i’m matt james

professional event planner

  • Over 25 years event-planning experience
  • Winner of 30 industry awards
  • Clients include:
  • Elton John,
  • Stella McCartney,
  • Sarah Jessica Parker,
  • Kevin Spacey……and more

welcome

Matt James professional event planner
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CONTENTS

ON THIS PAGE

01 personalized graduation party decorations

Funny, personalized, and unique graduation party ideas and decorations for college or high school

a unique graduation party idea: 'congrats grad!' dessert table tapestry backdrop with photos showing the graduate 'through the years'
man in graduation cap and gown surprised with a unique graduation party idea: a life size custom cutout standee of himself
This Kid Just Graduated and Not Just a Pretty Face custom photo personalized unique graduation party decorations
personalized graduation party decorations: custom face photo garland banner showing a young man 'through the years'
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02 unique graduation gift ideas

Creative, unforgettable, and unique graduation gift ideas

woman standing next to a custom muppet-style puppet of herself; a unique graduation gift idea
a unique graduation gift idea: a personalized comic book
custom bobblehead of a young woman in graduation cap and gown alongside her photo for a unique graduation gift idea
personalized viewmaster reel viewer unique graduation party idea
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03 unique graduation party activities

Personalized activities, entertainment, and games to engage party guests, create atmosphere, and make a graduation party memorable

a unique graduation party idea: young woman standing next to a custom pinata of herself in a graduation cap and gown
retro telephone audio guest book set up next to an instructions sign inviting party guests to record personalized voice messages
a unique graduation party idea: young female graduate standing with a group of friends holding up fan faces of her face in front of theirs
18 Reasons We Love You signing poster guest book alternative for a unique graduation party idea
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in this section

01 personalized graduation party decorations

avoid the obvious

  • Whether high school or college, graduation is a big deal, so you need to make an effort.
  • A special occasion needs to look and feel special.
  • This won’t happen if you just type ‘graduation party decorations’ into Amazon and buy a whole bunch of generic ‘off the self’ party supplies.
  • Cheap, shiny, and mass-produced in China doesn’t exactly say ‘special’ does it?
  • These types of decorations are just lazy and unimaginative—and I guarantee your guests will have seen them all before and know exactly where you got them.
  • Instead, ensure your party includes unique graduation party ideas; decorations, gifts, and party supplies that are personalized.

make a graduation party fun & memorable

  • That’s not to say you need to spend a fortune on fancy decorations.
  • Instead, opt for everyday party supplies, such as backdrops, banners, and balloons, that can be personalized.
  • An easy way to create unique and memorable birthday decorations is to customize them with cute, funny, and embarrassing old photos showing the graduate at different stages of their life.
  • You can tie all these together by adopting a ‘Through the Years’ theme for your party.
  • Alternatively, give it a festival theme customized with the guest of honor’s name e.g Gloria-palooza, Miranda-fest, Matt-stock.

why you need unique party decorations

  • Adding a personal touch makes them far more interesting and demonstrates that you took the time to create something unique; just for the birthday boy or girl.
  • Customization adds a point of difference. It grabs people’s attention and encourages them to ‘lean in’; to inspect, engage with, photograph, and discuss—rather than just passively glance at.
  • It’s these creative twists, clever little details, and personal touches that guests discuss, photograph, share, and remember.
  • All of which generates buzz and atmosphere that will make your make your graduation party a success.
  • It also shows that a bit of love, thought, and care has gone into everything, which will make the guest of honor feel loved and appreciated on a day they might be feeling a little sensitive about getting older.
  • Remember that phrase, ‘it’s the thought that counts’?
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the idea

custom face banners

Personalize your graduation party decorations with custom face banners of the graduate at different ages

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graduation party custom face photo banners showing the graduate at different ages hung above party dessert table
the idea

custom photo balloons

Personalize your decorations with photo balloons showing the guest of honor at different stages of their life

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This Kid Just Graduated and Not Just a Pretty Face custom photo graduation balloons
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

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man standing next to a life-size cutout standee of himself in a graduation robe and cap
the idea

‘through the years’ banners

Ensure your entrance stands out while making guests smile with vertical banners showing the graduate ‘through the years’

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Look Who Graduated custom photo vertical banners showing the graduate 'through the years' hung either side of house door
the idea

fun facts balloons

Hang photos with ‘fun facts you may not know about the graduate’ from helium balloons to entertain guests

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Photos and 'Fun Facts' about the graduate hanging from helium balloon strings used as party room 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

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custom photo yard heads of a woman's wearing a graduation cap arranged on a front lawn outside a house
the idea

‘through the years’ backdrop

Create a custom backdrop for a dessert / buffet table featuring pictures of the graduate ‘through the years’

