How to Have a Successful Open House for Graduation

If you are looking for ways to have a terrific Open House for your soon-to-be graduate, here are ten great ideas to get you started.

One: Create your invitations well ahead of time and be sure to calculate the date so that your event is not likely to fall on a date where there are many other parties to choose from as well. You want as many people to come as is possible. Be sure to place an RSVP on the graduation so you have a good idea of how many people will be coming.

Two: To save a bundle of money on the party and have it more personalized for your graduate, have the party in your home or backyard.

Three: Create a memory board that you place behind the gift table that is comprised of photos from the graduate's life. Be sure to add all family members onto the board as well so that everyone can enjoy the collage. Grandma and Grandpa will love searching for the pictures of them and their darling graduate and everyone else will enjoy seeing the various stages that the graduate went through. You don't need a specific theme for this. The pictures can be an endearing array of funny, important and any other kind of event that took place in the grad's life.

Four: Rent tent tops if the party is going to be in the backyard. This will allow for food and guests not to get wet as invariably happens when an outside event is planned.

Five: Have a gift table set up at the entrance of the event so that guests can place their gifts down upon arrival. Create a box with a slot in it as well for cards and monetary gifts, which are sure to be aplenty.

Six: Have a sign-in book for guests upon arrival as well so that your graduate has a written memory in his or her graduation memoirs.

Seven: Rent a band for the event. Your graduate deserves the attention and it will allow for a great addition to the traditional party setting.

Eight: Be creative with your food selection. You do not have to go with safe choices. Choose Mexican or Chinese if you want to, especially if your graduate loves these choices. You can add traditional fare as well such as fruits, vegetables, crackers and cheese, on a separate table for those who are not so willing to divert from the traditional.

Nine: Take a lot of pictures during the party. Your graduate will be sure to thank you later. If you choose, you can have a print of the graduate and the guest put into the appropriate thank you cards that he or she will send out once they have opened their gifts (which, incidentally should be done after, not during, the party).

Ten: Close up your party at the designated time (which should be prior to dusk) so as to be considerate to neighbors. This is especially true if you have a live band. Also it will give the guests time to attend another Open House if they need to (many run on or around the same days), allow your graduate time to rest and recover from meeting and greeting his or her guests and give you ample time to clean up before dark so that you don't have the task of doing so the next day.

Creating an Open House will probably be one of the easiest catering and planning events you will ever do for a party, simply because most anything goes and it is simply a way for guests to drop by and congratulate the graduate for a job well done. Enjoy the event and know that with a bit of thought, consideration and time, you are bound to create a successful party your graduate will appreciate and remember.