I'm a planner, a dreamer, and a Pinterest-lover, so naturally I was very excited to put together my high school graduation party. I planned the decorations, menu, invitations, seating arrangements, and more, and my party turned out wonderfully. I've always wanted to throw a party like this, and I finally had the chance! Here are some tips to ensure your party's success:
1. I recommend having something unique about your party. Have something memorable, whether that's really simple or over the top! Have a bounce house (who says teens are too old for them?), rent a slushie maker, prepare a cool game to play, or, like in my case, have an activity like "Guess the Age." I taped a bunch of pictures of me on a polka dot poster board and added flaps below each, revealing the age I was in the photos. Then I tacked it on a wall in a central location. Many people enjoyed playing the game while they mingled -- and it's harder than it looks! I wanted people to have more to do than just eat and talk, so this was one source of entertainment.
2. To stay organized, keep an Excel spreadsheet of whatever you need to keep straight. I started by filling in my invite list on the spreadsheet and marking a yes or no when they RSVP'd. Google Sheets has a cool checkbox setting that makes it easy to select who is coming with just a click of a button. All you do is select the number of cells you want, hit 'Insert' at the top, and hit 'Checkbox'. I also wrote how many were coming from each family. This organization was very beneficial to have throughout the process. I wrote down the menu and grocery lists as well to make sure nothing was forgotten. There are a lot of details to coordinate, so organization is key!
3. If you're looking for interesting ways to display pictures, try using pallet wood. I got a few pallets for free from a neighbor, nailed some strings across them, and attached my pictures with mini clothespins. The pictures had a cute, clear layout, and it added a rustic element to the party. Another idea is to make a picture video. I added a bunch of pictures from my computer into a video producer and had it playing during the party. People could sit and watch it from start to finish, or just notice a few cute photos as they grab their food. The video was a great way to display a lot of pictures without getting them all developed.
4. Time for some food-hacks! It's a good idea to have double servings of your food. If you're making a fruit salad, make two bowls so you can replace the other with cold fruit when it runs out. Start with big servings, but be ready to replace when needed. Also, sometimes the snack type foods go faster than the meal. At come and go type parties, people are more likely to graze on food than to sit down with a full meal, so make sure to specifically stock up on appetizers. We had deviled eggs, sliced vegetables, olive-salami-cheese skewers, a fruit salad, taco dip, and plenty of chips. We didn't run out of anything too soon except for plates! Remember, people come back for food and will likely use more than one plate.
5. I chose a later date in July to have my party. So many grad parties take place right after school gets out or within the next week or two, so choosing a date that's farther out might make it easier for more guests to come. After choosing the date, I started putting together the invitations. You can specifically select colors to match your theme and add images, or you can keep it simple and have the information be the focal point. Hint -- before you spend an hour designing the card, put it into the cart to see how much it's really going to cost you! I learned this the hard way. I ended up having a double sided card with a picture of me on each side, along with all of the information. I thought it would cost me $45, but it was really $90. In addition to the invitations, I invited people on Facebook. It's nice for everyone to see who is coming, and it can also be easier to RSVP online.
6. For decorations, I just bought a few cute things whenever I came across them in the months before the party. I didn't have to go on specific shopping trips for decorations, but when I was out and about I could check the party section of the store and find a few gems. As long as you have a general color scheme or theme in mind, you can piece together your findings as you go along. I ended up with the perfect amount of decor that really added to the space. And you don't have to choose school colors either! I decided to go with teal and coral as my main colors and white and gold as accents. The decorations added a perfect touch to the party. They weren't overly extravagant, but they were elegant and fun. Here is the setup of the dessert table:
7. I came up with a pun a while ago that I knew I wanted to include in my party. I wanted to have a popcorn bar with a sign that read: "Thanks for Popping In!" Ha! Funny, right? I went forward with this idea and made an adorable popcorn setup with cheese and original popcorn, toppings like M&Ms, mini pretzels, and crushed Oreos, and individual bags with "Thanks for Popping In" labels. I was so proud of the setup -- it's things like this that take a party from good to great. I'm munching on some leftover popcorn as I write this too ;)
8. Make sure to think about the flow of people. Where are people entering from? Are food and drinks on complete opposite sides of the venue? What is the best way to get people from point A to point B? We tried to create as much open space in the kitchen and living room to start. Then we created a general direction of things in a logical way. The snacks led to the meal, the meal led to the photos, the photos led to the card box, the card box led to the popcorn bar, the popcorn bar led to "Guess the Age", and "Guess the Age" led to the bathroom. This way everything was easy to find and guests didn't miss anything!
