High School Grad Party

You could have her party at the end of June when most of them have already taken place. Since you have so much time you will enjoy finding somewhere to have the party!

I learned a great tip if you want to have outside at your home. Contact your local town government and park district. One of them probably has tents and picnic tables that you can "rent" for a very reasonable price and deposit that they deliver.

As for conflicts, consider having the party later or just make an open house as they all tend to party hop. Then you don't have to worry as much about crowds if you go the larger route. You can also give a later time for her friends so she has tiem to visit with her family before even if they are still there when her friends come.

My daughter graduated at the end of May 2008... I asked her if she wanted her party soon after she graduated or just a couple of weeks before she left for College... she chose the latter.... We had her party the last weekend in July and even then, 2 other friends were having parties... but it was nothing compared to the number in June.. One Saturday she went to 7 of them and they just kept piling up.
We had about 150 people for this.
This was so much nicer and she was able to say good-bye to everyone also. We also did a small BBQ for the Grandparents and a few of her closest friends the week before she left.

M.,
What we did was to invite everyone, family & friends to our house, indoors & outdoors, so small children could play. We ordered food from Two Chefs Catering in Bensenville, IL located by the Bensenville train station, they deliver. The cost was managable, easier on everyone. Snacks & drinks we added. Food was great, we did this for our small wedding reception, merging households also. Our merged family will probably to this again for our oldest graduating College of DuPage this next summer.
C.-Mom of 2, Stepmom of 2 more

Sounds nice. How about adding your own centerpieces to make it more personal for her. I like the idea of using florist sticks for the card and putting out different pictures of your daughter through the years. Can be put in vases or plants, etc. Have the party at a time that is convenient for your family but doesn't conflict w/ the other classmates party times:afternoon? Anything to make it special and just for her. Remember a cake and take LOTS of pictures!You can always include some of her very best friends to the mix! The family will be delighted to have a real "slice of life" w/ your daughter. Enjoy!!

our son graduated a couple years ago and it was about this time of the year that we started! she should start talking to her closest friends and see which dates that they are looking at. that is what we did. it will be inevitable that there will be conflicts! when you have chatted with the others, determine your date right away. also, if you are really just doing family, you could set a time frame and she would still have time to go out later at night with friends! that is what the kids typically do.

Dear M.,
Don't know what your budget is but we did a brunch the am before actual graduation. We had bagels & spreads, juices, coffee, donuts, fresh fruit salad, cinnamon rolls. It was a beautiful day and everything was set up on our deck in the backyard. Then my daughter was free in the evening to attend her friends parties and there were no fights about hanging around with family while "all my friends are out". Also, grandparents were here to go to the ceremony with me!. Everyone thought is was a great idea and it didn't cost much.

Have the family party during the day and give the nights to your daughter for her friends parties. Just expect her to want to be both places at one time. You could have her party a week before graduation also.

M.,
Planning early is great!
Since you are planning early here is what I suggest:
>Find out whan your daughter's friend are planning their parties
>Have the dinner the night before graduation or a couple days before (make sure your daughter has her cap and gown to take pre-grad pictures with family)
>If your daughter is attending college and is planning on going away, have a post-grad party that will also double as a trunk party filled with all the things she will need for at least the first semester/quarter

I know this is one of the most exciting times for your daughter and for you as parents--ENJOY!

L.

My daughter graduated on June 1st, this year and we had a very great party (and I must say it was wonderful because I put up our dilemmas on Mamasource and received the best ever advice). I also attended 5 of my daughter's friends parties and they went all over the calendar during the summer months. My advice about the date is that most people are not thinking about the date yet, so pick your date and get the word out. Then it becomes their job to avoid your date. We sent out "Save the Date" postcards we made on the computer, although we did order the invitations from an online printer. We catered and then brought in food from a Chinese restaurant when my daughter wanted vegetarian food, but that actually made it better. It was probably the best event in a while due to the amount of time I gave myself to prepare, so I congratulate you on being so timely. I am not sure of what small means, but I come from a large family and small is in the 50-70 range. In the summer you can rent a tent and cater for what it would cost at a restaurant. We used plastic silverware, Chinet plates and cups from Sam's Club. I felt at the time we were "cheaping out" on those accessories, but not one person said a thing about the disposable eating utensils (and I did ask my sisters to report comments about it). All people were concerned about was that my daughter graduated and were all ready to wish her well. You are such a great parent for making a "big deal" out of this because it sends a positive message to your younger children that graduating from high school is a landmark event. Good luck to the future graduate!

