Graduation Party Archives (2024)

Nothing says “Congrats!” like a graduation party. If you want to celebrate the grad in your life, but you’re not sure where to start, we’ve compiled some helpful graduation party planning tips to get you started. Whether it’s a high school or college graduation, we have party ideas, decorations, food and more to make it a memorable event. Before your event, learn how to design custom graduation invitations with your grad’s favorite photos. For the big day, you can also use Shutterfly to create beautiful custom graduation party decorations, party favors, and unique graduation gifts. No matter what level of education your grad completed, you can put together the perfect graduation party to celebrate their accomplishments.

Whether you’re celebrating someone making their way through high school, you’re throwing a party for a college grad who just got their diploma, or you’re thinking of a great way to highlight your friend who completed a postgraduate degree, Shutterfly has all the graduation party ideas that you need to throw a memorable event. Make one of our customizable graduation party ideas the centerpiece of your event, and let us take your party to the next level. Celebrate your grad’s hard work and accomplishments in a fun way with custom graduation invitations, tableware, serving utensils, bunting banners, backdrop designs, and much more. Add school colors, inspirational quotes, or fun messages for perfect graduation party ideas.


Graduation Party Ideas for High School and College

Our grad party ideas are excellent for any grad party or get-together. Whether you’re throwing an outdoor graduation party, you’re tossing around backyard graduation party ideas, or you’re thinking about personalizing decor with your graduation year that you can set up by the drink station, we make it easy to add photos, inspirational quotes, and unique details to any design. Set up a yard sign by the food table, personalize selfie frames for a cute alternative to a Polaroid photo booth, and even create a special gift or party favors for guests at your small gathering. It’s a different way to ensure your graduation party is a total hit.

Add a personal touch to your graduation party ideas this year. Whether you’re throwing a small party with your fellow seniors or designing an outdoor graduation party that’s bound to be a big bash, we have all the customization tools you need to add words, photos, and messages to your best ideas. You can even personalize placemats, table settings, and cards to let people know what different foods and desserts you have available. This graduation season is a great time to celebrate with close friends, family members, and loved ones.

Create Custom Graduation Party Invitations

Shutterfly can help you express all of your graduation party ideas through your grad party invites. Since no graduation party is complete without some fun and festive graduation invitations, why not turn things up a notch by creating some personalized graduation invitations and college send off invitations that capture the mood and spirit just right. Whether you’re designing invites that contain all of your backyard graduation party ideas or you’re creating invitations that match your graduation decorations for a rented space, it’s easy to personalize all the invites and graduation party supplies you could need with photos of the grad, bright colors, and special messages. Make this the ultimate graduation party to remember with invitations that can act as keepsakes after the party is over.

Make Your Party Festive With Graduation Party Decorations

Give your graduate something to truly celebrate with our creative graduation party ideas, including decorations, graduation banners, and other fun ideas to which you can add a personal touch. Choose table runners and decorations to match your color scheme, design a colorful selfie frame, or personalize place settings and photo banners for your event. It’s easy to add graduation party decorations to your get-together with Shutterfly’s unique designs.

Explore Grad Party Favors

Highlight your fellow graduates and share the spotlight on this exciting day with graduation party ideas like customized party favors from Shutterfly. Whether you’re customizing practical gifts or tucking personalized photo magnets into a DIY gift bag, we have all the design tools you could need to throw the graduation party of your dreams. Customize a set of personalized flasks to give to your best friends after graduation or explore age-appropriate high school graduation party ideas and favors like custom photo tote bags, photo gallery magnets, and other unique designs that you can customize as much as you’d like.

Design Graduation Party Signage & Flags

If you want to ensure your graduation party ideas light up the night, start by ensuring that party guests and attendees will notice your event with signage, garden flags, and other custom Shutterfly designs that can help turn your grad’s party into a big hit. Then, with a little help from our design tools, you can turn your great idea into unique yard signs or bunting banners.

Select Graduation Party Tableware & Utensils

If you’re looking to bring your best graduation party ideas to life, Shutterfly is here. Upload your favorite DIY designs or start with one of Shutterfly’s party ideas like utensils, placemats, and coasters. Then, upload your favorite photos, graduation quotes, and special messages to your design to customize it even further for this graduation season. From bowls and serving utensils for all your graduation party food ideas to photo coasters that can hold chilled beverages, you can turn your favorite memories with your special graduate into decor and food-serving items that will make a big statement.

If you’d like your high school grad party or college graduation celebration to pop off, include customized decor and graduation decorations that you can use at any major event, special dinner, or outdoor party. If you’re looking for an easy way to design the perfect grad party for your high school graduate or college grad, Shutterfly has tons of designs that can help you turn a simple idea into the focal point of your party.

Graduation Party Archives (2024)

FAQs

Do you do RSVP for graduation party? ›

When you send out the invitations, make sure you request that people RSVP quickly. Respond as quickly as possible if you receive an invitation to a ceremony, but don't be offended if you don't, as tickets are limited.

