Step Siblings High School Graduation Invitation

I have been invited to a few parties like this, and I agree, one invite for both. People will know what to do!

Don't worry about it - we hosted joint parties for my son and step-daughter (who are the same age and grade) over the years and just worded the invites "please join us as we celebrate the graduation of Susy and John..."

People will figure it out.

I wouldn't worry about it. I was invited to a joint graduation for two boys who were best friends. We really didn't know boy #2, but knew boy #1 very well. We didn't feel obligated to give boy #2 a gift at all.

Good luck!

I wouldn't do 2 invitations. I know that gives each kid their "own" but I think putting 2 invitations in some people's envelopes is not only an expense for you, it kind of says, "Hey, just a reminder that you need to buy 2 gifts." There's no nice way to do that. It presumes that a gift is the price of admission, and it's not a requirement. No one "has to give a gift" to anyone, and I think it's going to be worse if you try to specify whom they need to (or are expected to) give to. It's better not to open that can of worms. Everyone who is coming will know your situation - that you have a blended family. So just assume that they will do what they want. Maybe no gift, maybe a gift for the kid they know only, maybe a gift for the kid they know and a card for the one they don't.

Just a "join us as we celebrate with the graduates Joe Smith and Cathy Jones." Indicate whether it's an open house (general hours, no RSVP) or if there is a set start & end time with RSVPs appreciated. I wouldn't do a "regrets only" because there are too may parties at this time of year, and we always hear from Mamapedia members that people don't reply to just one invite for a mid-year birthday. When it gets busy, it gets harder!

My sister and I both have a graduating child this year and we are having a joint party.

We have both an e-invite as well as paper invitations and they list both kids' names. Most of my niece's family on her dad's side don't know my son, and my husband's side of the family doesn't know my niece. Everyone is smart enough to sort it out without being told, so I say you shouldn't worry about it. If someone has a question, they can call/email to ask.

it's nice to try and make everything crystal clear to everyone, especially when you're trying to quell the 'obligatory gift' thing, but honestly it just makes it more weird and awkward.

trust your friends and family. just put 'party for bob smith and jane jones' on the invitation and leave the rest to their good common sense.

and if folks show up with a gift card for the kid they don't know, well, that's not the end of the world.

this is a good time for KISS.
khairete
S.

I don't think it matters. Last year my daughter graduated as well as her cousin AND my ex husband's girlfriend's son. We had a joint party and sent out a single evite for all. Even though we shared the space and cost of food my daughter and niece didn't receive any gifts from the girlfriend's family and I assume her son didn't receive any from our side. I don't think people need instructions on what and when to give, they know it's not a money grab.

I agree you would just do the one invite with both names.

I'm like chacha - I personally would get a gift card for the child I didn't know (or know as well) but it wouldn't be as much in amount $. That's just me though - I don't think anyone would feel obligated.

So you'll have some people who get both gifts (who don't know both) but that's up to them - and that's ok. That would happen whether you put in two invites, or not.

I agree to just do one invite with both kids names. I don't think it will be a big issue.

Each child should be named individually on a separate invitation. Some people receive both invitations. (It will be obvious to those people, based on the time/place noted on the invitations, that the two children are being celebrated at the same time.)

ETA:
I agree with other posts that you could just name both children and see what happens, no one has to give a gift to anyone. *But*, it sounds like you have reason to believe that people you are inviting might prefer the clarification of a single name. I personally was a guest at a joint birthday party last weekend - both people were relatives of my friend the hostess but one of them was someone I had really never met - and I did feel awkward about not bringing gifts for both people, I ended up bringing a gift card for the person I did not know.

A few years back I was invited to a grad party for two girls. One I knew and the other I had heard about (both good people). I gave them both money but the not the same amounts. The invite had both names on it.

Good luck and congrats on the graduation(s).

the other S.