Unique Graduation Party Ideas: All About the Graduate

You know, I love all kinds of parties for all kinds of reasons. Believe me, I've even made up reasons for a party. But there is something about a party that belongs just to one person. Graduation is one of those days. Unlike birthdays, which you get to celebrate just for being around on your birth date, your graduate has really earned the spotlight upon commencement. Years of hard work bring them to a crossroads in their life.

Whether it's off to college or to a new job, things change upon graduation. It's a great to time celebrate a wonderful accomplishment and a bright future. It's a day that should be All About the Graduate!

graduation party invitations
Make the graduate the center of attention from start to finish. They've earned it. The invitation should match the grad's personal style:

A personalized graduation invitation is a great starting place. We have over 20 designs, so we are sure to have an invitation that will fit your graduate. For an "All About the Graduate" theme, try a customizable invitation that puts the graduate’s picture front and center.

Personalized photo ticket invitations are really hot this year. What better way to showcase your grad's accomplishment than with a pic right on the invite?
We really love our semi-custom graduation caricature invitations. We use artwork already drawn and add your graduate's face for an incredible invitation.

You can also consider a caricature invitation. These are truly unique and the caricature can be used for your life size cutout, candy bar wrapper and more.

Whatever invitation you decide to send, sprinkle in some graduation confetti for a fun surprise.

Of course, choose the perfect invite wording for the perfect graduation party:

Time to celebrate! Jason is going to graduate!
The tassle was worth the hassle! Join us as we celebrate Cassie's graduation from Mt McKinley High!
Congrats, you did it! Celebrate with Michael at his graduation bash!

Make sure to send out your invitations 6-8 weeks in advance. Graduation season is a busy one, and you'll want to make sure your guests rsvp with a Yes!

graduation decorations and party supplies
Make sure to have a life-sized cutout of the graduate girl or boy either at the welcome area or by the food table. It's a great way to greet guests, and it takes some pressure off the graduate to meet everyone at the door. We used one for my son's graduation, and we kept it up in the hallway when he left for college.

A few more decorations at your venue's entrance will define your space while highlighting the grad's accomplishments:

Every graduate is unique. Share what makes him or her special. Decorate your sign-in table with pictures, awards, and mementos. It's a great way to start conversations and stir memories.
Guests can leave well wishes to the grad with a Graduation Sign In Board, which the graduate can keep after the party.
Then hang a great big personalized graduation banner announcing the big day by the front door.
Make sure you have some pictures in a photo album or two. People can bring them back to their tables. Aunts and uncles seem to enjoy this the most.

Give your party space a personal touch - make it all about the graduate with fun decorations:

Make your party hotspots stand out with balloon bouquets in the grad's school colors. Balloons are a perfect way to highlight your sign-in table, buffet, and favor tables.
Larger than life 2018 mylar balloons make a big impact as a backdrop to your buffet or drink station.
Make sure to include a photo collage of the grad! School pictures from kindergarten on up make a sweet personal tribute to the guest of honor.

Don't forget to give your tables a special touch so your party is all about the graduate!

graduation table decorations and menu
Set out paper goods in the grad's school colors for your guests (no dishes to clean!), and lay out a buffet that features the graduate's favorite foods. Does she love corned beef and sauerkraut? Indulge her! Or maybe he is a burger buff? Then hamburgers with all the fixings you could want it is!

Try a few more of these table decorating tips, too:

Put a clear plastic tablecloth over a solid colored one and in between the layers put pictures of the grad, football ticket stubs, choir programs, and more! It's a great way to make your party all about the graduate, and all the mementos stay safe and dry.
Candy comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes these days: footballs, soccer balls, hearts, etc. You can find something that fits your grad, and then leave it in small dishes on the tables or sprinkle it like confetti!
Put the grad's picture on every table with a personalized graduation centerpiece. With a graduation balloon bouquet coming out of the top,you have the perfect table decoration!
You can also add some 2019 glasses to each place setting for each of your guests.
Many graduations are in the summer, and warm weather means lots of beverages. A personalized graduation water bottle label is a memorable touch!

Don't forget to send your family and friends home with a little something...

graduation party favors

Speaking of favors, you'll want your guests to walk away with something that lets them remember the day and the graduate. Here are a few of our favorites:

Personalized mint and candy tins are a great favor everyone will enjoy (who doesn't like candy?!?), and you can add a photo of the graduate to make it an extra special memento!
Personalized candy bar wrappers. A picture of the graduate, a list of ingredients that make them special, and the nutrients that will power them to success. Oh, and you get chocolate too! What's not to like? What's really neat is that many of the wrappers match invitations, which allows you to carry the theme throughout the party.
Personalized lollipops. Another place to put the face of your graduate, and sure to be a sweet treat!

Don't forget a custom graduation favor bag so your guests have a place to put all of their goodies!

No matter what you decide, just be sure to shine a spotlight on the graduate today. They've earned it! Congrats from the Party Girl!