Graduation Party Ideas! Decorations, Supplies, Invitations, Gifts, Food, Slideshows, Songs & More

The ham and cakes could easly have been done cheaper and not many would notice. I bought all my paper goods from the paper warehouse next to the farmers market in Minneapolis, and was able to get my flowers and plants at the same time. We made a Taco Bar for my son's Grad party last year. It was a hit. During Cinco de Mayo alot of the ingredients were at bargain prices and I used coupons to get an even better deal and used that time to stock up and store. It was easy to stock up and freeze the hamburger.

We made a large container of lemonade and another with Sweet tea to save costs on beverages. Used a large crock pot and had hot nacho sauce and bought chips in large cases at Sams club. It was easy and a hit! Carrie, this year my daughter wants an italian theme for her grad party, what was your secret to serving pasta without it turning to mush after 3 hours in a roaster? Barb — Funny you ask. I forgot to ask my mom what she did it was her idea before I went on air this morning. Let me check with her and I'll get back to you.

My son wants a Chipotle or Jimmy John's themed party. Burritos would be easy, I think. Maybe I should just go with that. I'm always trying to do things cheaper, though. We will have our last graduation next year but I am in grad mode this year for ideas and deals. Here is what I have done with our last two grads for savings ideas. Instead of having our grads pick their own theme colors or what the class colors are we went with school color theme for napkins, plates, cups, containers for center pieces, serving platters or candy dishes and have reused extras or for the next grad…believe it or not it saves a lot.

If anyone is like me I always want to have enough of these things so I just packed away everything we could reuse for the next child. By the third one it will have earned its cost. I bought spikes for each plant in the school colors to add to it I saved those and then bought some sort of colored wrap to put around the pot the pot to fancy that up too….

Also keep going to the party stores and checking the clearance tables all year to see what you can get and make do with in your colors……. I am going to make a mental note to keep going back there this year in hopes I may get lucky to pick up what I need in our school colors.

Besides the whole lot of what you get of spoons etc…do not have to match exactly…. Our oldest graduated last year. Her party was held on a Friday night after dinner and we served ice cream sundaes. Fun, different, and inexpensive. We considered renting one of those ice cream freezers with the red and white striped tent over the top, but it was way less expensive to scoop the ice cream into bowls for sundaes and cups for root beer floats ahead of time, keep them on trays in the freezer, and bring one tray at a time out to a cooler.

We had little crock pots borrowed with hot fudge, marshmallow, and some other fancy warm toppings made by friends, along with all of the other toppings you would expect. Her uncle made her cake as her grad gift. Bowls, forks,spoons, and table coverings buy the large roll were cheapest at Party City, cups at Target, and cake plates at Litin — by the Farmer's Market in Mpls. We got all of the napkins we needed, plus some fun centerpieces and other decorations at local thrift stores!

We made her invitations and thank you notes with ideas from Archiver's free card-making classes, and used the photoprocessing freebies as PocketYourDollars suggested. We also developed photos to use as centerpieces, including events like preschool graduation, first lost tooth, that awkward 7th grade band concert, confirmation, you get the idea. We used many frames that we already had, and purchased more at the thrift store. We have peonies in our yard that made beautiful table decorations in thrift store and borrowed vases.

Our one big splurge was a root beer keg rental from G. Consider asking to borrow tables and chairs from your church, but be sure to give a nice donation. This is our 4th grad party to plan. This year we are going with a "Taco in a Bag" theme — no paper products, except forks, napkins and dessert plates for the cake, fruit and bars that we are also having.

We are purchasing bulk small bags of dorito chips at Sams, a friend has a recipe for taco meat using rice as a filler, so not using as much meat, taco condiments, cheese, sour cream and we're done. Cooking the taco meat ahead and heating day of is a huge perk. Friends are offering to make bars, so I don't even have to worry about that, just cutting up fruit.

I have learned from planning all of the grad parties and other celebratory parties for my kids that it's best to keep it simple and have things that are low maintenance. It makes for a much more enjoyable day! For my graduates, I used postcard sized invitations and thank you's, saving on postage is always a plus. This is our first graduation this year. I have read some great ideas from all of you and I hope mine helps someone.

If you are looking for balloons buy online you need to have a heilum tank which can be pricey but if you have time look for a 40 50 percent of coupon from Michaels. You can get the balloons online cheap. I used a sight called BargainBalloons. Then the shipping cost is not so bad. And they have a huge sellections even some I didn't see in stores.

Foil balloons are reusable!

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Since my daughter's grad party two years ago, I've been collecting them from various family parties and sports banquets for the past three years. Most people hate to add them to the garbage pile and happily to give them to me. Thankfully, it looks good for a business to be "green" and most party shops refill the balloons and add a new ribbon for a small fee. Here's the prices I'm looking at in my area:. I recommend cash for most graduates or a gift for someone you know very well.

This is a very big event in the graduate's life. Cash is what they need and want, in most cases. Any amount is welcome. Dorm items can be useful if you know what they want and like. If you can make things, use your skill to personalize a needed dorm item. One of my daughter's favorite gifts was a set of personalized fluffy pink bath towels from her aunt and uncle.

For my son's closest friends that we also know and like , we ordered wooden pen sets and my husband laser engraved each graduate's name on the box and each pen in his shop.

Birthday Party Directory

I would avoid those little books, For the Graduate; it becomes irrelevant quickly, is impersonal and a waste of a couple of dollars. A handwritten note would be much better, adding your memories of the graduate, wishes for their future and maybe a funny story from when you were in college. After calling twice in the past month and asking in person all during the day hours , I confidently headed tonight to Dollar Tree with my 30 mylar balloons.

