Graduation Parties

you can have a graduation party anytime you want. I don't think there is a law that says it has to be that day or that weekend. My theory is a lot of people won't come to the actual graduation ceremony but will send a card and gift so over invite with the invitations. I have been to some that were 2 weeks after graduation as that is what worked for their family schedule. The guests coming to the ceremony from out of town may not come again for the party but maybe you could have a special dinner for them after the graduation. Even weddings have had receptions days or weeks after the wedding due to the ceremony being too small to hold all their friends and family or just wanting a separate reception to make it more special.

S., It's okay to have up to a month before the graduation. The reason is because so many of her friends will be having parties as well. The month of May will be very busy for her!! So many people do not have there party on graduation day. Hope this helps!

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Hi S.,
When I had my graduation party it was a personal/private one. I've been to some where there was one for family only, and people would bring the food, that way my mom or my friend's mom didn't have to worry about cooking. Then one was held for friends from the class. The one that I had was for friends and family, we made it a come when you can, leave when you have to. I didn't want people to feel obligated to come and stay when I knew that there were other grad parties to go to. My graduation was on a Sunday so it was out of the question for us to have a party that day, considering we had church in the morning, then graduation, then church again that night. But it is totally fine to have a grad party a week before the actual day. It gives her/him and you time to relax a little bit and think about what's gonna be going on between now and when they move out to college. Good luck and congrats!

You could do it on Saturday, the day before, and not be so rushed and actually enjoy your company. You could do a late lunch before the ceremony and that would put a definite end time to it. It might cut it short though. You could do it after the ceremony but that could be a late night if people stayed forever. Or, because of work the next day people might not come by at all or just stay a short time because they have to drive home yet. Or you could do the weekend before or the weekend after. It depends on who is invited and how far away they live. They may not be able to come twice. I have friends that always hold celebrations at a completely different time than everyone else. It is very nice, informal, relaxed. You get to visit and enjoy the company. But only the locals are able to attend both the ceremony and the celebration. It will never suit everybody though, so don't even try that! Good luck and congratulations! We did this last year!

My granddaughter graduated last year and her parents had her party right after. She didn't get to enjoy it for long as the seniors were leaving for their senior overnight outing at about 6pm. Plus she didn't have time to make it to any of her friends parties. This year I have a grandson who will graduate and same problem, only this grandson is my daughters son and she wants to have it here at my house. Problem? My granddaughter is now engaged and she and her family also want to go to her future brother in laws party. Having it the same day as all their friends makes it hard. I like idea of having it another day. Enjoy ever min. it goes by all to fast.

S.,
Having the party on the Saturday before graduation is not strange. Neither is having it the weekend before. It is common for there to be competition for party times. The kids all want to attend each other's parties. If you have relatives coming into town, that has to be considered. My advice is to plan it when it is the best time for YOU. After all, I bet you will be doing the most work. However, pick a date soon and make it public. That way others have to work around your daughter and not the other way around.
I have had two daughters graduate in a town with 5 high schools. I know how hard it is.

Yes, I think its fine to have the party a week before. It doesn't seem strange at all.

I found it was better to have a graduation party on a day different than the actual day. The kids usually wanted to go see their friends anyway that night. And then you can have their party on a day that was planned only for them. And it usually ended up being friends of ours and the relatives. We found with our oldest, that the kids did not want to go to a party where liquor was not served to the kids. Which we never allowed.

Is she your oldest? is this party for her and her friends or for family? Does the school participate in Project Graduation? If this is a family celebration, then having it the day of graduation makes PERFECT sense, as they will be in town for the event anyway,and they will probably not stay late. If it is for her friends, then anytime over the summer is acceptable, perhaps if there are too many parties to attend on the day of graduation, an end of summer get together before everyone heads off to college would be preferred by your teen, but with my 2 oldest, Project Graduation kept them safe, awarded them some prizes and allowed them to spend their final night as seniors under one roof, fully chaperoned, and provided a good time. They were to report at 10:30pm, so family parties were well over, and the kids even got a little time to rest beforehand.

