Graduating from high school is the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication. It is a time to celebrate all the accomplishments the students have achieved. It’s about saying goodbye to childhood and hello to a bright future. If you ask us, this calls for an epic graduation party!
Curated Events, the premier luxury rental service for high-end events, is here to help make your graduation party one for the books. Whether you’re planning a small intimate gathering or a luxury extravaganza, we have everything you need to make this event truly special. But first, you need to plan your party.
This post will cover a few essential tips for hosting a luxury grad party and provide ideas and inspiration for your event. Let’s dive in!
Tips For A Successful Graduation Celebration
The details of your party are what will set it apart and make it truly special. Here are a few tips to consider before getting down to the nitty-gritty of planning:
Choose an Appropriate Venue
A graduation party is a big deal, so you’ll likely want to hold it at a larger venue that can accommodate your guests. Consider things like capacity, location, and accessibility when looking for the perfect place. There are plenty of ways to go about this, depending on the vibe you’re trying to create.
Beach/Pool Party: Water symbolizes wisdom, freedom, and rebirth, making it the perfect setting for celebrating a milestone like graduation. Hosting your party at a beach or poolside venue can help create an immersive and memorable experience for your guests.
Garden Party: If you’re looking for something less on-the-nose yet equally elegant, consider hosting your party in a lush garden space. It gives you plenty of room to play around with decor and create an elegant, natural ambiance.
Indoor/Outdoor Venue: Of course, an indoor/outdoor space is always a good option if you’re looking for versatility and flexibility. You can have your party indoors in case of bad weather or add a canopy or tent to create extra space outdoors.
Establish A Theme
Choosing a theme for your party will help guide the rest of your planning, from decorations to food and drink selection.
“Each theme has its proprietary color palette and decor items that play a big role in setting the overall atmosphere of your event. Get creative with it!”
Some popular themes for graduation parties include the following:
- Hollywood glamor
- Gatsby chic
- Modern luxe
- Tropical paradise
- Vintage elegance
Decide On A Guest List And Date
Next, you must establish a guest list and choose a date for your party. Knowing who will attend is crucial so you can plan accommodations, transportation, etc. You’ll also want to pick a date that works best for both your guests and the venue. It should also allow enough time for planning and prep.
Graduation parties are ideally held during spring or summer. However, try to do it before August, as students will already be busy preparing for the upcoming school year.
“June and July are typically the best months to host a graduation party.”
Stylize The Invitation Cards
Set the tone for your luxe party by sending out elegant and stylish invitations. You can create these yourself or order them from a stationary store. Consider the theme of your party when crafting the invitation so that it reflects the overall feeling you want to convey.
Rent Luxury Decor
As you’ll see in the following section, your party will benefit immensely from high-end decor items. Instead of spending hours scouring the internet and local stores for these, simply rent them through a service like Curated Events. We have an extensive selection of luxury wedding and event rentals at every price point so that you can pick the perfect pieces for your celebration.
“It also makes more sense to rent the decor items instead of purchasing them outright, as you’ll only use them for a limited period. And with Curated Events, renting is easy and hassle-free—visit our website to see all the available options and book what you need today!”
Hire Entertainment
If you want to make your graduation party memorable, consider hiring professional entertainment to liven up the atmosphere. That can include a live DJ, a performance artist or musician, or even an aerialist or fire dancer.
Don’t Forget About Food!
Finally, plan your food and beverage selection for the party. Really think about the vibe you want to create and the type of food that will complement it. You can go all-out with decadent, high-end catering options or keep things simple by serving light fare or a variety of gourmet desserts.
“Since it’s the summertime, (non-alcoholic) drinks like lemonade, iced tea, and fruit smoothies are always a hit with guests of all ages. You can also create interactive food stations with options like build-your-own salads or tacos so that everyone can customize their meal to suit their tastes.”
Luxury Graduation Party Ideas
The above tips will help you plan a truly luxurious graduation party that your guests will remember for years. Regardless of the type of theme or decor you choose, here are a few final ideas to help you take your party to the next level:
Red Carpet Entrance
Start the night with a bang by creating a red carpet entrance leading to your party venue. A long piece of red fabric will do the trick, as long as you can secure it on either side of the entrance.
