graduation party ideas
BY A PROFESSIONAL PARTY PLANNER
Ideas include:
Special Graduation Party Ideas
Personalized / Unique Graduation Party Ideas
graduation Party Decorations
graduation Party Activities
graduation Party Food & Drink
graduation Party Dessert Tables
graduation Party Invitations
graduation Gifts
i’m matt james
professional event producer
welcome
CONTENTS
ON THIS PAGE
01 MAKE IT SPECIAL
Thoughtful ideas that celebrate the person, focus on the feel-good, and make a graduation special
02 MAKE IT personal
How to add creative twists and personal touches to create talking points and memorable moments
03 graduation party decorations
How to maximize your budget by concentrating your graduation party decorations in a few key areas
04 graduation party activities
How to break the ice, provide conversation-starters, encourage mingling, and create atmosphere
05 graduation party food
Why food stations geared towards small bites, tasting plates, and DIY options are better than buffets
06 dessert tables
How a dessert table can lend visual spectacle, save time, and maximize budget for a graduation party
07 graduation party drinks
Get that professionally-catered look and give traditional drinks a creative twist
08 graduation party invitations
Why invitations needs to excite, inspire, and give guests something to look forward to
09 graduation gifts
Avoid uninspiring and clichéd gifts in favor of something that’s unique, meaningful, or a treat
ADVICE FROM A PRO
graduation party tips
MATT’S TIP
in this section
01 Make it special
celebrate the person and what they’ve achieved
AVOID CLICHÉS
ideas in this section
share a memory postcards
reasons we love you
photo slideshow
a gift every hour
memory letters
‘open when’ letters
Through the Years photo book
photo collage memory box
reasons we love you photo book
AND MORE
preview
ideas to make it special
Check out this preview of some graduation party ideas to make it special, then hit the ‘Open Full Post’ button below to view all ideas in this section (opens in a new tab).
the idea
share a memory postcards
Invite friends and family to mail a postcard sharing a favorite memory of the graduate in the days leading up to their graduation
the idea
a gift every hour
Spread the love over an entire day with 12 smaller gifts; one to be opened every hour!
the idea
reasons we love you photo book
Invite friends and family to take photos expressing all the things they love about the graduate to collect together in a keepsake photo book to celebrate their graduation
the idea
graduation slideshow
Invite friends and family to contribute photos and videos of the graduate to surprise them with an animated slideshow
VIEW MORE
ideas to make it special
in this section
02 Make it personal
add creative twists & personal touches
ideas in this section
custom photo m&m’s
photo party hats
fan face custom cutouts
custom face banners
fun facts napkins
‘‘then & now photo banners‘
‘through the years’ photo banners
CUSTOM PHOTO WINE/BEER LABELS
life-size talking cutouts
CUSTOM PHOTO BALLOONS
CUSTOM PARTY CUPS
CUSTOM COOKIES
CUSTOM PINATAS
AND MORE
preview
ideas to make it personal
Check out this preview of some graduation party ideas to make it personal, then hit the ‘Open Full Post’ button below to view all ideas in this section (opens in a new tab).
the idea
custom photo m&m’s
It’s the clever little details that create talking points, so swap regular candy for personalized M&M’s with photos of the graduate
the idea
photo party hats
Create custom party hats printed with old photos of the graduate from different stages of their life
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the idea
fan face custom cutouts
Create photo ops by providing guests with faces of the guest of honor at different stages of their life
the idea
custom face banners
Personalize your party decorations with custom face banners of the graduate at different ages
VIEW MORE
ideas to make it personal
ADVICE FROM A PRO
planning your own party?
MATT’S TIP
in this section
03 graduation party DeCORations
COMMON MISTAKES TO AVOID
ideas in this section
custom yard heads
‘through the years’ banners
paper luminaries
life-size talking cutout
‘through the years’ welcome sign
self-service welcome drinks
‘through the years’ party backdrop
photo collage cutouts
paper circle garland backdrops
FUN FACTS BALLOONS
‘THROUGH THE YEARS’ PHOTO GARLANDS
THEN & NOW PHOTO BANNERS
AND MORE
preview
entrance decorations
the idea
custom yard heads
Bring a smile to guests’ faces as they arrive with custom yard heads showing the graduate at different stages of their life
the idea
‘through the years’ banners
Ensure your entrance stands out while making guests smile with vertical banners showing the graduate ‘through the years’
the idea
paper luminaries
For evening events, give guests a warm welcome by lining the route to your entrance with glowing paper luminaries
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entrance decorations
preview
welcome area
the idea
life-size talking cutout
Have the graduate greet guests at the entrance with a life-size cutout paired with a motion-activated voice recorder
the idea
‘through the years’ welcome sign
Entertain guests by placing a photo collage showing the graduate at different stages of their life on welcome desks or bars
the idea
self-service drinks table
Set up a self-service bar at the entrance with pre-mixed or ready-to-pour drinks that guests can all help themselves to on arrival
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welcome area dEcor
preview
dessert table decor
the idea
‘through the years’ backdrop
Create a custom backdrop for a dessert/buffet table featuring pictures of the graduate ‘through the years’
the idea
photo collage cutouts
Create a tabletop dessert table display with a photo collage cutout showing the graduate at different ages
the idea
paper circle garland backdrops
For a soft and delicate graduation party backdrop, these ombré paper circle garlands lend a whimsical touch
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dessert table dEcor
preview
room decorations
the idea
fun facts balloons
Hang photos with ‘fun facts you may not know about the graduate’ from helium balloons to entertain guests
the idea
‘through the years’ photo garlands
Create interactive party decorations by asking guests to bring their favorite pictures of the graduate to add to photo garland decorations
the idea
‘then & now’ photo banners
Give party guests a glimpse of the graduate back in the day by decorating walls with ‘Then & Now’ style photo banners