Is it customary to give money at a graduation party? ›

An invitation to a graduation party or ceremony should be met with a gift, but the size and amount depend on your relationship to the graduate. Distant relatives or friends usually send around $15 - $20, while close friends and relatives more commonly send around the $20 - $50 mark.

Is it OK to have a graduation party before graduation? ›

Some families even choose to host graduation parties before the ceremony, as a way to celebrate the graduate's achievements before they walk across the stage. Regardless of when you choose to have the celebration, the focus is always on recognizing and honoring the accomplishments of the graduate.

How long after graduation should you have a party? ›

You're not the only one that graduated. Your entire graduating class is going to be having parties as well, so you want to be careful that your party doesn't overlap with one of your friends. A good rule of thumb would be to have your party a few weeks after graduation or later. But don't make it too late!

How much money is appropriate for high school graduation gift? ›

High School Graduation

For high school grads, the average gift is around $50 to $200. To decide an amount, consider if this is a close friend or family member. You may also want to talk to other people who are giving gifts to decide how much you will give to the graduate.

How do I confirm my RSVP for a party? ›

How to Respond to an RSVP Request with Confidence
  1. Check Whether an RSVP Is Required. ...
  2. Determine the Best Method to RSVP. ...
  3. Match the Formality of the Invitation. ...
  4. Include Your Name(s) and Number of Guests. ...
  5. Confirm Your Attendance. ...
  6. Answer Any Questions on the Invite. ...
  7. Reply By the Requested Date. ...
  8. Update the Host If Your Plans Change.
Nov 16, 2023

Is $20 enough for a graduation gift? ›

We've compiled the following breakdown of recommend gift amounts based on your relationship: Co-worker: $20 - $30. Close friend or sibling: $25-$75. Niece, Nephew, Grandkid: : $50- $100.

Is it rude to go to a graduation party without a gift? ›

If it's a college graduate it's around $50, Symington said. If you receive an invitation to a graduation party, you are obligated to send a gift. "If you're going to go to a party, you really should give a gift. You should actually bring a hostess gift when you go to the party something like a bottle of wine.

Is it rude to not bring a gift to a graduation party? ›

While it's not required to bring a gift to a graduation party, etiquette recommends that all attendees bring a card and/or small gift. When deciding whether to bring a present, you should factor in how close you are to the graduate, how large the party will be, and how many parties you will be attending.

What percentage of guests attend a graduation party? ›

On average, 60% of invited guests will show up at your event. And here's the best case scenario: If you invite your closest friends and family only, you can expect about 75% to show up.

How much should you spend on a graduation party? ›

A survey by FinanceBuzz.com, a financial services site, found the average graduation party costs around $1,100, based on a party size of 60 people. That's for food, drinks, decorations, tables and serveware.

How far in advance do you send out graduation party invitations? ›

send your graduation announcements anywhere from 2 weeks before the graduation commencement to 4 weeks after. If your announcement is doubling as your graduation party invitation, we suggest mailing them 3-4 weeks before your party (definitely no less than 2 weeks before).

What can I do instead of a graduation party? ›

15 Alternative Ways to Celebrate Graduation with Friends and Family
  • Throw Them a Grad Party. ...
  • Take Them on a Trip. ...
  • Tickets to a Concert, Play, or Spa Day. ...
  • Give to a Cause that's Important to Them. ...
  • Get Them a Personalized Gift. ...
  • Give Them Cash and Let Them Decide. ...
  • Live-Streaming Graduation Ceremonies. ...
  • Social Media Celebrations.

Who should throw a graduation party? ›

Typically a parent, guardian, or another special person in the graduate's life is going to host the party. (A graduate could certainly throw their own party if they wish, but remember if doing so, it's important to engage the role of host and not just honoree, a self-hosted party is also self-funded.)

What time do most graduation parties start? ›

Many graduation parties are presented in a “open house” format. If your graduation ceremony is at 2 p.m., a 10 a.m. to noon or a 4-7 p.m. open house may work best. The time of day you select will also help determine the type of food and beverage you serve.

How do you write RSVP on graduation invitation? ›

I invite you to join my family and me to celebrate my graduation. RSVP to attend on [Date] at [Time] at [Venue].

How far in advance should you send graduation party invitations? ›

Why so early? 3-4 weeks is pretty standard for event invitations, especially in today's busy world. Sending early is especially important for high school graduation invites because so many parties can occur on the same day. You want to ensure that guests get your party on the calendar right away.

How do you invite to a graduation party? ›

Graduation invitations should be brief and informative. Generally, this means a few lines of information, often presented as individual points (name of graduate, date of graduation/party, location, etc.). You'll want the invitation to be easy to read and unique to you.

When should RSVP be for birthday party? ›

Make the final RSVP date two days before your actual planning deadline. Then send your own e-mail follow-up: "I know everybody is so busy, but we need to give a headcount by Thursday and just want to make sure your child is included." If the party is days away, suck it up and call to ask if the child will attend.

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