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Congrats Grad! custom photo graduation party backdrop behind a party dessert table
the idea

custom printed balloons

Personalize your graduation party decorations with custom printed latex balloons featuring images of the guest of honor

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couple standing next to a green custom printed balloon with their faces on
the idea

big head cutouts

Decorate large spaces by hanging or lining the walls with custom head cutouts of the graduate at different stages of their life

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giant custom face cutouts showing the graduate at different ages used as hanging decorations above a crowd of dancing party guests
the idea

The Man, The myth, the legend

Big up the big man on his big day with this range of custom ‘The Man, The Myth, The Legend’ graduation party supplies

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Custom The Man, The Myth, The Legend graduation party backdrop behind a dessert table
the idea

photo collage cutouts

Create a tabletop dessert table display with photo collage letter cutouts showing the graduate at different ages

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letter 'through the years' photo collage cutout decorations spelling BEN standing on a graduation party dessert table showing photos of the graduate
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

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graduation party photo garland decorations showing the graduate 'Through the Years'
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

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Congratulations to our Graduate custom 'Then & Now' graduation party banner decorations hung above party food table
the idea

FUN FACTS FILLED BALLOONS

Fill balloons with ‘fun facts you may not know about the graduate’ and encourage guests to pop to reveal

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Fun facts filled 'Pop Me' balloons for a graduation party
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

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celebrating graduation photo collage sign set up on a party drinks table bar
the idea

photo collage board

Entertain party guest with a photo collage board showing the graduate at different stages of their life

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Congrats Jack freestanding graduation party photo collage board decoration showing photos of the graduate through the years
the idea

balloon decals

Personalize your graduation party decorations with custom balloon decals that allow you to choose the right words for the occasion

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'Congratulations George' custom name balloon decals applied to gold balloons for a graduation party
the idea

‘through the years’ photo banners

Personalize your graduation party decorations and entertain guests with photo banners showing the graduate ‘through the years’

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graduation party photo garland banners showing the graduate 'through the years'
the idea

half body / group cutouts

Create a big first impression by greeting guests with a half body or group cutout decorations of the graduate at different stages of their life

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half body and group cutouts of family members lining the pathway to the front door of a house

fantastic finds

great Ideas i wish i’d thought of…

Check out this great idea below from Marta Dansie of Marta Writes

the idea

fun facts garland banners

Personalize your party decorations and entertain guests with garland banners highlighting fun facts about the graduate

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fun facts about the graduate garland banner decorations hanging from tree at graduation garden party
in this section

02 unique graduation gift ideas

Personal v Personalized graduation gifts

  • Don’t be fooled into thinking that a gift with someone’s name on it makes it personal.
  • No man really wants a monogrammed leather wallet or new backpack as a graduation gift.
  • In the same way no woman needs another vase, scented candle, or an ‘Bona Fide Genius’ mug.
  • The truth is, most people—men and women—would far prefer a meaningful graduation party gift over any store-bought alternative…
  • no matter how luxurious or expensive the store-bought gift might be!

it’s the thought that counts

  • A truly unique and personal gift is one where some real thought has gone into it…
  • something you know they’d love but would never treat themselves to,
  • something meaningful with sentimental value,
  • or something quirky, unusual, or unique tailored to the recipient.

Unique graduation party gift ideas

  • Some of the best gifts are often ones that cost the least; memories, photographs, and heartfelt thoughts shared by friends and family.
  • It’s the simplest things that are often the most priceless, like love, gratitude, and intimacy.
  • So, ditch the obvious and stereotypical gifts and check out some of the truly unique graduation gift ideas below.
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the idea

reasons we love you

Invite friends and family to highlight the admirable qualities, notable traits, or amusing quirks that make the graduate so loved

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framed reasons we love you poster with photo of the graduate
the idea

custom puppet

For a truly unique and personal gift have a custom Muppet-style puppet made of the graduate

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woman standing next to a custom muppet-style puppet of herself for a adult birthday gift
the idea

custom reel viewer

Ask friends an family for photos of their favorite memory of the graduate to collect together in a custom reel viewer

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custom reel viewer / viewfinder made with your own photos for a adult birthday gift
the idea

custom comic book

Tell the graduate life story (so far) by creating a custom comic book featuring photos of them ‘through the years’

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'Super Dad' custom comic book featuring cartoon versions of family photos for a adult birthday gift
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

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reasons we love you graduation photo book
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more unique graduation party ideas

twin brothers in graduation caps and gowns surprised with a unique graduation party idea; a custom pinata of them both
graduation party photo cone hats showing the graduate now and as a young child
custom bobblehead of a young woman in graduation cap and gown alongside her photo for a unique graduation party idea
a stack of numbered '4 years of memory' letters in air mail envelopes for a unique graduation gift
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