Photos: Chris Emeott
All that pomp and circumstance doesn’t happen by itself.
Let’s be honest. Graduation parties have—evolved. For the most part, the celebrations have become larger and more involved than the days when grad parties were primarily made up of the student of honor, the requisite family members, a few neighbors and a handful of teenagers all gathered at the honoree’s home/backyard/garage.
While that can still be the case, and those celebrations are just as wonderful, other families are going in another direction with attendee numbers tipping into the hundreds, and the food fare and décor elements ramping up their games, too.
Since senior year’s second semester is built in with plenty of deadlines, including college and scholarship applications, housing contracts or gap year decisions and milestones (the last spring break, prom and the ending of spring sports—cue the tears), it can be overwhelming. Add in planning a graduation party and emotional chaos might ensue.
As this year’s seniors start the academic year, it makes sense that the party planning swings into gear. The first step is getting organized. To help, we put together a month-to-month plan to break down the to-do list into manageable sections.
Calendar of Events
September: Have a discussion with your senior student. Is he/she interested in having a party, and what would that look like in terms of home vs. venue, solo vs. with friends or large vs. a quiet gathering? If you want a must-have venue, check on booking now.
October: If this is a combined event, reach out to the other parents/guardians to make sure they are on the same page in terms of budget and planning. Finalize the party date. Be sure to take into consideration potential district/regional/state appearances for extracurriculars in the spring.
November: For group parties, bring the students and parents together to discuss tasks. Who does what? (Put specific people in charge of beverages, food, games, set-up/clean-up duties, venue rental, etc.) Set up a timeline through the date of the party. Finalize the décor theme. If not done already, it’s not a bad idea to get the venue locked in. When talking with venue representatives, ask about table/chair counts and if linens are included. If not, research other vendors for those items.
December: Take the month off to enjoy the holidays. January will be here sooner than you think.
January: Finalize catering or food truck vendors. Be sure to ask about deposits, pricing, set-up/clean-up options, staffing, dining ware availability and cancelation policies. If you haven’t done so already, move on booking this month; food vendors and venues fill up with other spring and summer events.
February: If making photo boards, go through albums (digital or otherwise) to identify photographs you want to feature. Gather award certificates, school memorabilia, trophies, sport uniforms, etc. to include for display tables. If using annual school pictures, organize them now. (If a year is missing, contact the school to see if it has a version from the yearbook archives.)
March: Meet with families to finalize décor. If decorating individual display tables, share with one another ideas, so each student feels equally represented. Using sports equipment can be a fun and easy way to decorate a space. (Place skis a few feet apart, string chords between them and hang photos along the chords. Prop up tennis rackets or hockey or lacrosse sticks. Fill large, clear vases or containers with baseballs/softballs, pucks, tennis balls, etc.) Create a fun backdrop that is Instagram-worthy for photo taking. If the student is attending college, order the school’s banner or a pennant to display.
April: Order or create party invitations for family, friends, neighbors and other guests. Drop those in the mail, so it’s one less thing to think about. Make sure students spread the party word via social media or on the school’s party page. Ask a couple of friends or older teens to serve as party helpers, refilling food trays and beverage coolers, bussing tables and the like.
May or June: A few weeks ahead of the big day, check in with all the vendors to confirm final details and timelines. If doing a group party, have final check in with families. Once the party day arrives, enjoy it. Take time to celebrate your student and yourself. Let’s face it, K–12 isn’t a road traveled just by the students!
July: Thank you notes never go out of style, and they offer graduates a great opportunity to practice their cursive!
Food for Thought
Aside from the graduate, food is a major attendee at any graduation party. If the thought of making all the food yourself is giving you pause, here’s a starting point for local catering options.
Crave Catering & Events: Yes. The same Crave. If you like dining at the Edina venue, consider this as an option. 952.562.5620; cravecatering.com
Crêpe and Cake: We say, oui! for this perfect match for grads who went through Edina’s French immersion program. crepeandcake.com
France 44: Here’s a local favorite, known for its assortment of charcuterie boards, appetizers and platters. 4351 France Ave. S.; 612.925.3252; france44.com
Lunds & Byerlys: Consider this party regular that never disappoints when it comes to great food and quality. Locations vary; 952.897.9800; catering.lundsandbyerlys.com
Muddy Tiger: This Indian snack food restaurant began as a beloved food truck, quickly gaining fame for its Vada Pav—a delicious sandwich made with spiced mashed potatoes. 7015 Amundsen Ave.; 952.600.7009; muddytiger.com
Pajarito: Explore some tasty options with the team, and they’ll bring the party to you! Done and done. 3910 W. 50th St.; 612.268.4770; pajaritorestaurant.com
Red’s Savoy: Like Red’s says, “Just bring the hungry. We’ll handle the rest.” Teenagers and pizza, they just go together. 4960 W. 77th St., 952.831.8100; savoypizza.com
Sweet Science Ice Cream: We’re firm believers that you’re never too old for an ice cream party. Bring on the flavors; bring on the fun. 3919 Market St.; 612.217.0070; sweetscienceicecream.com
The Lynhall: Decisions. Decisions. Pick among salads, charcuterie platters, artisan cheeses and the fan favorite Funfetti Cakes and other dessert options. 3945 Market St.; 612.870.2640; thelynhall.com
Twin Cities Catering: From elegant hors d’oeuvre and appetizer offerings to quick, fun and easy burrito bar stations, this hits all the marks. 6625 W. 78th St., Bloomington; 763.300.1907; twincitiescateringmn.com
