28 Insanely Creative High School Graduation Party Ideas - By Sophia Lee (2024)

This post is all about the best high school graduation party ideas.

Can you believe it's finally time to starting thinking about high school graduation party ideas?!

This has been a long time coming and it is worthy of a BIG celebration.

But, where do you begin? What decorations should you use? What food should you serve? Do you need a photo booth board or not? (We'll answer that for you...you do ;))

It can be so overwhelming thinking about everything that goes into a graduation party. We've rounded up the cutest graduation party ideas so that you can get inspiration for your own graduation party.

This post shows you the best high school graduation party ideas.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION PARTY IDEAS:

1. Advice and Wishes Cards

These cards are so cute and something that the grad will keep and remember forever! It's a great way to get people interacting with your party on their own time.

Advice cards are super helpful for the graduate and fun for older adults to look back at their college years and give some great advice.

2. Charcuterie Board Table

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A charcuterie table is the perfect addition to any party, and it is great for a food option for graduation parties! Catering food is always a great idea, but this offers so many options for little snacks that guests can eat throughout the whole party.

3. Serve Drinks in a Fun Way

Graduation parties are always a great time to serve your favorite drink recipes to friends and family!

Make sure to add labels on alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic drinks! This is a cute and funny way to make sure everyone knows which drink they should be drinking.

4. Photo Wall

Photo walls are not only fun things to do while at a graduation party, but they are also a great way for guests and the graduate to remember the party forever. Thus, they're an ESSENTIAL part of any good graduation party!

Photo walls can be done in so many ways. Order a backdrop like the ones above from Amazon or make one with balloons and streamers!

28 Insanely Creative High School Graduation Party Ideas - By Sophia Lee (16)

28 Insanely Creative High School Graduation Party Ideas - By Sophia Lee (17)

5. Props for Photo Wall

Don't just encourage people to take photos, encourage them to have fun with it as well!

Have some fun props like these from Amazon for your guests to use while taking photos.

6. Party Favors with Personalized Tag

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Party favors are a great way to thank your guests for coming to celebrate the graduate's big accomplishment and adding a touch of personalization makes it feel even more special.

Save yourself a lot of time by ordering personalized party favor tags like these!

7. Cute Disposable Cameras

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Ok HOW fun is this high school graduation party idea?

Set up a table near the photo booth with a polaroid, plenty of film, a guest book and some pens so that guests can take a super cute super quick pic!

It's a fun way to kick off the party and also create something that will remind the graduate of everyone who came to celebrate them.

8. Acrylic Graduation Party Sign

28 Insanely Creative High School Graduation Party Ideas - By Sophia Lee (27)

This acrylic sign is SO cool and the perfect thing to put in the entrance of your party!

You can also get it customized to say whatever you want it to.

9. Table Centerpieces

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Centerpieces are a high school graduation party idea that you definitely have to use. But fear not, there are so many ways to do so!

Twinkle lights, photos, confetti. The options are endless so take this idea and get creative with it!

10. Design Food as the Graduation Year

Another very creative high school graduation party idea that is very easy to do is to organize the food in the design of the graduation year, like in the photo above.

Just cut some cardboard into the shape of the numbers and place candy on it (or anything really, it's up to you!) and boom! A very fun and unique layout that is sure to wow everyone.

11. Memorabilia Display

Showcase the graduate's involvement in high school -- whether it be in athletics or clubs -- with a memorabilia station that shows everyone that the graduate did so much more than go to school for four years, because they want that other work appreciated, so they'll appreciate you in return!

12. Decorate the Wall Space

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Tape streamers and balloons to the walls of the party! This will make it look like you put 10x more effort into decorations than you actually did AND people can use it as a backdrop for photos!

Can you believe this balloon garland kit is only $11 too?!

13. Customized Cups

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How CUTE is this high school graduation party idea?!

Customized cups are a perfect personalized addition to the party that all your guests will be dying over!

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14. S'mores Bar

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This idea is so cute and will definitely be remembered by every guest that stops by your graduation party.

