In 1996, the late, great American novelist Nora Ephron shared the following pearl of wisdom with Wellesley College’s graduating class: “Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.”
Ten years into the future, not every student will be able to remember the commencement speech given on graduation day, but he will likely recall the party celebrating his academic achievements. Fortunately, you don’t have to go bankrupt hosting a summer shindig for your graduating student. By incorporating these affordable elements, you can give your grad a rad party he will remember for years to come:
Open House: Keep the party simple instead of formal and you can save a ton of cash. An open house doesn’t feature scheduled activities or games. All you need is a cake, punch, some finger foods and a few decorations. Guests can use the time to chat and extend well wishes to the graduate.
Affordable Décor: Don’t bust your budget filling the party venue with expensive decorations. Instead, use your home computer and enlarge photos of the graduate through the years. Start with cute or embarrassing baby photos, and then include funny Halloween pictures or shots of your student pulling silly pranks as a teenager.
Mementos: In lieu of costly group activities, consider placing an advice book for guests to write down words of wisdom for the new graduate. You could also have guests sign a large poster board featuring the graduate’s picture, and then frame it for your child to hang in his room.
Theme Foods: You can reduce the party budget by creating an affordable theme menu. For example, if your graduate is moving to a different country, such as Italy, consider having a pizza bar or making large pots of inexpensive spaghetti. Another option is hosting a dessert-only menu. This works well if you are having an Open House party, as guests don’t expect a full meal. Set-up an ice cream bar with a variety of flavors and toppings including nuts, small candies, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, caramel, cherries, and bananas.