The 2020-21 school year is coming to an end, and graduation is right around the corner. Before you know it, graduation party planning has begun. I am going to explain how to plan the perfect graduation party. 

The first step is to pick a date. You want to select a date a few months before the actual day of the party. Another thing to consider is to have your guest list in mind when choosing. Try to be thoughtful with your guest list and accommodate everyone as much as possible, but don’t go overboard. Another tip is choosing a party day in July. Most people will have their parties in June, so if you want to ensure that all your guests can make it, choose a later date. Also, be sure to check and follow all CDC guidelines to make your party as safe as possible!

The second thing you want to do is finalize your guest list and send out invites. Make a list of close family and friends you would like to celebrate the day with. A current high school senior, Alexa Allelunes, explains how she plans on “having my family friends come first and having people come in shifts” to ensure safety due to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19. Having time slots and breaking up the extensive guest list will also allow you to have more quality time with your guests. A Pennridge graduate, Kaitlyn Gredone, says that her most significant tip is to not “invite too many people because it can be an overwhelming feeling.” You also want to send your invitations out at least a month in advance to ensure that the guest can make it. Make sure to include a dress code on your invitations as well. 

The third thing that you want to do is plan party activities. Decide if you want to have a theme, and based on that, begin organizing activities. Some classic party activities corn hole, volleyball, kan-jam, spikeball, tennis or badminton, and pong. Some water games can include water gun fights, water balloon fights, and duck duck dump (similar to duck duck goose but instead of patting the head, you dump water).

The fourth thing you want to do is plan your menu. Take into consideration if anyone on your guest list has allergies or dietary restrictions. For appetizers, choose items that don’t need to be kept at a specific temperature if possible. Also, choose things that are quick and easy to eat, such as chips and salsa or a veggie platter. For the main meal, choose something that would match your party theme or something that is the graduate’s favorite. For dessert, pick something that is your favorite! You can never go wrong with cake!

Lastly, you want to plan your decorations. Decorations could go with your theme if you chose to have one. You can find affordable decorations from the dollar store, Walmart, Target, Party City, and many other places. Also, make sure to have more than enough seating options. Keep some extra chairs and tables around. If you’re having an outdoor party, have multiple trash cans, so the trash isn’t flying around. 

I hope these five essential tips gave you a good idea of where to start when you plan your graduation party. Comment below any other party ideas, themes, and suggestions you have below!