I mean... who doesn't love a s'more?!

15. Create and Implement a Theme

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Most of you just read that and thought, "Isn't graduation the theme?" You're definitely not wrong, but you can definitely have themed graduation party like this one above!

This is a unique high school graduation party idea because it makes choosing decoration a lot easier, and the party is definitely more memorable!

16. Graduation Hat Cupcake Toppers

Sometimes the small details and decorations are what make graduation party decor really stand out. These toppers could be put on anything but add the perfect touch!

17. Gift/Card Station

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The guests will bring gifts, make sure there is a place at the party to put them!

18. Address for Thank You's Station

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Save the graduate a lot of time and effort by having the guests write down their mailing addresses for them.

Hint: setting up envelopes and cute pens for this can also be a super cute decoration. Yay for "two in one" ideas!

19. Graduation Cap Balloons

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This is such an easy decoration but so cute too! Balloons are definitely a necessity when it comes to graduation parties but this idea takes that to a whole 'nother level!

20. Graduation Themed Straws

These graduation straws are super easy to make, and would also make a cute photo prop as well. It's a foolproof graduation party idea, for sure!

21. Display Every Graduate's School Photo

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It is so fun to see how much people have changed throughout the years... especially high school!

This is a really fun way to let the guests go down memory lane and see how far the graduate has really come.

22. Customized Popcorn Bags

If you plan to have popcorn for the guests (or really any food that could be put into bags), get these customized bags for guests to fill!

23. Chocolate Fountain

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Everyone always typically serves cookies or cupcakes for dessert, but a chocolate fountain would make the dessert part of your party SO much more fun! I will say it is definitely messier, but I have never met someone who doesn't absolutely love a chocolate fountain.

24. Lawn Signs

Escort the guests into the party in style with lawn signs as they walk in.

Making the signs personalized with the graduates names is such an easy way to make your graduation party stand out and make sure people know where to go at the same time!

25. Taco Bar

Okay I found this idea and just HAD to share. I mean, how CREATIVE is this? A taco bar? I'm obsessed... like someone give me a graduation party to plan so that I can do this!

But really, so many people love Mexican food, but no one is going to think to use it as a high school graduation party idea! Be unique, start a trend, and have a taco bar at the graduation party!

26. Decorative Wall Behind the Food

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Add more decorations to the party by decorating the wall space behind the food stations like in the photo above!

Doing this adds more fun to the party, and gives the guests something pretty to look at while they wait in line for the food, it's a graduation party idea that won't fail you!

27. Ice Cream Truck

Okay how cute is this?! I would have loved to go to a graduation party with an ice cream truck. This is the kind of details that your guests are sure to remember!

28. School Themed Balloons

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28 Insanely Creative High School Graduation Party Ideas - By Sophia Lee (66)

Incorporating your school throughout your party is a great way to make things more personalized and add that extra detail. I love adding balloons to graduation party decor and having your school on them just makes them even better.

This post was all about the best high school graduation party ideas.

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FAQs

How do you organize a high school graduation party? ›

How To Throw A Graduation Party Guidelines
  1. Pick a theme. ...
  2. Make a guest list. ...
  3. Choose party invitations. ...
  4. Mail out your invitations. ...
  5. Collect party supplies. ...
  6. Set Up. ...
  7. Greet your guests and enjoy!
Apr 18, 2023

How to plan a graduation party checklist? ›

When planning a graduation party, set up a budget and theme ahead of all planning as it will help you decide on all elements of the party. Remember to decide on the date and location of the party. Prepare the list of guests and invite them once you have those details planned. Then, decide on the menu.

How many hours should a graduation party be? ›

It can be planned for directly after the graduation or held a few days (even weeks) afterward. Typically you do not host this party prior to graduation. This party can be structured as a typical party (about 2-4 hours) with a start time or as an open house where guests can come and go as they please.

How much money is appropriate for a graduation party? ›

Distant relatives or friends usually send around $15 - $20, while close friends and relatives more commonly send around the $20 - $50 mark. Some families and family friends may choose to spend closer to $100 - $500, depending on their finances and the needs of the graduate.