“You can play fun music and have a photographer on-site to capture guests’ arrival. You can even have them pose in front of the red carpet, creating a fun photo booth moment.”
String Lights For Ambiance
Lighting can make or break the atmosphere of your party. Choose soft, diffused light for a more intimate vibe or bright, cheery lights for a fun and festive feel. Consider allowing Curated Events to install elegant string lighting to increase the ambiance of the environment.
“String lights are a great way to decorate your venue and create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Simply drape them over the rafters or use them to line the walls of your party space. If hosting outdoors, they can be hung from trees or poles, adding a beautiful sparkling effect to the night.”
Decorate The Tables
If a sit-down dinner or buffet is part of your party plans, ensure the tables are properly decorated. This step can include everything from simple tablecloths and napkins to elaborate centerpieces and place settings. Use your theme and color scheme as a guide for your table decor.
“You can coordinate linens and napkins to match your chosen colors. On the other hand, floral arrangements and other centerpieces can reflect the graduation party theme or use elements from the school colors.”
Luxury Lounge Area
For a more relaxed and casual party vibe, consider setting up a luxury lounge area where guests can relax and mingle.
“Sofas and plush lounge chairs are great for this purpose, as are coffee tables and other fancy furniture.”
You can add smaller elements like pillows and decorative rugs to create a more intimate atmosphere. Clearly indicate the lounge area with signage or a separate entrance so guests can easily find it and make themselves home.
“Bar” Station
Although a full bar may not be possible, a “bar” station is a fun way to add a festive flair to the party. Include an assortment of non-alcoholic drinks like sodas, juices, water, and glasses. Alternatively, you could play on the classic “bar” theme and serve a variety of tasty treats like candy bars, popcorn, or other snacks.
“Whatever you decide to include in your bar station, remember to account for food allergies and dietary restrictions so that all of your guests can enjoy the fun.”
Scrapbook A Collage
It’s no secret that people drift apart over time, so give the young graduates a way to commemorate their friendships with a collage. Create a scrapbook where each guest can write a short message or thought about the graduate or add photos from the years they’ve known each other.
Balloons And Flowers
Another way to add a touch of fun and whimsy to your party is with balloons and flowers. You can choose from various colors and styles to match your theme or opt for classic pastel shades for a sweet and sentimental feel.
Whether you use them as centerpieces on the tables or in larger arrangements throughout the venue, flowers and balloons are sure to help make any party memorable.
Graduation Cake
Just like a wedding cake is a signature element of any wedding celebration, a graduation cake can be an iconic element of your graduation party. It can sit pretty on the dessert table, just begging to be sliced and devoured, or it can even take center stage as the main attraction of your party.
Dress Code
Not all parties need a dress code, but if you’re hosting a high-end graduation party, it might be appropriate to have one. It can help ensure that guests are dressed appropriately for the occasion and helps set the tone for the event.
“Note that while Black-Tie or formal events may be the most common, you can also have a more relaxed dress code, such as semi-formal or cocktail, or garden chic.”
You could also go out of the left field and opt for an unusual dress code. Throwback parties or throwbacks to popular film characters are a few fun ideas you could explore.
Food Truck Extravaganza
Food trucks are a welcome addition to any event, and a high-end graduation party is no exception. Consider having several food trucks on hand to serve everything from gourmet burgers and fries to cupcakes and ice cream treats. These might arrive later in the party, or you could even have them set up a permanent “food truck” station for the duration of the event.
Photo Booth
Finally, a photo booth is a perfect way to capture your guests having fun at the party. Whether you go with a classic backdrop and props or get adventurous with unique backgrounds like a carnival theme or outer space setting, you’ll be sure to create unforgettable memories for the grad and their friends.
Contact Curated Events To Get Started
Planning a high-end graduation party can seem daunting, but you can easily pull it off with the help of Curated Events. With our wide selection of high-end rental equipment, including everything from tables, chairs, and linens to lighting and decor, we can help set the scene for your party.
Our team of experienced event planners is available to help you with every step of the process, so contact us today to get started on planning your perfect graduation party!