Etiquette for the Time Frame to Send Out High School Graduation Invitations

High school graduates enjoy graduation parties.

High school graduation is typically a busy time for students and their parents, filled with many engagements and preparation for post-high school job and college opportunities. Students want to spend as much time possible with their friends, and using the appropriate etiquette for sending out graduation invitations in time is an excellent means of ensuring that time.

Time Frame

Parents and students should send out invitations to informal open house events and graduation parties three to four weeks before the event.

Considerations

If the graduation party is very formal (hosted at an upscale restaurant) or some of the guests live a considerable distance away, students and parents should send invitations six weeks in advance of the event. They should send all invitations on the same day, even though some recipients live greater distances away.

Types

The type of party may also mean it's polite to send invitations out six weeks in advance. If the party occurs within a limited time frame, requires costume (theme party) or happens at an odd hour (midnight movie showing with after party), it's proper etiquette for the host to provide advance notice to guests.

Prevention/Solution

Sometimes graduation parties coincide with other events.

Because students graduate at the same time as their classmates, graduation parties often coincide on the same day. To avoid conflicts, it's appropriate for students to coordinate with their closest friends so they can attend each others' events. To allow students to attend multiple parties, the host may opt to have an open house, during which invitees come and go informally throughout the day.

Hand Delivery

Hand delivery is an appropriate option for the student to ensure that invitees receive invitations in a timely fashion. Hand-delivery etiquette asserts that invitations not be delivered in front of non-invitees. Students should hand-deliver the invitation when the invitee is alone or when surrounded by others invited to the party (who should also receive the invitations at the same time if they have not already received them).

References

• Invitation Etiquette
• Graduation Invitations Etiquette

Resources

• Graduation Etiquette