5 Tips for Attending Graduation Parties
The busy season for graduation parties is here. My mailbox and inbox will soon be loaded with
open house invitations. We live in area where kids have friends at multiple schools, so I
attended parties of graduates from four different high schools when my son was a graduate.
From past experience I know many of the events will overlap, many of the attendees will be at
the same parties I attend, and the graduates will share about summer plans, college plans and
more. I struggled with etiquette that first high school graduation season, especially when the
event was a combined party for two or more graduates. I planned and prepared about how I
was going to handle all of the open houses and gifts I wanted to give. Here are the tips that
have worked well for me:
Buy your cards in boxed sets. I buy boxed blank cards out of habit. The variety is helpful: whimsical, feminine, neutral,
cartoonish, floral, etc. Select a box or two that resonate with you. Consider getting an extra, as
you may receive late notice of another party via social media or word of mouth. Any left over
blank cards can be used for other occasions.
Personalize the card: add an appropriate sentiment, a heartfelt note, or include a memorable
photo. If you are enclosing a check, fold it and place it within.
I discovered graduates do not
typically open their gifts at the party. They are busy socializing with friends, parents of friends,
and their teachers. There is often a box in which you can deposit your cards or monetary gifts.
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5 Tips for Attending Graduation Parties
Be considerate with your replies to invitations.
Have you ever planned a party and requested people RSVP by a certain date so you could
have enough food, refreshments, and utensils on hand? As you know, prompt responses help
hosts plan for their guests. Be considerate and reply in timely fashion, ahead of the host's
deadline. Make sure to add the date and time of the party to your calendar.
Set a graduation gift budget and stick to it.
While it is not required that you give a gift, it is appreciated. Most gifts are money, in the form of
checks. With that said, remember that graduation is not a fundraising event; it is an important
milestone to be celebrated.
I set a budget, realizing that my son would probably receive close my budget in monetary gifts.
Next, make a list of the graduates you are closest to before the invitations arrive. Divide your
budget among the graduates you are giving gifts to. There likely will be students you are giving
more to than others: your child's best friends, the son or daughter of a close friend, or a niece or
nephew. You may also want to mail a card and/or gift to a graduate who does not have a party
or who lives some distance from you.
Another idea is to gift a "year of graduation" check, in this case $20.15, for the graduation year
of 2015. Money adds up quickly. My son received a lot, as did most of his friends. He put the
money towards his first year of incidental college expenses not covered by us.
Decide how you will spend your time.
Decide which open houses you are attending. Consider declining if you don’t know the graduate
or her parents well. Set a time limit for each open house when you have multiple events in a day
or weekend, or if they overlap. Make sure you speak to the graduate and congratulate her.
Make mental notes.
Someday your child will graduate from high school, so make mental notes. Attending open
houses and graduation parties is fun and will inspire you with ideas about how to celebrate your
future graduate.
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Judy M. Miller, a freelance writer and mom of four, is already mulling over the high school
graduation of her oldest daughter in 2016.
Published: April 2015
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