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Graduation Party Planning

Home >> Graduation Party Planning

A good plan will ensure a very successful party

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Best Graduation Party Supplies

Save yourself some surfing time and start your search for graduation supplies at the following fab sites:

Shindigz Main Graduation Section

MakesParties Main Graduation Section

The variety of goodies and prices is FANTASTIC!

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Graduation Party Favors


Graduation Autograph Hound
Comes complete with a pen for everyone to sign!


Personalized Candy Barsthe perfect graduation favor that EVERYONE will love. Stick the wrapper in your Year Book for everlasting memories.

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Graduation Decorations


Complete Graduation Decorations Kit


Fabulous selection of Plain and Graduation Balloons including Helium, Balloon Clips, Balloon Weights and other Balloon Accessories


Add some glitz with this great Graduation Centerpiece

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Graduation Invitations

Masses of high quality free printable invitations. The invitations are free to print off and come with full personalization instructions, simple to do.

Full details on how to make your own.

Also how to make simple washed out background and frame versions.

Printable Graduation Invitations....

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Party Ideas

Just what you need to organise an awesome party!

Full details on every idea.

Party themes, ideas, equipment, lighting, music, scrapbook and more..

Lots of party ideas....

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Party Games

Lots and lots of free games for all ages.

Icebreakers like Guess Who.

Noisy games like Key and String.

Quiet games like Pass the Parcel.

Teams Games like Pass the Sand.

Outdoor and favorite games.

Childrens games too.

Each game has full instructions!

Lots of party games....

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Party Decorations

Checklist of considerations and ideas.

Preparation tips such as the venue, themed party or not and decorations.

Decoration tips such as fresh paint and accessories.

What about colors?

Have fun and decorate your guests!

Lots of party decoration ideas....

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The first thing you need to remember when graduation party planning is to start planning early. This is especially important whether you are planning a high school, college or kindergarten graduation party.

For example for a high school, those last months of a graduate‘s senior year can be very busy and hectic. They will be doing final projects, going to awards ceremonies, filling out college applications, taking end-of-course exams, and tying up other scholastic lose ends. As a parent you will also be busy making sure that everything gets done that needs to be done by the end of the semester.

So it would be a good idea to write out what you want from your party and start graduation party planning early to make sure everything gets done in a timely and relatively stress-free manner.

There is something very therapeutic about graduation party planning. For me anyway it is a way of making me feel more in control and removes any element of panic or uncertainty surrounding the vast number of things that need to be done.

That's why I have created a checklist below so that you too can benefit from the peace of mind generated from thorough graduation party planning resulting in a great plan of action.


Remember things can go wrong, so strong graduation party planning will help you cope with the unexpected. I always think if you complete your graduation party planning well and work hard at the actions then you will deal easily with any setbacks.

I have broken the graduation party planning down into the following manageable chunks:

 

Three Months Prior to the Graduation Party

Graduation party planning for the 3 months to go stage drives the decisions that shape the party:

  • Budget -Decide on a budget. This will help drive other decisions you'll have to make. You'll be amazed at how much this list comes to when you cost it all. Your graduation party planning will let you decide how to allocate your budget.There will be:
    • Invitations and Postage

    • Centrepieces

    • Balloons

    • Flowers

    • Food

    • Drinks

    • Tableware

    • Photographer

    • Caterer

    • Entertainment

    • Tent Rental

    • Equipment Rental

    • Favors and Prizes

    • Other Stationery, eg for Thank Yous




  • Guest List, prepare it if you can at this early stage. You will know all the important people in the graduate's life, their family of course, and others who you would like to invite. This will help complete your graduation party planning.



  • Date & Location for party - Select a date. Be aware that this is a busy time of the year. Best to inform family and friends of the selected date a.s.a.p. so that they can reserve the date. Also, if you are not having an open house party then choose a location and book it.


  • Talk to other parents. For older children there will be many parties being planned. It may be possible to combine parties or decide that open house is best as everyone will be moving from party to party.



  • Check the school or college schedule of events.



  • Decide if you wish to co-host with other parents.



  • If you are having an open house party then I recommend you consider hiring a tent then there is no need to worry about where everyone is going to go and having to keep numbers down etc. Tents are great if the weather is not so good and equally so if the weather is great as some people will prefer to be out of the hot sun. Tents can be decorated to look stunning (eg with gossamer fabric) - check out party decorations.


  • Book the caterer as soon as you are ready, this does need a bit of research as you do need to be sure you have the right caterer.



  • Book the photographer. Check out their references as you only get one chance to have the right photos.



  • Book entertainment, if you know what you want. The best will be highly sought after.



  • Start collecting memorabilia and assembling the scrapbook.



  • Book video production firm.



  • Decide if you are completing some home improvements and schedule that in with your builder.



 

Two Months Prior to the Graduation Party

Graduation party planning at this stage will finalise the type and size of party.