Hi Shelia,

Our son is graduating this year as well. We actually are having his graduation open house 2 weeks before! There was just no other time to do it. Last year a couple of people held theirs the first weekend in June, which I thought was a great idea but a lot of people leave town. Our graduation is the 19th so between Mother's Day the weekend before and Memorial weekend after and everyone else having thiers that weekend, that's what we came up with.

Good luck!

Lori K

Hi, S.! I;ve been teaching high school French for more than 20years and I can tell you that it is not at all unusual to have a graduation party some time other than the day or even weekend of graduation. Sometimes parents hold a party weeks later to accomodate family members or their child's friends' parties. How does your daughter feel about it?
By the way, congratulations to you and to her!
G. <><

Oh my gosh, it is totally normal. I am a teacher for juniors and seniors and have heard everything from a week before graduation they are having their party to saving it until a few weeks before they leave for college in late July early August. Anymore - anything goes it is definately not faux pas for a week before. Hope the party goes great!!

I think you could have your party whenever you want to. I know we have several who are graduating from our church and the families are planning parties on the same day so that we can get to everyone on one day. So we will be party hopping most of that Saturday which I appreciate. We want to see all of the kids and do it one day. Enjoy this time with your daughter it's very special and lot of memories will be made during this time.

I've had 3 kids graduate from High School in the last 4 years. We have had all their parties after the graduation. My last one was last year, on a Sunday. It was also Mother's Day! Our church (and most churches in town) cancelled their evening services that day. So having the party afterwards was not a problem. It worked very well actually, especially since our out-of-town guests were only going to be there on that day. However, some of her classmates had their parties the day before (on Saturday) and some had them the week before, as you are suggesting. I think they worked well also. The key, I think, is in letting those invited know in plenty of time when the party will be, so they can plan accordingly.

We had our daughter's the day before so out of town guests could attend without coming into town twice. Plus your daughter will probably want to attend her friend's parties also on Sunday. Some people will actually have theirs throughout that following week because everyone is trying to squeeze it in.

Good luck,
D.

A pre-grad party is acceptable. It gives them something to look forward to the closer that BIG day draws nearer. My friend gave her son his two weeks before & it was a nice turn out with good clean fun. To be honest she'll be glad you did because so many others will be trying to do it that week-end & have PLENTY to choose from. Good luck & God Bless! Congrats to you too as parents who has gotten her through:-)!

My son graduated from high school last year and we did have his party the weekend before. There were already many parties scheduled for up to two months after the actual graduation and this seemed to work for us.

Yeah I think the weekend before is a good idea. That's when my graduation party was. Alot of people have them the day of but to me that seems like you would just have too much to stress about that day.

Hi S., I don't think it's too crazy of an idea of have it before. I know it's not what you were looking for, but when you have a small town like that, you have to work with what you can. Most likely the other people won't have that idea in mind, so hopefully you will have a better turn out. I personally think it's more fun to have it actually after you graduate only because you can relax alittle bit more and enjoy it! BUT talk with your daughter and see what her feelings are on the situation and go with whatever works best. OR you could have it a few weeks after graduation to ensure that all of your "people" can make it there. Just a thought. Good luck!

Well,it's been a looooong while since I graduated from high school, but I do know that graduation parties went on until mid-summer for me and my classmates. I still live within 30 minutes of my home town, in another small town, and all my friends with kids who have graduated went to parties unitl the end of June at least. So, I say, do it when it works for you and your family/friends.

no it is not. you can do when ever you want. we are doing our on June 1st and theirs is the 24th of may

Is it possible to have the party friday night or saturday? Do you have a theme? We had a hawaiian party for my brother and it turned out really good.

My son is graduating this year - and he is leaving for AIT for the summer and then will be college bound. I plan on having his during a Sat., or Sun. afternoon the week before he leaves (as soon as we find the definite date)It will be a combo graduation/and off you go type of party. He will also be college bound this fall however he might be missing the first week of college for AIT so it wouldn't work to wait till then.
That way family and friends can make it as we have lots of "cousins" graduating the same time. Also - the graduation date doesn't matter in many schools as you can only get X number of tickets in the bigger schools.
Barb