9. The outdoor setup was crucial. We had five tables placed in the shade, along with one under a pop-up tent. There were plenty of lawn chairs and places to relax as well, and this was key. You want people to be full and comfortable. I also picked up a bunch of daisies from the store and added them to some mason jars for centerpieces. This added a little touch to the outdoors, and I loved it!
10. The final tip is to be prepared for the unexpected. Things may not always work how you wanted them to, and that's OK. Chances are it won't make or break the party. If you have a cool game that's not getting much attention where it's at, move it to a new location. If there's a spill, be ready with paper towel and a washcloth. If not many people are eating dessert, offer to let guests take some to go. If it starts to rain, have board games ready inside. Have bug spray and sunscreen handy just in case and above all, just be flexible.
I'm so happy with how my party went, and my planning paid off. I loved spending time with my friends and family, and my party-throwing dreams came true! With preparation and flexibility, you are surely headed for success. I hope your party is the greatest!
1. I recommend having something unique about your party. Have something memorable, whether that's really simple or over the top! Have a bounce house (who says teens are too old for them?), rent a slushie maker, prepare a cool game to play, or, like in my case, have an activity like "Guess the Age." I taped a bunch of pictures of me on a polka dot poster board and added flaps below each, revealing the age I was in the photos. Then I tacked it on a wall in a central location. Many people enjoyed playing the game while they mingled -- and it's harder than it looks! I wanted people to have more to do than just eat and talk, so this was one source of entertainment.2. To stay organized, keep an Excel spreadsheet of whatever you need to keep straight. I started by filling in my invite list on the spreadsheet and marking a yes or no when they RSVP'd. Google Sheets has a cool checkbox setting that makes it easy to select who is coming with just a click of a button. All you do is select the number of cells you want, hit 'Insert' at the top, and hit 'Checkbox'. I also wrote how many were coming from each family. This organization was very beneficial to have throughout the process. I wrote down the menu and grocery lists as well to make sure nothing was forgotten. There are a lot of details to coordinate, so organization is key!
3. If you're looking for interesting ways to display pictures, try using pallet wood. I got a few pallets for free from a neighbor, nailed some strings across them, and attached my pictures with mini clothespins. The pictures had a cute, clear layout, and it added a rustic element to the party. Another idea is to make a picture video. I added a bunch of pictures from my computer into a video producer and had it playing during the party. People could sit and watch it from start to finish, or just notice a few cute photos as they grab their food. The video was a great way to display a lot of pictures without getting them all developed.4. Time for some food-hacks! It's a good idea to have double servings of your food. If you're making a fruit salad, make two bowls so you can replace the other with cold fruit when it runs out. Start with big servings, but be ready to replace when needed. Also, sometimes the snack type foods go faster than the meal. At come and go type parties, people are more likely to graze on food than to sit down with a full meal, so make sure to specifically stock up on appetizers. We had deviled eggs, sliced vegetables, olive-salami-cheese skewers, a fruit salad, taco dip, and plenty of chips. We didn't run out of anything too soon except for plates! Remember, people come back for food and will likely use more than one plate.
6. For decorations, I just bought a few cute things whenever I came across them in the months before the party. I didn't have to go on specific shopping trips for decorations, but when I was out and about I could check the party section of the store and find a few gems. As long as you have a general color scheme or theme in mind, you can piece together your findings as you go along. I ended up with the perfect amount of decor that really added to the space. And you don't have to choose school colors either! I decided to go with teal and coral as my main colors and white and gold as accents. The decorations added a perfect touch to the party. They weren't overly extravagant, but they were elegant and fun. Here is the setup of the dessert table:
9. The outdoor setup was crucial. We had five tables placed in the shade, along with one under a pop-up tent. There were plenty of lawn chairs and places to relax as well, and this was key. You want people to be full and comfortable. I also picked up a bunch of daisies from the store and added them to some mason jars for centerpieces. This added a little touch to the outdoors, and I loved it!10. The final tip is to be prepared for the unexpected. Things may not always work how you wanted them to, and that's OK. Chances are it won't make or break the party. If you have a cool game that's not getting much attention where it's at, move it to a new location. If there's a spill, be ready with paper towel and a washcloth. If not many people are eating dessert, offer to let guests take some to go. If it starts to rain, have board games ready inside. Have bug spray and sunscreen handy just in case and above all, just be flexible.
I'm so happy with how my party went, and my planning paid off. I loved spending time with my friends and family, and my party-throwing dreams came true! With preparation and flexibility, you are surely headed for success. I hope your party is the greatest!
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