Graduation Party Time

When you have a high school or college graduate—or you yourself are a graduate—it’s often nice to have an “open house.” With this style of party your invitations give a span of time when people can drop in. Family, friends and neighbors of all ages can come, visit with the graduate and others, enjoy refreshments, and leave when they are ready to go. Sunday afternoons are often a good time for an open house.

Make your food easy to replenish and self serve. I’ve been to parties where the offerings are appetizers and finger foods, others with sandwich platters or plates with sandwich makings to “build your own,” desserts or a large sheet cake, or combinations of these. Beverages have ranged from punch or sodas to tea and coffee. Whatever food items you choose, you don’t want to have to spend a lot of time during the party with food preparation. Instead enjoy visiting with your guests.

Decorations can be as simple or as elaborate as you desire. Balloons are always festive. It’s nice to set out some graduation pictures, if the party is after graduation. Or how about the high school yearbook for those high school graduates with pages bookmarked where their photos are found. I’ve also seen baby books or photo albums on display. They make fun conversation starters.

I’ve not seen games at these type of parties, though I have seen a room set up for the younger set with toys and videos playing.

We’re featuring some of our graduation invitations on the front page of our website. For more click here.

And if you’d like to read about Graduation Announcement Etiquette, check out this article. Click here to read more!

Adult party decorations

Adult parties often don’t have themes, so how to decorate? You can always focus on the honored guest, if there is one. (i.e. Her hobby or passion. His job or how he likes to spend his spare time.) Party stores have almost anything you can think of to go with a décor theme.

Another option is to decorate to match the food you plan to serve. (i.e. Mexican food would have Mexican décor).

Yet another choice is to decorate using the theme of the closest holiday.

Then there’s always a bouquet of flowers, a few balloons, and some lit candles.

I’ve also seen someone decorate to match tableware, whether it be their own dinnerware or nice paper plates. Which reminds me, IBY is adding Tableware. I’ve been having a blast looking at a huge catalog and choosing paper plates in round, square, octagonal, prismatic, metallic with matching or coordinating cups, napkins and tablecovers for about any kind of occasion. The new products should be up in the next week or so. Click here to read more!