You should have seen the looks I got from the two evening staff! First, I was asked if I had my receipt. Then I explained the policy I was told by the day staff.

He shook his head and laughed. I looked at the growing line behind me and could feel the daggers in my back.

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I told him that the manager told me this at least 3 different times. He looked at the balloons, remarked that they were definitely "ours" and told me that he would refill them…for free. I started to question him and then realized I should just shut my mouth. Obviously, there is no written policy on refilling balloons at Dollar Tree in Knollwood.

I will call the manager on Monday morning and offer to pay, if the evening staff got the policy wrong. Before using this green, economical way to use balloons, I would definitely get the policy in writing. I wonder if I would have this same problem at Party City, since party supplies are their main line of business.

So, has anyone else tried refilling their mylar balloons? We had a successful Pasta meal for my daughters grad party. The next day plan about 2 -3 hours ahead of party, set oven temp to and put in 2 roaster pans to heat and melt cheese. I had large electric roaster that I filled with 2" of water and placed the disposable pan right in the roaster to keep warm and ready for the guests. It went smooth and the Mostaciolli tasted great! Of course I over cooked and we froze some nice meals for later in the month!

I had relatives pitch in and bring pans of bars and We had so much leftover, but it went very well. I use a site http: It very simply and clearly. For parents with grads, I have found a great deal on photo card party invites. Go to Sams Club, if you have a membership, to the photo lab. They typically use photos.

You type your own text and have several font choices. We printed 1 invite today, so our grad could approve and then we will order of them tomorrow. I think they were good for about weeks. I am going to buy mostly solid tableware, but would like to have one item with a pattern for fun. We will purchase most of it at Sams Club, but will splurge with one patterned item from either Party City or Shindigz. We live too far from Latin Paper-the savings is eaten us by the gas money to get there. Does anyone have other suggestions on patterned grad items? Sharon, is the photo deal only in-store?

Invites, Decorations and Thank You Notes

They have some colors on sale here: I bought for I had to purchase a disk. So my advise is download them on a disk at home, it will save you time a money. They were developed in less the an hour. For Invites… my daughter created a Facebook Goup and tagged everyone she was inviting. Was hoping to see the answer to this question.

Pasta doesnt need to be hot just the sauce. Make sure its room temp and boi ll ed in some oil and salt so it doesnt stick. Make sure sauce is very hot. I need help… Please!!! Dollar tree has adorable luau decor this year. With two kids, I consider myself a good party planner on a budget. Let me tell you, less is more!! As long as you have enough food to feed everyone, its best to go simple on everything else. I am an out of state parent coming to my sons graduation at the U May From classics as a child to their favorite music as an adult, playlists create a nostalgic flashback to some of their most memorable years although the best is still yet to come.

Honor their 70 years on earth by working with a videographer to create a birthday video. Ask friends and family members to share their sentiments about the birthday boy or girl.

Memorable and Fun 70th Birthday Party Ideas | Shutterfly

Include their favorite memories and messages of appreciation for a heartfelt video. Try including cute messages from grandchildren to add a bit of humor. You can also create your own compilation video and ask loved ones to send in video clips recorded on their phone. Consider getting a cake with photo printed icing at your local grocer or cake shop to incorporate a childhood photo of the guest of honor.

Or, use their favorite colors to decorate. If they have a lot of grandchildren, help the young ones add a special touch with their own icing design. For a matriarch centered birthday party, focus on what means the most to her. Build a charcuterie board with her favorite cheeses or put out special finger foods.

Arrange to have a family photo taken of all the women with the matriarch. This will make a great memento for years to come and celebrates the legacy of the women in the family. You know what makes your mother your hero, so write it down and celebrate with those who share the same feelings. Get the whole family together and check out our ideas for entertaining party games.

Over the last seven decades, your father has built some incredible things and made you who you are. Check out these 70th birthday ideas for Dad before you plan your party: Does Dad have a favorite cocktail? Feature it on the menu. Better yet, make one up using his favorite ingredients and name it after him. Check out our resource on cocktail party ideas for more inspiration.

Your words of praise and appreciation mean the world to him. Give a toast in his honor as a highlight of the night, and encourage others to do the same. Get a football or baseball or the game piece of whatever his favorite sport is and have the whole family sign it. Include a card with memories of those who he taught how to play that game or sport.

Instead, let the surprise be all of their friends and family joining them for a giant celebration when they were only expecting a small dinner. Promise a small party at first, then deliver big. Let the surprise speak for itself. Use this advice with the previously mentioned party ideas to craft the perfect surprise party. This location should also be kid-friendly since the party will be multi-generational. Party favorite make great lasting memories of a perfect party.

Make sure you get the right party favor that both celebrate the guest of honor and is useful for the guest. No matter was you send your guests home with, make sure the birthday guest is on their minds. After the party, create a birthday photo book full of the best photos from the birthday celebration. This allows your loved one to relive the joy of the evening and add a new photo album to their collection. Be sure to have your photographer take a new family photo at the birthday party to include in your photo book.

Jun 30, With every decade lived comes countless cherished memories and accomplishments. Photo Booth Create a photo booth for friends and family to use during the party. Speech bubbles with classic quotes from the Guest of Honor Speech bubbles with birthday quotes or sayings Classic Birthday decor like balloons, party whistles, etc. Paper mustaches, hats, and foam fingers Old family photos in frames Page Photo Book Create a special page birthday photo book that summarizes seven decades of life.