Tips for a Fun and Easy Graduation Party

Hosting a successful, fun and great graduation party can include these suggestions. They are written in no special order.

1. Decide date, time and place for your graduation party.
Think about who will be coming, cost/how much you want to spend, time of day that would work best for you or someone who may have to travel. Decide if you want your party at home, at a restaurant, hotel or other local facility.

2. Call and secure location and caterer if that is part of your plan.
Be sure to read EVERYTHING you sign. Last minute surprises are not fun.

3. Decide theme or color of your party decor.
Will you be using your college colors and theme or are you involved in sports, dance, or something else that you would like to make your theme. Maybe a variety of pastel or primary colors is all you want.

4. Decide upon the type of food you will be serving at your graduation party.
Will you just have a couple of quick appetizers, cake and some punch? Or will you have a full buffet? If you are inviting people at meal time - they will probably expect and eat more food.

5. Will you have music?
Will it be music in the background or a local group you hang out with? Or maybe even a DJ will be there to liven up the day. If you are expecting a large group and know there will be much visiting, maybe you would need no music.

6. What type of invitation will you send out?
An invitation can be so formal as to be printed at your local stationery shop. It can also be emails or texts to family and friends. Many will probably choose the mid-approach where some sort of simple invitation is sent by mail. The invitation can simply be set up on appropriate paper or you can take time to design a very special invitation. Your personality, time and ability will help you choose what works for you. Most that we've received have been simply produced by the graduate on their computer.

Photo invitations are fun and simple. You could include a collage of college events to tell your own story. If you're crafty, scrap booking supplies can help you craft a fun, unique invitation.

7. Decide who you will invite to your graduation party.
Do you simply wish to have a few friends over and kick back together? Will you have family and friends near by? Will you have family traveling a distance to join in your celebration? Will you host a main party and then invite some special friends or family members to stay later? Do you have family traditions? The amount of guests can make a great difference in cost, room needed and expectations for your party.

8. What about parking?
Will you have issues with parking if you hold your party at an apartment or home? It may be best if you're having a large group to inform near by neighbors ahead of time.

9. Who will do the clean-up?
Are you going to be responsible for party clean-up? It is best to decide ahead of time who will be doing what. Where will any left-overs go? What if anything is damaged? Who is responsible for cleaning up chairs, tables etc. Even if your graduation party is held in your parents home, mom and dad shouldn't have the total clean-up mess responsibility.

10. Plan to write thank you notes immediately.
If your guests bring you gifts, it is important to make a list of who gave you what gift. In less than a week, sit down and write the thank you notes. They take time and aren't real great fun to do. If you complete the task very timely, you can forget about it. Thank you notes don't have to be exotic or tough to write. Jot down a couple of great phrases that would be appropriate for you and for gifts your guests brought. These can simply be included in different ways for your thank yous. Thank guests for coming and for whatever they brought. Tell them how you will use the gift.

It shouldn't take you more than an hour to go through this list and make your decisions for your fun and easy graduation party.

You will quickly realize that one decision usually hinges on several others. Make up guest list. Decide if party will be at home or elsewhere. Decide upon day and time of day. Design invitations to make your graduation party grand. Make necessary calls. If you want certain people to help you, call them now. What theme do you wish to represent you?

When it's closer to party date, contact anyone who's helping to assure that everything is going as you wish.

Buy any groceries or party needs and do preparation as far in advance as possible. You don't have time to do things at the last minute. Understand that you must be flexible. Someone or something may not show up or be there at the right time. Don't let it destroy your fun day. Relax, be yourself and enjoy at your own special and fun graduation party.