Graduation Party Must-Have Ideas for All Ages
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Graduation Party Ideas That Will Have You and Your Guests Celebrating In Style
How can you make your graduation party memorable? When you hear the word graduation, high school comes to mind first, then college. Both achievements deserve to be celebrated by gathering friends and family together.
This milestone deserves to be celebrated in style. You've worked hard, hit the books, and deserve a little relaxation with all eyes on you. So in this guide, we'll give you great tips on how to make your graduation party the envy of your class!
1. Personalized Graduation Banner
Every party has a center of attention, and that should be you! A graduation banner is the best way to let everyone know who they're celebrating. Make it big, make it colorful, make it all about you!
Your graduation banner can be hung in several places for your party. Put it in front of the house, on the garage door so all your neighbors know the reason to celebrate, or hang it in the back where the outdoor festivities will be taking place. Or you can decorate the inside of your home with the banner as well.
You can order a personalized graduation banner for your party online. The customizable options include a wide range of colors and accents you can add to celebrate.
Additionally, you can add your name, the name of the school, the year, and an image of your choosing. Select your best graduation photo and let everyone know who their celebrating.
A personalized graduation banner is essential to a successful graduation party. Don't cut corners with the celebrations after your ceremony. Celebrate this major academic accomplishment with style and flair. Plus, top it off by showing your school spirit with a graduation banner to match!
Check out our best graduation party decorations here
2. Pick A Theme
Chances are if you're in the majority of high school graduates, you'll be throwing a party this year. Every graduating class has something they universally love, so dive in and use it as an overarching theme.
What were your major involvements before graduation in high school or college? You can show school spirit and throw a sports-themed party to celebrate you and your teammates' accomplishments!
Theater fans can design a party around their favorite performance or incorporate details from the school's best shows, while musicians can throw elements of their best performances around to sweep guests off their feet.
Celebrate with the theme of your favorite clubs and groups, or ask friends and classmates what their favorite shows and movies are. Figure out what everyone's talking about and use it to your advantage. A great theme makes a party more memorable, especially when there are other elements tied in with it, like snacks and games!
Having your graduation banners personalized to go with your theme will enhance the overall success of your party by showing your commitment.
3. Snacks and Drinks
One thing everyone remembers about a party is the food. Once you've picked a theme and ordered your personalized graduation banner, it's time to focus on the refreshments.
Get creative with the snacks! You don't have to be a culinary mastermind to provide fun and delicious food for your guests. Arrange cupcakes into the shape of the graduation year, using the school colors for icing. Have fresh popcorn ready to go for a quick, easily transportable snack. Prepare bowls with candies to accommodate guests with an extra sweet tooth. Customizable plates and bags can be ordered to hold all the sweet and salty foods at the event.
For drinks, store-bought soda is always a big hit. Make sure you purchase enough to supply your guests with plenty of carbonation. Another flavorful option is fruit-infused water. Not only does it provide refreshing hydration, but the visual aesthetics will enhance the theme of your party. It's a cost-efficient way to fuel party-goers with something delicious.
Store-bought infused water contains extra sugars and calories, but you can make fruit-infused water at home. For party guests of legal age, label any alcoholic drinks clearly so that you know who's drinking what.
Try different fruit flavor combinations based on your tastes, and pair delicious snacks to go with them, to make something truly special for your party.
4. Games and Prizes
What's a party without something to do? Party games make or break an event, so don't skimp out on them. For your graduation celebration, take the time to get creative with the entertainment. Classics like mad libs and charades are sure to get a laugh, but there are more options for you to discover!
If you have multiplayer video games, set them up early so you and your guests can go head-to-head on the big screen. A little competition will spice up the party. Your gamer friends will love the laid-back entertainment, and it gives your less tech-savvy friends a safe place to try them out. If you're feeling extra competitive, create a unique game of Kahoot that will have everybody on the edge of their seats battling over trivia.
For more traditional games, take a personal spin on classics like Guess Who! Ask questions about the graduates to see who knows who best. Have guests write something on a Jenga block and start building with it. There are plenty of printable games you can find online to keep your guests engaged for the whole celebration, too, like bingo or scavenger hunts.
Get creative with the games, and pair them with your theme to keep the party fresh and exciting!
5. Photo Wall
Along with the essential personalized graduation banner and snacks, you'll want to set up a photo wall with accessories for guests to use! Graduates love to commemorate these events with the perfect photo op. You can hire a photographer to take the pictures for you, or you can have guests take their own pictures.
Simple setups include hand-held accessories and props for guests to use against a simple backdrop. Include a graduation banner in the back, or include the class year on props, so guests will remember your celebration.
More elaborate photo booth setups include a green screen where guests can select their background from a list, or you can rent an actual photo booth for your party for the classic printed photo strips your guests will love.
Let your guests be creative and capture their excitement with a well-designed photo wall! They'll cherish those pictures for years to come.
6. Decorative Lawn Sign
When you throw a big celebration, it's important to roll out the welcome mat and personalized graduation banner for those who haven't been to the venue before. If you throw the party at your home, create a clear display that lets arriving guests know where the party is.
A chalkboard is a cute, classic way to display your excitement about the celebration. You can get a graduation yard sign personalized to let guests know which house to stop at, and you can decorate the lawn with balloons, too! You can choose a simple design for the sign, or go all out with letters that take up your entire lawn.
A yard sign is the best way to tell your guests about your accomplishments, and have them celebrate with you!
When paired with a fantastic graduation banner, a decorative yard sign or welcome sign can create the perfect entrance to your celebration and set the mood for guests as they arrive. You can make one yourself from scratch, or you can order one to be made for you.
If the weather isn't favorable, and it looks like your party might be rained out, invest in a waterproof yard sign and graduation banner. This way, you can decorate your lawn without having to worry about the elements ruining the celebration.
7. Balloons
What's a party without balloons?
Perfect for party-goers of all ages, balloons are a staple in entertainment. With just a few, you can spruce up the yard sign outdoors or decorate the graduate's designated seat for the event. You can purchase larger balloons to display the class year in shiny gold or silver colors, which are perfect for photo opportunities!
You can have standard balloons to float around your home and add a pop of color, or you can blow them up yourself and arrange them how you'd like. A popular party option is hanging the balloons from the ceiling and dropping them on guests for a fun-filled afternoon. The balloons can be filled with glitter for extra flair, though it should be noted it can get a bit messy.
Don't forget to stop by your local party supply store to pick up this essential graduation party decoration.
Final Thoughts
Celebrate your graduation, high school or college, with a fantastic party. With these graduation party ideas you can make your party one to remember by picking a great theme you and your friends can enjoy! Buy some sweet snacks or make them yourself to match the theme and personalized graduation banners. Go all out on entertaining your guests with games, prizes, and fun photo booths.
Get your graduation banners personalized for the event, and let your party be the best of the season this year!
For more graduation party ideas, check out our Tips For Picking The Best Graduation Banner