How much money do you give as a gift for high school graduation? ›

For high school grads, the average gift is around $50 to $200. To decide an amount, consider if this is a close friend or family member. You may also want to talk to other people who are giving gifts to decide how much you will give to the graduate.

How to throw an inexpensive graduation party? ›

Smart ways to save on a graduation party
  1. Set a realistic budget. ...
  2. Co-host the event. ...
  3. Choose a theme that gives you room to get creative. ...
  4. Limit your guest list to close family and friends. ...
  5. Choose a low-cost venue like someone's home or backyard. ...
  6. Send e-vites instead of paper invitations. ...
  7. Keep decorations to a minimum.

How much should you spend on a high school graduation party? ›

Financial service site FinancialBuzz.com said in 2022 the average American spent around $1,100 on a party for 60 people. That number includes food, drinks, decorations, tables and settings. That figure does not include money for renting a tent or a venue.

How can I feed 50 guests cheaply? ›

Feed the masses without breaking the bank with these budget-friendly dishes.
  1. Mexican Lasagne. A spicy lasagne for those of us who love Mexican and Italian food. ...
  2. Cheese Cob Dip. ...
  3. The Best Burger in Oz. ...
  4. Kangaroo Casserole. ...
  5. Sausage Casserole. ...
  6. Nanna's golden sausage casserole. ...
  7. Quiche Lorraine. ...
  8. Turkey and Pumpkin Lasagne.

What is the cheapest food to serve at a party? ›

Here's a look at some crowd-pleasing dishes to consider for your next gathering:
  • Chili. The most cost-efficient version of this is meat-free chili made from beans and vegetables. ...
  • Roasted Veggies. ...
  • Baked Goods. ...
  • Dips. ...
  • Apple Bruschetta. ...
  • Fruit Skewers. ...
  • Charcuterie Boards.
Feb 24, 2023

How to throw the best graduation party? ›

How to Throw the Best Graduation Party
  1. Choose a Fun Venue. ...
  2. Give Your Graduation Party a Theme. ...
  3. Send Personalized Graduation Party Invitations. ...
  4. Decorate Your Venue in Style. ...
  5. Plan a Delicious Menu. ...
  6. Capture the Graduation Celebration in Photos. ...
  7. Celebrate Your Grad's Achievements. ...
  8. Make a Toast to the New Grad.
Aug 7, 2023

What is the best time of day for a graduation party? ›

Many graduation parties are presented in a “open house” format. If your graduation ceremony is at 2 p.m., a 10 a.m. to noon or a 4-7 p.m. open house may work best. The time of day you select will also help determine the type of food and beverage you serve.

How do you estimate guests for a graduation party? ›

Another way to estimate the number of potential guests is to make a list of those whom you simply have to invite, such as close family members, your child's best friends from school, and so forth, and then a list of those you'd like to invite, if room permits.

Do you play games at a graduation party? ›

Engaging games are key to a memorable graduation party. Here are some tips to achieve this: Personalize games: Tailor games to the graduate's interests, hobbies, or future plans. For example, you can create custom trivia related to their time in school or favorite subjects.

How do you honor a loved one at a graduation party? ›

What Can I Do To Celebrate My Graduation With The Memory Of My Deceased Loved One In Mind?
  1. INCORPORATE THEIR PHOTO INTO YOUR GRADUATION GEAR. ...
  2. WRITE OR DRAW THEIR NAME ON YOUR GRADUATION CAP. ...
  3. WEAR A PIECE OF JEWELRY - OR ANOTHER ITEM - FROM THE DECEASED DURING THE CEREMONY. ...
  4. ADD A BLACK GRADUATION CORD TO YOUR ATTIRE.
Apr 30, 2022

Is it rude to go to a graduation party without a gift? ›

If it's a college graduate it's around $50, Symington said. If you receive an invitation to a graduation party, you are obligated to send a gift. "If you're going to go to a party, you really should give a gift. You should actually bring a hostess gift when you go to the party something like a bottle of wine.

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