Whether you’re graduating
from UTSA with a PhD, Northeast Lakeview College with an Associate’s degree or
Jefferson High School with a diploma, academic achievement is worth
celebrating. Here are some tips for hosting the most memorable graduation
party in San Antonio.
Invitations
The most efficient way to get
the word out is with an e-Vite or a Facebook event group. It saves paper and
postage but still leaves you plenty of creative space to introduce a theme.
Themes
Graduation themes can vary
from cap and gowns to school colors, from career paths to hobbies. It all
depends on what you want. Some broader, yet applicable, theme ideas include:
- Dr.
Seuss’ Oh the Places You’ll Go—decorate
with colors, characters and phrases from the book - Keys
to success–decorate with old keys and asking guests to leave tips for your
future success - One
smart cookie—provide a cookie bar, cookie gift bags or give guests the
opportunity to ice their own cookie - The
world is yours for the taking—decorate with globes or maps
Entertainment
To really get the party
started and keep the party going, hire a party DJ to play some
of your favorite tunes. Graduations are one of the few individual celebrations
that compete with others. So many of your friends likely graduate at the same
time and have many other parties and events to attend. Make your party the one
they don’t want to leave by providing good food and quality entertainment.
Unlike more structured party games, a DJ keeps the event festive even as guests
come and go. Add a karaoke element and watch your guests stick around to watch
the show.
Another come-and-go friendly
possibility for high school graduates is having a table out that displays
senior pictures and gives guests the opportunity to sign the yearbook. The
yearbook doubles as a guest book.
Photo booths are the new
must-have for any party. With a simple backdrop and some goofy props, your
guests create their own poses and creative expressions to fill your memory
book. Don’t forget to provide a camera or all the memories will be trapped in
smart phones!
Food
This is Texas. People like to
eat. Depending on the weather, you could grill outside and fill a kiddy pool
with ice and cold drinks, or you could stay in the air conditioning with themed
food or a “Build Your Own” food bar. Themed
food could be tortilla wraps, Swiss Rolls or tamales tied with a ribbon to look
like a diploma. Food bars offer guests the opportunity to put together their
favorite flavor combinations and serve themselves. Examples of these buffet
style arrangements include:
- Taco
bar - Ice
cream sundae bar - Baked
potato bar - Fondue
bar - Assemble
your own kabob bar
Graduation is both a finish
line and a starting gate. It is worth having others celebrate beginnings and
ends with you. These tips will hopefully get your creative juices flowing, but
ultimately the celebration should fit your interests and your personality.
