Graduation Party Planning (2024)

FAQs

Graduation Party Planning? ›

A graduation party should be vibrant and full of life. Consider hiring a live band or DJ to set the tone with music that resonates with the graduate's journey. A photo booth equipped with fun props and a backdrop reflecting the graduate's interests encourages guests to capture memorable moments.

A graduation party should be vibrant and full of life. Consider hiring a live band or DJ to set the tone with music that resonates with the graduate's journey. A photo booth equipped with fun props and a backdrop reflecting the graduate's interests encourages guests to capture memorable moments.

Graduation Party Budget Example

If you are not sure what to budget for your party then start with $30/person as an estimate. This would cover the cost of food and drinks, any rentals needed to host at your home or to rent out a space for the party and fun decorations for the celebration.

Distant relatives or friends usually send around $15 - $20, while close friends and relatives more commonly send around the $20 - $50 mark. Some families and family friends may choose to spend closer to $100 - $500, depending on their finances and the needs of the graduate.

On average, 60% of invited guests will show up at your event. And here's the best case scenario: If you invite your closest friends and family only, you can expect about 75% to show up.

Many graduation parties are presented in a “open house” format. If your graduation ceremony is at 2 p.m., a 10 a.m. to noon or a 4-7 p.m. open house may work best. The time of day you select will also help determine the type of food and beverage you serve.

Make sure you have included family and extended relatives too. Don't forget neighbors, teachers, coaches, co-workers (graduates and yours) and other friends of the family.

How long do people stay at graduation parties? ›

It can be planned for directly after the graduation or held a few days (even weeks) afterward. Typically you do not host this party prior to graduation. This party can be structured as a typical party (about 2-4 hours) with a start time or as an open house where guests can come and go as they please.

If your goal is to plan an exciting and memorable graduation party for your graduate, fun games and activities are a must. Games can make for budget-friendly activities that will keep your guests entertained for hours. When brainstorming some games, keep your guests, venue and weather in mind.

A survey by FinanceBuzz.com, a financial services site, found the average graduation party costs around $1,100, based on a party size of 60 people. That's for food, drinks, decorations, tables and serveware.

First and foremost, how much should an average graduation party cost? Financial service site FinancialBuzz.com said in 2022 the average American spent around $1,100 on a party for 60 people. That number includes food, drinks, decorations, tables and settings.

The earlier, the better! Having enough time to take care of all the essential elements will result in you being more confident as a host and having fewer chances of something going wrong. That's why you should start planning a party around three months before, especially when you're planning on booking a great venue.

Like the invitations to the actual graduation ceremony, party invitations should be sent out three to four weeks before the date of the party and if they are going to out-of-town guests, you should send them up to six weeks prior to the party to allow time for travel arrangements.

3-4 weeks is pretty standard for event invitations, especially in today's busy world. Sending early is especially important for high school graduation invites because so many parties can occur on the same day. You want to ensure that guests get your party on the calendar right away.

Your invites should go out four to eight weeks in advance. On your invitation, specify whether the celebration starts with dinner or if it's a dessert and drinks format. We recommend setting an RSVP date that falls two weeks or more before your party.