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This post is all about Affordable Graduation Party Ideas.
First of all, congratulations! Graduating is a huge accomplishment, and your hard work has finally paid off. Now, it’s time to celebrate! Whether you’re a parent, close family member, friend, or graduate, you all deserve congratulations on this accomplishment. The day is approaching, and it’s time to party! This list of unique graduation party ideas will impress all your guests while celebrating in style and staying within budget!
As an expert event planner, particularly for graduation parties, I have found that they are always fun, joyful, and rewarding for the graduate. To simplify your graduation party planning, I have compiled a list of affordable graduation party ideas that have received the most compliments from guests. If you are looking for Graduation Party Ideas Aesthetics, this is for you! These ideas are perfect for High School Graduation Party Ideas and College Graduation Party Ideas. Now, let’s start planning together for this BIG day!!
1. Graduation Party Invitations
Firstly, have you sent out your graduation party invites? Before we get started, make sure these are order asap. However, if not, no worries, you still have time. I recommend letting your guest know at least two to three months in advance, especially if some plan to travel from different states. Over the years, I have learned that although graduation invitations are fun to get, no one ever keeps up with them. Therefore, find some cute affordable invites to send out. No need to spend all the budget on graduation cards! The below options are extremely affordable, cute, simple, but will have your guest thinking you’ve spent bucks on!
2. Graduation Welcome Signs
Firstly, when your guests arrive, the first impression means a lot. Let’s start by amazing them. With a cute graduation welcome sign, you are guaranteed to wow them all! Therefore, graduation welcome signs are also important to help instruct guests on the exact location of the graduation party, not to mention these are super cute and inexpensive!
3. Balloon Arch Graduation Party
A balloon arch is literally one of the most complimented graduation party ideas. Balloon arches are fun and super easy to install, trust me. Each person I’ve encouraged to install a balloon arch was appreciated how easy and cute there are! Make sure when your selecting balloon arches, pick one that will compliment the graduate’s party theme. Also, if you decide to have the traditional theme, select balloons that will are black and gold.
4. Photo Booth Graduation Party Ideas
All teen kids love taking photos and TikTok. This photo booth will not only help share memories in the future but also get the guests to interact with the graduate. Undoubtedly, photo booths are entertaining and will bring smiles across everyone’s faces. We love a nostalgic moment. Fun photo props make for a fun interaction for guests!
5. Marquee LED Lights For Graduation Party
Marquee LED lights are always a party favorite and will elevate any graduation party. These LED lights are the perfect size to decorate the graduate’s cake table, food table, or gift table. An insanely cute and inexpensive way to decorate one or each of the tables.
6. Graduation Cake
Speaking of the graduation cake table, let’s talk cake! My friends and family enjoyed the cake toppers I’ve added on top of each graduation cake. While graduation cakes can get a little pricey, the choice is yours if you decide to get it customized. Instead, if an expensive cake is not in the budget, Costco sells delicious cakes for an affordable price. Costco has a two-tier cake, that blows all guests away, it’s truly an inexpensive option and so good! You should instruct them to put a message congratulating the graduate and be sure to have them outline the border of the cake with the theme colors. Secondly, purchase a cake topper of your choice and a cake stand to elevate the cake table! Easy peasy, now your delicious cake is ready to eat! The Marquee LED lights listed in #5 would be stunning on this table.
7. Grad Party Food Station Ideas
As an event planner, I find food displays and serving tray sets enhance the visual presentation of the food while making it more appealing to your guests. This helps the party look more attractive to your guests. Overall this table will be the most visited because graduation celebration is all about the food. With that said, it is another opportunity to truly impress your guests. Set up a buffet table with display food trays, add your delicious food items, and your party will be a success. It’s important to properly display your food items. A bonus, the food trays are prefect to reuse for other events! Nevertheless, this simple and easy graduation food station will make any food choice more appealing. Don’t forget the food labels!
8. Graduation Drink Station
Similar to the display of your food items, let’s do the same for your beverages! Not only will a beverage station help the visual appearance of the party, but it is also designed to have less traffic near the food preparation table. This makes it easier for your guests to grab drinks and mingle without having the main food area crowded at all times. Create several tables and stations at your graduation party to keep guests separated and easy to maneuver. My mom loves these drink dispensers and bring them out during every event we host. They are insanely cute and affordable to jazz up your drink station!
9. Donut Wall Graduation Party Idea
Donut wall displays are trendy and perfect for a dessert bar. This trendy display adds a sweet and fun moment to your celebration. It’s an enhanced way to engage your guests. Not only will the donut wall provide a decor moment, but it will also help prevent the donuts from sticking together and getting mushy!
10. Grad Party Thank You Cards
Let’s take your grad party thank you cards to a different level! This unique graduation party inspiration will literally SHOCK your guests! Instead of grad party thank you cards, create a mini charcuterie board. This will impress your guests and offer a classy graduation party idea! It’s a perfect graduation thank-you gift for helping celebrate the graduate. Besides, it’s super easy to put together, and who doesn’t like Charcuterie! These boxes are great because they come with pre-made “thank you” stickers, making this process easier for you!
11. Graduation Centerpiece Ideas
Whether you are looking for a traditional graduation centerpiece or an aesthetic option each will be equally as cute. During my recent hosting, we’ve found that guests tend to compliment balloons and simple table toppers. Thus making both centerpieces a quick install and affordable graduation gift ideas!
12. Graduation Card Box
Another mandatory item you need at the graduation party is a card box. Did you know the most gifted item at a graduation party is money? Therefore, a card box is mandatory. It will make your life easier by not having to keep up with over a handful of cards. Because they are usually filled with money inside ;). YAY!
13. Graduation Party Activities
Because everyone enjoys entertainment, you need an activity to get everyone engaged. Whether it’s a memory jar or memory blocks, your guests will have a great time! Another similar item is a Polaroid guest book. Polaroid guest books are a perfect way to smile and laugh while providing a nostalgic moment for the graduate. Additionally, guest’s books offer the opportunity to share favorite moments and best wishes to the new grad!
14. Graduation Gift Table Ideas
Although cards filled with money are likely the most received gift after graduating, some guests will still bring a personalized gift. Especially if the graduate asks for a specific gift item. A gift table is designed to provide an easily accessible area for guests to leave gifts in hopes of decreasing confusion for your guests. Additionally, it makes it convenient for both the guest and the hosts to manage the gifts. Basically, we need tables for everything, if you have not noticed, lol!
15. Graduation Backdrop Ideas
Lastly, stunning backdrop ideas. Although we touched base on this under the photo booth section, this is specifically to add additional graduation party ideas decorations to the scenery. Some like to use a graduation backdrop to cover an area where they wish to avoid traffic in their homes, and others simply for decoration. Either way, these backdrops are perfect for adding a grad party aesthetic to your party!
This post was all about Affordable Graduation Party Ideas.