My oldest daughter is still 3 years from graduation but, with divorced parents and relitives spread out, we will be doing a brunch the morning of graduation.
We figured with all the other parties, and far away relitives, it would work out the best.
Good luck!

When my almost 20 year old daughter was ready to graduate I had planned to take her to Dunhills for a nice dinner- just her stepdad and I and my parents. I also planned a smaller party for her at home with all the rest of the family and friends. Unforunately, my daugter went through some things and left home before she graduated and wanted nothing to do wit us. we still saw her graduate and came home after a few weeks and I gave her a good luck party with our family. All I can suggest is dont spend any money to soon. I had bought a big graduation package through the school- not including the huge amount in pictures. Good Luck.

My son graduated this last Spring. We had a nice party right at our home. We had about 30-40 friends and family. We cleaned out our garage and set up table and chairs in there as well as outside. i served a buffet style cook out. Brats, Chicken, Meatballs, Pulled Pork, Kraut, beans, lots of fruit and veggies, cake and watermelon for desserts. No alcohol was served just soda, ice tea, juice and lemonade. I filled cooler with ice and drinks Almost all the foods was gone. Everyone had a great time. ((Food was kept inside)) and ((I did not have the party the day of graduation, many will have theirs that day.))
My son did not even want a party and I told him the party was for me, so I could celebrate. After it was over at about midnight he was so glad that he ended up having the party. He said one big perk is I got over $1000. in gifts to go towards college.
She may say she does not want any of her friends there now be when she is invited to their parties she may think different.

S.

It depends on if you have out of town relatives and friends coming to your party...we had grandparents in their 80s coming to high school graduation party so it needed to be the same weekend as the graduation. We have rented a tent 3 times from rentals unlimited and table and chairs and set up buffet in our dining room with food from Portillos (Italian Beef and Mostacioli) and Jimmy Johns plus salads and snack food so the party can be outside and inside. When our son graduated, he shared his graduation party with his best friend. Some people do have the graduation party several weeks after the graduation. It is a lot of fun!
Congratulations and I hope that the weather etc is favorable for your party.
Your daughter will likely be invited to other parties...most students go between multiple parties on the same day on the weekends right after graduation.

C. L
Mom of 3

First you have to determine what would be a "small party" Minimally, it looks like your are up to at least, 20 - 30 people. I'm guessing that a few of her friends are going to come too. Are you looking for something intimate? sit-down dinner-ish or appetizers and open house? There are so many routes you can go. Pizza at Aurelios, or (new favorite and really nice owners "Chicago Pizza Dough Company" in New Lenox - it's so lovely inside and the owners are very accommodating! Nice family-run business. Rent a tent at your house, if your yard is not large - I just saw someone set it up, on their driveway. Check out Round Barn, in Manhattan, off of Rt. 52 - cool place, run by their park district (don't know if they would do private parties but it is just a cool place!) New Lenox Park district - banquet room...dont' know if you are planning to serve alcohol to your adult guests, however, it's a lot cheaper at the park district if you have a party there without alcohol. Or you can rent one of parks or pavilions - even having the party later in June/July could work for you and wouldn't be unusual to have it weeks after graduation.

Or.....my sister did this for her (big) birthday last year. She rented a huge room in the Wi dells. It slept 20 easily and the waterparks are up there. Or you can do that closer to home at a nice hotel with a great pool. William Tell Holiday Inn/Countryside has a lovely pool area - easy to get to from I-55 or find a nice hotel, closer to home.

It's quite a milestone for you and her - it's nice you are mulling this over now. Hope this helps. Good luck.

I just had a grad party for 8th grade and high school. Parents usually plan parties all the way through the summer- so that is a thought...not to have it immediately after the graduation. I had a graduation luau...we had a pig roast. I accomodated about 60 people. I didn't expect my kids to stay at their party all day. They did go off to party hop as well as had their friends show up at ours. Not sure what your idea of small is so I just threw my idea out there.

C. T.

One thing I wouldn't worry about is having your party the same day her friends are doing it. My daughter graduated two years ago and the parties for her friends went all summer! Some were right around graduation, some June and July, and a few in August as parties/send-offs to college. We had our party in July. We had about 40 people at our house and had it catered. It was a nice event, not too huge.