(ARA) – Across America, as school season winds down, graduation party season is starting up. Whether it’s the end of high school or college, a graduation is truly something to celebrate. Students, whether they’re moving on to college or the workforce, have accomplished a lot and when the last test is taken, they’re ready for a party.
To make your graduation party stand out, and to make your student really feel honored, there are some tips that you should keep in mind. Follow these and your party will go off without a hitch.
* Get the word out – The biggest disappointment that can come with a party is not having enough guests. You can make sure that you’ve got a good head count by planning well in advance. Once you’ve got the date of the party set, send out graduation invitations.
Sending out RSVP cards will make your planning even smoother – allowing your guests to respond via e-mail, phone or by returning the card will make it easier for them to let you know whether they’ll attend. Keep track of who has said “yes” or “no” so that you know how many people you’ll be hosting.
* Set the scene – There’s much more to decorating for a graduation party than setting out a card basket and a cake. Be inspired by the graduate – take into account what they love when choosing a theme.
For a sports fanatic, set out a basket with footballs, basketballs and soccer balls to inspire a pick-up game. For a music enthusiast, play their favorite music or find out if they’d be willing to give a concert for the guests. If they’re an artist, hang or display their works throughout your home, and treat it like a gallery opening, with tags identifying each piece – you could even offer them for sale.
Whether you’re at home or at a location you’ve rented, help guests who might not be familiar with the area find you by hanging custom banners with the graduate’s name and a message of congratulations.
* Give a gift – There’s nothing that makes a grad feel more important than having their friends and family there to celebrate with them. It makes sense, then, to thank everyone who comes to the party with a gift that will make the day memorable. Once again, look to your graduate’s interests to guide your decisions. If they studied abroad or simply love to travel, hand out luggage tags. If they’re an animal lover, make donations to your local animal shelter in your guests’ names and hand out cards to tell them about the contribution.
And, of course, you want your grad to remember the day, too. If you or your graduate belongs to an organization, like a band or a sports team, that is celebrating the graduation of a number of members, custom T-shirts are a great way to commemorate the event. Or you can simply make them for your at-home party, and everyone who comes will think back on the party whenever they wear it.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
