a plan beforehand. There are many things to consider like location, decor, party food, and much more. 

Here are a few steps to follow and plan a successful graduation party. 

Determine Your Budget 

It’s important to plan and create a timeline to remain within your budget. The first step is to write down all the features of your party. After completing the list, you can make an actual timeline on how to achieve them. 

To determine the total costs, give a rough estimate of how many people you would like to invite. Also, consider how much you would like to spend on food and drinks per person. You can even use an online party budget calculator to help you easily estimate your costs. 

Create a Guest List

Now that you have decided on a rough budget, the next step is to start building your guest list. Determine if you want to invite the entire graduating class to attend or whether it will be a more intimate family party.

It’s a good idea to invite a few special guests to a graduation party such as beloved teachers, coaches, or other faculty members. 

Choose a Suitable Location 

You can choose between a casual backyard party at your home or festivities at a formal restaurant. There are pros and cons to each type of location. If you throw a party at home, then it can help you save money and it’s easy to personalize and comfort others. But it’s hard work on your part to clean the house before and after the party.

The best part of having a party at a restaurant is the ease of relying on a event planner handling all the details. The major drawback is the high cost, and you may not have much flexibility on dates for the party. 

Plan Your Menu

Depending on the guests you are inviting and the time of the graduation party, you can decide on the menu. If you are expecting families with small children, you need food that kids can eat easily. Picnic foods are perfect for afternoon outdoor events. 

You can create a buffet or food or snack bars to give your guests multiple options to choose from. You can set up a drink bar craft beer, cold drinks, and juices to suit every age group. 

Select a Theme

You can go with a graduation-themed party to add a fun touch to your event as well as help guide your decoration planning. Add an inspirational touch by framing quotes and advice on achieving success and display them on tables and serving areas.

You can decorate the graduation party theme with decorations such as graduation cap centerpieces.