How to Plan a College Graduation Party

Congratulations! You’ve successfully made it through college and that in itself is an impressive feat. That being said, all your hard work calls for a celebration. While it can seem overwhelming to plan a great party, if you focus on these three main steps, there's no doubt that your celebration will be a success.

You are going to want to invite the people who have shaped your college experience. Obviously, this includes friends and family, but also consider including other influential people like your favorite professors and/or coworkers.

Once you have your guest list, try to send out your invitations at least 3 weeks in advance. Graduation season tends to be a pretty busy time for most people, so you want to get the word out early.

While not essential to the celebration, having a theme adds an element of fun and can help give you a framework for planning other parts of your party. Traditionally, people choose their college colors as their central theme, but feel free to be as creative with this as you want.

Also, once you choose a theme, you will have a better idea of what decorations, food, etc you are going to want.

Now for everyone’s favorite: the food. The biggest concern when creating a menu is keeping things convenient for you and your guests. Here are 3 popular styles in which you can offer food at your party:

• A Full Menu: The easiest way to do this would be with a buffet style including one or more entree options, sides, drinks and dessert.

• Appetizers Only: This would mean sticking with lighter fare. Plan to host your party between major meal times if this is the option you choose.

• Desserts Only: If you are trying to save money, offering only desserts is a great option. A classic graduation cake will do but you can be creative here as well (i.e. DIY Ice Cream Bar).

Our Suite 28 makes a perfect venue for celebrating your big day. We offer private bowling lanes, banquet space, a private bar, and state-of-the-art audio and video systems, letting you create a party you and your guests will be sure to remember. Learn more about hosting a college graduation party at Zone 28.