Graduation Decorations

Given the huge amount of emotion, money and time invested in getting a loved one through school, it would almost be a sin to let the event come and go without a celebration. Holding a graduation party offers a splendid opportunity to let the graduate feel all of the love and pride that has been invested in her during her school years. To give the event a festive look and feel, there is no need to spend a fortune--nor are you required to be Martha Stewart to make a decorating splash. Our tips will help you throw a party friends and family will be talking about for years to come, or at least until you throw your next one.

Function

Decorating for a graduation party relies most heavily on where you are staging it and the state of the weather. Assuming your fest will be held during the most popular graduation period, May to July, consider an outdoor party. During this period, southern climates are not always as hospitable to event planning as are northern venues, so move the stage indoors if temperatures are expected to be too hot to handle. Humid weather can do more to wilt decorations than a surprise shower. Finally, don't skimp on the celebration of your favorite December grad. You'll be a step ahead of the game if you can find a way to use your Christmas decorations as a base from which to start the job.

Types

Theme parties are popular so jump aboard that train to decorate your party venue. Go tropical by hanging foil palm trees and nautical fishnet, then place small Areca palm trees everywhere, using them for mood and as takeaway favors. Pair the graduation event with a 4th of July celebration, setting a bold table with sheets of red plastic, then finish your dramatic statement by hanging gold and blue stars from ribbons everywhere. Easy-to-make firecrackers--roll up red poster board squares, staple, then fold over each end before threading a piece of white yarn into the top--are attention-getting. When you fill the cylinders with red-hot candies, you can turn a decoration into a treat holder. Any graduation party held at night turns from mundane to magic with the addition of splashes of red and white candles of varying heights and widths.

Considerations

If money is tight, make your local dollar store your new best friend. Savvy party throwers roam the entire store for supplies rather than just sticking to the party goods section. You will find fun decorating touches in the toy department and inexpensive rolls of plastic sheeting ready to do everything from cover a wall to making eye-popping refreshment tables. If your budget can stand the hit, party stores will tie your graduation theme together, packaging up coordinated centerpieces, tableware, crepe paper streamers and props. Shopping online is another great option. Web deals on large quantities of goods and decorations at party supply sites offer one-touch ordering, so you may want to start your shopping there if you have more cash than time.

Features

Going for a unique graduation theme? Sleuth out the celebrant's passion. Treat animal lovers to a wild party table by anchoring a collection of blow-up animals wearing tags of the "creatures" the graduate can expect to meet at his or her new place of business. A less playful decorating scheme relies on the drama of black as an elegant base from which a formal party will elicit oohs and aahs. Black linens with a gold centerpiece, shimmering chair covers, glitter, beribboned napkin rings, gold and black balloons and plenty of candles will let your graduate know that he is destined for big things.

Expert Insight

Want to wow your guests with decorations that require more imagination than cash? Use the graduate's picture to anchor your decorations. Scan and output photos, mount them on cardboard backing, then place the photos on the walls surrounding the party room. Put the photos into small frames, add guests' names and you've got one-of-a-kind place markers. Craft mini-graduation caps from inverted paper or Styrofoam egg carton bottoms, squares of cardboard and yarn tassels, then hang lots of them from the ceiling using monofilament string to create a sky of caps.