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Post by lilmermaid on Apr 11, 2013 17:03:40 GMT -6
If you have been through this already what is your best advice for planning your child's graduation open house/party?
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Post by dara1012 on Apr 11, 2013 18:17:57 GMT -6
I would suggest if a H.S. graduate has a group of 4-5 friends that they combine parties and do one big one together at a shelter or something. Coordinate the menu and divide up responsibilities.
When I graduated we held it at my house, and my 3 close friends each had their own, so everyone we hung out with and all of our parents went to 4 different parties. My mom decided to combine with friends for my 2 brothers and it was cheaper and easier and more fun.
If you do one on your own: Have a back up plan for rain (good rental tents for backyard, big house, park shelter)
Do easy to eat food - so people can stand around and chat while they eat
Buy plates at Dollar store or warehouse store
Make sure it's personal and meaningful: serve the grads favorite childhood food (ie. PB & J, hot-dogs, favorite cookies, etc), have artwork samples from each year (or every couple of years), invite favorite teachers/coaches from growing up, everyone loves a photo collage or slideshow running on a laptop, if going to college mix high school colors with college colors, have random facts about the grad posted throughout the party area, lawn games are usually a hit
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Post by jlschlangen on Apr 11, 2013 20:23:55 GMT -6
Have the diploma displayed along w/ some other things they've done in school & any awards. Maybe make a display board. When my mom did my graduation and for a bunch of other ppl's she made candy graduation hats w/ a resees candy, ribbon (using the school colors), a hershey bar, 1 ch. chip. ALso, display the grad. hat. As far as food do it buffet style, have a BIG sheet cake, light foods (deli meat, chzs, mints, nuts, buns, etc).
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Post by jlschlangen on Apr 12, 2013 7:48:40 GMT -6
Have a decorated box for any cards. Have a table for gifts.
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Post by laurac on Apr 12, 2013 7:54:06 GMT -6
DS#2 made his own slide show and played it on his laptop throughout the party. It was easier than making the posterboard.
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Post by megan1201 on Apr 12, 2013 17:12:26 GMT -6
Check with your local church or armory for chair and table rentals. If you're a member they will most likely let you check them out for free. We get table and chairs from the armory for all of our big events -- My sister's graduation, baptism party, birthday parties, etc.
The Dollar Tree has a ton of decorations and supplies in almost every color so you can coordinate with the school colors. Plates, napkins, table cloths, balloons, etc.
Pick a simple center piece for each table - for my sister's party we had a mason jar with red and white (school colors) carnations on each table.
My sister also got together with a bunch of her friends and "shared decorations". They all had their parties on different days but they were able to re use all the decorations from each one and pass them on to each other. I think they were used for 5 different parties.
Have a blank book for guests to write 'words of wisdom' in for a keepsake for the grad.
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