It’s almost that time of the year again – the period of tears and goodbyes, the period of relief, the period of mortarboard hats and flowing gowns. Graduation is one of the achievements in a person’s life, and it is important that it is celebrated with as much pomp and show as possible. The main ceremony is one thing; a formal occasion in which you and all your peers receive your degrees or diploma. The after-party is another; a casual celebration of triumph between you and your friends where you guys say your proper goodbyes (and party from dusk till dawn). Planning the after-party requires delicacy and tons of preparation. You have to make it a party worth remembering.
In this article, we are going to give a step by step breakdown of how best to plan your graduation party. This would serve as a guide and help you plan the best party ever. It would include advice on themes you can use when to start planning, how to start planning and a few tips on how best to make it as unforgettable as possible. Feel free to make small embellishments as you wish.
WHEN TO START PLANNING A GRADUATION PARTY
A graduation party is not one of those parties you can plan impromptu. You have to start planning early so as to make sure that you are able to fit in all your plans and agenda at the end of the day. It would be best if you started a month before at the latest. If you are a perfectionist that needs to go over the details till you are satisfied, you would need more time than that to plan for it. Below is a reasonable timeline to follow:
- A month before the day
Graduation parties traditionally are set on the day of the actual graduation ceremony, usually immediately after. However, it is possible to set the date at a later period. A month before the day, you should lay the foundations of your bash, setting the date and theme, drawing up rough plans, contacting tent rentals and photo booth hires, etc.
- 3-4 weeks before
This is the time for planning and sending out your guest list. You should send out invitations this early because:
- It would be best if you corralled your guests.
- Your guests are aware that you are amongst one of the many people throwing graduation parties and that you want them over at yours.
- Your guests are able to plan ahead.
- You are able to know if you would need to reschedule the date.
- You get an idea of how many people to expect, and you are able to make plans around this.
- 2-3 weeks before
At this point, you start planning in full swing. This is when you start making grocery lists, ideas for party packs, catalogues, event schedules, etc. You have to hold off on actually getting food and provisions ready, so that they are fresh for the party.
- Days before the event
This is when you start doing things like decorating, cooking or buying food items, building party packs, executing the theme and generally adding last-minute touches to the whole thing.
TIPS ON HOW BEST TO PLAN YOUR GRADUATION PARTY
- Choose a theme centred around shared memories with your friends
You have to remember that this isn’t a birthday party and that you are just one celebrant amongst the rest of your peers. The most important thing is to pick a theme that appeals to all of you. We see a great execution of this when a girl from her school’s swim team arranged a party theme centred around an Olympic pool auditorium, and strategically placed pictures of her team’s triumphs and losses over the years amongst the decorations. You can tell her how emotional it must have been when her friends saw it, and that everyone was going to have a good time because they would feel right at home.
- Choose an appropriate location
Your guests have to be in a location where they feel as comfortable as possible. You could make it a house party, but you have to be sure that you have the space and facilities to accommodate your guests. An outdoor party also sounds nice, provided you are able to rent tents and similar structures in case there is rain.
- Resist the urge to engage in politics
This sounds ominous and vague, but we have noticed that it is not unusual for people planning graduation parties to pass subliminal messages with their choices, especially with the guest list. Graduation symbolises new beginnings, a transition into adulthood and a call to responsibility and maturity. All grudges from the school year should be forgiven (at least), and you should make it a point to extend the olive branch to people you’ve had beef with by sending them invitations. It helps you end the year on a good note with everybody.
- Make sure there is enough food, games, and entertainment for everyone
Food is another important part of parties. You should provide your guests with enough snacks to munch on while they mill about, and enough entertainment to keep them interested. Also, unless you are otherwise inclined, it helps to invite as many people as possible. There is beauty in celebrating in numbers. You should hire photo booths where group pictures can be taken and updated on social media. Music and games are also a fun way to get your guests riled up.
- Get help
You can’t go it alone. Planning a party can be quite draining, and if you do everything yourself, you would have no time to celebrate with your friends even after the planning is complete and the party is on. You could enlist the help of your siblings, parents, or friends in planning and decorating the venue.
Speaking of decorating, you can get your party decorations, and photo booth hires from Snaptured. We are one of the biggest photo booth hires Brisbane offers, and we also have decorations, special effects, and many other facilities you can use for any party you are planning. Visit our site for enquiries, and you will be sure to drop excellent reviews on our service after you have experienced it.