  • Type of Party - Consider what type of party your Graduate wants i.e. if it will be themed and what type of entertainment is desired. (Remember to book the entertainment.) Involve the graduate as much as is possible.
  • Menu - Decide on what type of food to serve that will suit your guests. Select a caterer (if you have not already done so) or ask a friend to help.
  • Guest List - (if you have not already done so) Consider the following when compiling this list:


    • 1. how many people do you want to invite
    2. your Christmas card list
    3. people whom you owe for parties they've thrown
    4. friends
    5. neighbors
    6. relatives
    7. other graduates who have invited you to their graduation celebration
    8. favorite teachers or coaches from over the years.

    Be sure to get the graduate involved in the "who to invite" process.
    NB. You can usually count on up to 25% of your invitations coming back as regrets.

    You can of course issue the invites and ask for a response by at least 2 weeks prior to the party.

  • Decorations - Purchase decorations (eg balloons, streamers and flowers)and party supplies as well as plates, cups etc.
  • Invitations - Order your invitations or make your own.
  • Buy paper plates, napkins, glasses and other tableware.
  • Rent tables, games, and any serving equipment required.
  • Helpers - Arrange who will be helping with the party


One Month Prior to the Graduation Party

Graduation party planning is more detailed at this stage.

  • Order food and drinks - or meet with caterer to finalize requirements. Be careful with alcohol, you are responsible for any under age drinking.

  • Send Invitations (you may have sent them earlier!)

  • Cake - Order a cake as no party is complete without a "Congratulation" cake to share with everyone.

  • Arrange a first timetable for the graduation party, including a timetable of games, food and entertainment.

  • Arrange a comfortable home for any pets for the duration of the party.

  • Schedule cleaners

  • Finish scrapbook

  • Finalise all catering, photographer, Video production and building work.



One Week Prior to the Graduation Party

Graduation party planning starts to drive the daily tasks at this stage.

  • Collect food and drinks (if necessary)

  • Send invitations to school with your graduate

  • Start decorating the house or venue

  • Wrap gifts - for graduate and friends

  • Review guest list - and check responses received. Chase no replies.

  • Check over any special requests and order food as required.

  • Confirm bookings such as entertainment, flowers and venue.

  • Confirm hotel reservations if you have out of town guests staying over.

  • Finalise party timetable.

  • Finalise list of games and music.

  • Check have all decorations, prizes, and favors.
  • Confirm hotel reservations for out of town guests
  • Set up and label recycling containers
  • Buy extra film and batteries.
  • Complete fresh paint and clean up.

  • Make sure the garden is ready with grass cut, shrubs, plant and flowers cut, watered and pruned as required.

  • Bring together all remaining items and be sure everything has an action to complete on time.

  • Check over who is definitely coming.

  • Wrap gifts for the graduate and friends. Also wrap games prizes and lucky dips.

  • List gifts received and keep the list up to date as the week goes on.



Three Days Prior to the Graduation Party

Graduation party planning drives the daily tasks at this stage.

  • Buy the food required

  • Check cameras and batteries

  • Confirm helpers.

  • Check CD player or MP3.

  • Set up tents and gazebos.

  • Label the recycling trash barrels.

  • Complete decorations.

  • Finalise party music, prizes and game equipment.


Graduation Party Planning - One Day Prior to the Party

Last minute Graduation party planning at this stage.

  • Finalise party decorations.

  • Finalise cleaning and furniture arranging.

  • Check garden for any last tidy ups.

  • Check likely weather for graduation party day if the party is outdoors.


Graduation Party Planning - On the Day of the Party

  • Set up the table

  • Decorate the graduation cake.

  • Lay out non-perishable food early

  • Lay out perishable food late

  • Take pets to pet sitter.

  • Water plants and flowers.

  • Put up directional signs

  • Sweep driveway and check how it all looks as you walk up to the house.

  • Walk through the venue to be sure it is all as you expected.

  • Set out trash barrels.

  • Set out tables, chairs and the table decorations.

  • Check the weather.

  • Check party helpers are ready.

  • Deal with any last minute hitches.

  • Relax for a while.

  • Party time - Let your hair down and have some fun!



Example Graduation Party Planning Timetable

  • Welcome

  • Ice Breakers

  • Quiet Game

  • Food

  • Noisy Game

  • Quiet Game

  • Entertainment

  • Noisy Game

  • Noisy Game

  • Quiet Game

  • Favors

  • Leave



Some different ideas specific to kindergarten graduation party planning!

Good luck with your graduation party planning!

 

Recommended Graduation Party Planning Books

The Complete Idiots Guide to Throwing a Great Party


By Patty Sachs and Phyllis Cambria
This is a graduation party planning bible for novices or pros.
It contains a wealth of help and inspiration in
it's 300+ graduation party planning pages.






Graduation: Celebrate in Style!A Graduation Party Planning Guide


By Mary J. Anderson & Ginger Venable
If you want something specifically for open house graduation party planning then this is a MUST HAVE!

 



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