Personal Touches for Making H.S. Grad Party Memorable!

All your ideas sound great.....BUT, what does your son want to do?

Blessings....

A couple friends of mine had their sons jerseys made into a blanket. Doesn't matter what colors, like a quilt, was a really neat idea. I know we have lots of previous jerseys from our son playing baseball and basketball over the year.

Another idea we saw was to put pictures from different years on the tables that are set up where people sit, can be individual or group photos.

Congrats to your son and good luck!!

You could make a slide show of old photos of him growing up (family/teams/school and include pictures of some of the people who will be attending the party. They will enjoy seeing it. Either show it with an LCD projector on the wall or put in on a continuous loop on your computer so people can see it. What are his plans post high school? You could create some kind of activity or game around his soon to be new school. Enjoy the year---it will go quickly.

At a recent graduation i attended, they had set up several tables. They made displays with 'science fair' boards to show what their daughter had been up to the last 13 years. Actually the daughter did most the work which made it even nicer. Pictures from kindergarten to now. On the tables, they displayed ribbons and awards from her involvement in 4H, Scouts, Band, etc. She was never into any sports, but you sure didn't miss it looking at the boards. Pictures of her spending time with the family, friends, prom, birthdays, etc. One board was dedicated to a trip to Europe she got to go on the summer prior through a youth organization. I knew the parents much better than I did the grad, but after looking at the boards, reading her comments she had written next to the photos, and talking with her about some of the events, we both walked away much more fulfilled. It was a great ice breaker, and we each learned something from the conversation.

Video and photo montages are great too!

I love planning parties, & I particularly enjoyed my son's graduation party! It was a battle to the very end, & we didn't know if he was going to walk with his class until the last 24 hours. Huge victory for all involved!

My theme was uplifting & inspirational. For many of our parties, I use Mason jars for the tables. Since the party was at his fav park, this worked out great. Easy to pack, transported pre-made. I stuffed the jars with cellophane in his school colors & inserted "positive" words between the jar/cellophane. A few stars shooting out the top & a standout centerpiece for each table!

Everything was all about him....his fav foods & desserts. Basic picnic supplies, coolers of drinks, etc. We took lots of photos....& pretty much that's it. The park itself was the attraction. We have a fav spot for parties, & it's right by the playground (for the little ones), the basketball & tennis court, & within walking distance of the spring & fishing. All perfect for entertaining a huge family such as ours.

We've had 3 graduations in the past 6 years. What stands out ....is making sure the grad is comfortable & at ease....& is encouraged to invite friends, friends, & more friends. Otherwise, it's Mom's party!

& one more thought: since you've mentioned baseball...you have your theme! Toss some of that equipment on the tables....that's all you need!

Congrats!! My oldest is also graduating; yikes!!

I did something cute for my son when he turned 18. In addition to the photos, etc. showing his life, I posted several "funny" photos (copies) - nothing too embarrassing - and then had cut out a bunch of "thought" bubbles. Anyone that wanted to could write a funny thought or caption for each photo and then tack it on the photo. We got some really funny stuff.

Afterward, I put everything in a scrapbook - invitation, photos of the party, cards, etc. He really appreciated what I did.

Good luck!!

You could have a custom Banner Made. They are not very expensive. If you do it in his college colors, you can use it again when he graduates from college in 4 years.

Make up a photo booth or look into renting one. Have fun props..

At our daughters party, I placed her acceptance letters in frames.

I ordered custom stadium cups. People then took them home as their gift..

I invited her favorite teachers (and their families) from through the years.. even the Principal and his family...

I ordered Shirts from her college and had them hanging. I wanted a school flag, but her college did not have a flag..

Congratulations! Take lots of photos..

Please make sure that HE is onboard with everything you plan. Some of the suggestions below sound sweet, but I would have been totally mortified if my parents had done some of those for me because I don't like to be the center of attention even if I'm the guest of honor. So just make sure he's cool with anything you plan.

I'd also consider carefully what you have matted - I love the idea of having something signed and matted and would want to display it so that I could see all of the signatures and messages, but I would feel super-weird with a portrait of myself on my wall, kwim? So maybe make it a picture of him with friends, or a candid photo of him at a place that's special to him or something that he won't feel weird having in his room.

My absolutely favorite idea for events like this is a memory quilt. One of my friends makes these here but there's probably someone in your area who does these. You gather up those things of his that you've saved over the years - onesies and footie PJs, his Little League jerseys and summer camp shirts, a kerchief from cub scouts, favorite sweatshirts and tee-shirts, some things with his high school and college logos on them - and have them made into a quilt. The finished quilt can be a gift to him and makes quite a conversation piece at the party, but he can then take it with him to school and keep it forever.

Have fun planning and enjoy the rest of this year - what an exciting time for him and you!!

We had a table set up that had one of those big tri-fold poster board things. on it was photos of him throughout the years him and his friends / family, his school photo's choir, baseball, rifle team etc. my son happened to win some junior olympic medals so we had those also along with his military stuff (he went to a military college prep highschool) also had a copy of his letter hiring him for the summer internship job he had lined up. also a box that people put the grad cards into.

don't forget to string some clear lights (we used christmas lights) around the inside of the tent. so that you have light at night.

when you set up your food table steam pans can also be used for cold food if you put ice in the bottom pan instead of the water and little fire thing under it.

rent the chairs. you can always ask people to bring lawn chairs but if you rent tables and chairs it is way easier.

as far as entertainment etc. we didn't do any of that. except to set up several sets of those bean bag game things and a couple sets of horse shoes.

we invited all of our friends and my son invited all of his. we had about 150 people who came and went throughout the day but they all just wanted to visit.
good luck.

My middle daughter graduates this year too so I'm starting the planning process as well.

My my oldest graduated, I had a friend put together a photo video that we showed on our TV. I also sat up a couple of tables that reflected trophies, yearbooks (w/pages showing her flagged), other pics, her scrapbooks, some of her early childhood artwork and stories she wrote. I also made her a quilt that we displayed that was a compilation of the t-shirts she had collected from participation in plays, cheerleading, sports, etc. Any way, it was basically a compilation of her life and was really neat to see. We also decorated the house with baloons, cake, napkins, plates, etc. in the school colors of the college she was planning on attending.

I agree with the others about asking your son what he wants for his party (location, food, etc.) However, I did all of the extra decorating on my own and it was quite a surprise for my daughter. She loved it! If you make it personal and special, you can't go wrong.

And, congrats on this big milestone in YOUR life as a mom.

Here are some things my friend did last year for her son's party:

photo booth with hats, boas, funny glasses, etc. Guests get a pic and so do you!

life-sized cutout photo (or bigger than life) of graduate in cap and gown to stand in the corner

games, like bocce ball or crochet

flashlight games at night

Another friend rented a moonwalk and a dj

candy table and bags for people to make up their own thank you bags

Another person had make your own tacos, burritos and walking Doritos for food instead of the usual fare

Another had an icing photo on the cake

Boy, I've attended quite a few grad parties in the last few years! Have fun planning.

Talk to your son and see what he wants. It is his party. Boys can be funny about pictures etc so just talk to him. You will then know what to do.