Are you planning on throwing a graduation party for a graduate that you know? Here’s a shopping guide for you to follow to ensure that your party is the best.
1. “Class of” items
One of the staple items to get for a graduation party are items that have on them “Class of” followed by the year in which the graduate is graduating. This makes it personal and really emphasizes that this party is specifically for them. Most party stores sell items dedicated to a specific year, but you can also get creative. For example, instead of getting balloons that have “Class of 2021” written on them, you can get four balloons that are each number. This also makes for a grander display. Party City has a large selection of “Class of” products, and they can also fill up balloons with helium right there in the store.
2. School colors
To make this party unique and special for the graduate, keep the colors of the party the same as their school colors. Doing this can also save you money as well. The Dollar Tree has a very large selection of different colored party supplies, which means you can get everything you want at a great price. These party supplies include plates, napkins, cups, and utensils. All of them are matching sets in different colors, so if you want to, you can mix and match. This works out great if the school has multiple colors.
3. Food
If the party is going to be big, it might be smart for you to go to a warehouse club store. Sam’s Club, Costco, and Smart & Final are three warehouse club stores that offer large quantities of food at a great prices. They also even sell party platters if you would rather go that route instead of making all the food yourself. Don’t forget a cake as well! This is, after all, a very important celebration so a cake would fit in perfectly at this party. The best food options are easy to make and easy to serve. This might include hot dogs and hamburgers, sandwich bites, fresh fruit, chips and dip, and other types of snack food.
4. Entertainment and activities
If the graduate is graduating in one of the warmer months, you can easily have a swim party. Have various activities outside, which may include touch or flag football, water balloon toss, swimming, volleyball, badminton, or other outdoor activities. For indoor parties or parties during the colder months, plenty of fun things can be done. Karaoke is always a fun party activity, and board games can also be fun if it’s lighthearted. The party should overall be easygoing, and make sure it’s entertaining because now is the time for the graduate to party since they are finally done with school. Whether the party is indoors or outdoors, be sure to incorporate music. Music can keep a party lively even if you have no activities planned. Make sure to play the song “Celebration” by Kool and the Gang. That is the ultimate graduation song.
Must-have mail-order items
You will need a few customs to mail-order items to personalize your graduation party. Items you can get online for a reasonable price include graduation banners in the form of yard signs or wall hangings. You should be able to get these for under $25.00. They can be personalized with the school name, school colors, graduate’s name, and graduation year. While you are at it, order graduation photo announcements to send to out-of-town friends and family who won’t make the party. Personalized party favors are also available on any website that sells banners.
Graduation party items for a dollar
If you got a little carried away and the mail-ordered items have taken a chunk out of your budget, don’t fret. You can do the bulk of your graduation shopping at the dollar store. You will find items to decorate your tables and walls, provide party favors, and supply plenty of snacks and drinks. Here is the dollar store shopping list:
- paper plates in graduation colors
- graduation themed plastic table covers
- centerpiece decoration
- streamers
- generic graduation banners
- Picture frames with graduation tassels
- balloons, regular helium balloons, and a few mylar balloons
- window/car markers
- soft drinks
- snacks (chips, salsa, popcorn, pretzels, nuts, etc.)
- candy
Grocery items for your graduation party
Even after you have visited the dollar store, there will still be a few items you will need to get from the grocery store. Some of the items are just cheaper than the grocery store, and others are just better quality, especially when it comes to food. You can purchase these items at the local supermarket or warehouse retail store.
Don’t let the idea of throwing a graduation party make you jittery. The key is to keep it simple so you can keep your sanity and your budget under control. This graduation shopping guide will help you finish your shopping quickly and efficiently.