Graduation Tips & Party Ideas
Graduation celebrates a milestone in education, usually from high school or college. Family and friends gather to acknowledge the milestone with congratulations and gifts. Organizing the graduation party takes time and effort, considering what will work best for your family and your graduate from location to food. Does this Spark an idea?
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Location
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If the weather is warm, hold the graduation party outdoors. A large front or back yard works well if readily accessible for guests. Set out tables and chairs for comfort. You may reserve a portion of a park for the graduation reception. If you prefer to hold the graduation celebration inside, use multiple rooms such as dining, living and family rooms. If you plan the event for outdoors, reserve alternate accommodations should weather turn inclement. Several friends might wish to hold their graduation receptions together. The families can rent a hall or a restaurant room, or your church might open the fellowship hall for multiple receptions held together. Set up tables for each graduate along with the food tables around the perimeter with tables and chairs for guests in the room center. Wherever you hold the party, consider amount of parking needed for guests.
Guests
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Mailing invitations to individuals and families gives you an approximate idea of how many guests might be expected. If you include a blanket reception to coworkers, school classmates or your house of worship, the number gets more difficult to predict. Plan according to your location, when you're holding the party and the number of invitations sent. Consider the health of guests: Those with health issues need to have priority in seating. Make sure those on crutches or in wheelchairs are placed where they can interact with other guests, but are safe from those who might trip over or bump a leg or wheelchair.
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Time
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When you hold the graduation party depends upon when family can attend, convenience for you and the preference of the graduate. If you hold the party directly after the ceremony, give yourself enough time for pictures and to arrive back home before the first guest arrives or plan for a family member or friend to stay at the party location to welcome the first guests. You also may decide to hold the graduation party the day before the ceremony. However, make sure out-of-town guests will be able to arrive a day early for the reception. Holding the reception party the day before the graduation ceremony also allows you and your graduate to visit other after-graduation parties the day of the ceremony.
Decorations
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Decorate the main table --- perhaps one at the entrance or that holding the cake --- with a tablecloth that you have guests sign or spread a collection of photographs of the graduate on the table and protect with clear plastic. Create a large poster with photographs and identifying text or an album the graduate can keep as a memory of the special day.
Food
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The centerpiece of a graduation party is the cake. With this you can serve punch and mints in school colors as well as mixed nuts for those who might prefer something less sweet. You may also wish to serve something more substantial such as sandwiches, chips and a vegetable platter with dip. Add a bowl of watermelon balls or a fruit salad.
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References
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