Graduation is indeed a momentous event that needs to be celebrated. It is the end of another journey and also the start of a new one. Several years of hardship and struggles have been surpassed and the graduate really deserves a party like no other. Of course, a party consists of several items that need to be arranged, bought, and taken care of at least two weeks ahead – just so you won’t miss any important detail. Here are a few reminders to pull of a great graduation party!
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Create a checklist of all To-Do tasks a few weeks prior to the party
As the organizer, you need to make sure all details up to the little ones are well taken care of a few weeks before the party. This includes food, drinks, sound system, the DJ, invitations, attendance count, decorations, and a lot more. For the food, the best choice is to hire a caterer or just purchase foods in bulk from restaurants to avoid the hassle of shopping for raw materials, cooking, cleaning, and washing the dishes. Some even hire cooks to prepare the food ahead of time to lessen the stress. This way, you can also guarantee that the food tastes good!
It’s never a party without drinks. As a matter of fact, this is usually what guests came for. That’s why it’s important to choose which liquor store or supplier to buy your spirits from. If you have the extra budget, you can also hire a mobile bar company to mix and prepare the drinks for you. They can also setup drinking games like beer pong to liven up the party.
A good party must always have good music. It’s important to have contact with good DJs around your area that can hype up the mood of the party and give life to the celebration. Along with a DJ, a good sound system is also key to making sure that everyone jives with the music. Graduation parties often happen all at once in one area so make sure to book the DJ and the sound system company ahead of time.
Attendance count and the invitation is also important as this can tell how much food and drinks you must prepare for. You must coordinate with the graduate about the guests he/she would like to invite to the party. Invitations must be sent out at least three days before so that you may still be able to collect RSVPs. The graduation party is more like a baby shower where the guests shower their love and appreciation to the graduate. Of course, 100% attendance rate is not always possible, but try your best to pull in all the important guests the graduate requests.
One important input from the graduate you also need to ask about is the theme of the party. With this theme, you can decide which décor pieces to buy and how you will design the place. A well-decorated party gives an impression of careful preparation to the guests. It makes the party more whole and adds to the vibe and life of the celebration. The important thing is to dress up the venue accordingly without overdoing or underdoing it.
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Take note of little items that may cause bigger problems if not attended to
They say that a small spark can start a huge fire. This goes the same with planning for a party, or any other event for that matter. Watch out for minute details that might ruin or affect the smooth flow of the celebration. As little as misconceptions with suppliers, late attendees, parking slots, emergency exits and plans, and a lot more are just a few things you need to add to your checklist. It’s a good practice to mentally envision the party flow and what could be done in case unexpected things happen.
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Add little warm touches here and there
A graduation party is not just about the party itself. It actually needs to circulate around the most important aspect – the graduate himself/herself. Even though he/she knows that a party is on his/her way, adding a few surprises will really spice up the party and make it a lot more memorable. You may ask his/her closest friends and ask them if they could do a dance or song number for the graduate. You can also tap different family members if they can propose a toast and give a little speech to add warmth to the celebration. These are just little things but they could mean a lot not only to the graduate but to all his/her attendees.
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Plan out giveaways or loot bags for guests to carry on their way out
Joining the celebration is already a gift in itself and you must think of ways on how you’ll thank the guests for spending their time to celebrate with the graduate. Simple giveaways like a bottle of wine, succulents, figurines, note holders, and a lot more can make the guests feel appreciated after a long night. You can also opt for loot bags containing different items that may be customized according to the hobbies and interests of the graduate. If the graduate is into writing, you can buy small notepads and special pens as your giveaway. If he/she loves coffee, then coffee shop gift cards are also one way to show your appreciation. A little goes a long way here. You just have to be creative and know what will appeal to the crowd.
And that’s it! Basically, these are just four reminders and tips on how to pull off an amazing graduation party. It may look painstaking but with enough preparation and lead time, you can finish all the tasks from your check list in no time. Just remember to make sure that the center of the party is the graduate and that his/her achievements and accomplishments from the last school year must be appreciated and celebrated.
