Photos: Chris Emeott
All that pomp and circumstance doesn’t happen by itself.
Let’s be honest. Graduation parties have—evolved. For the most part, the celebrations have become larger and more involved than the days when grad parties were primarily made up of the student of honor, the requisite family members, a few neighbors and a handful of teenagers all gathered at the honoree’s home/backyard/garage.
While that can still be the case, and those celebrations are just as wonderful, other families are going in another direction with attendee numbers tipping into the hundreds, and the food fare and décor elements ramping up their games, too.
As this year’s high school seniors start their academic year, it makes sense that the party planning swings into gear. The first step is getting organized. To help, we put together a month-to-month plan to break down the to-do list into manageable sections.
Calendar of Events
August: Hold up! Take this month to relish the last days before the academic year kicks off—unless you and the graduate have your hearts set on a party venue, book it now.
September: For the rest of you, have a discussion with your senior student. Is he/she interested in having a party, and what would that look like in terms of home vs. venue, solo vs. with friends or large vs. a quiet gathering?
October: If this is a combined event, reach out to the other parents/guardians to make sure they are on the same page in terms of budget and planning. Finalize the party date.
November: If this is a group event, bring the students and parents together to discuss tasks. Who does what? For example, put specific people in charge of beverages, food, games, set up/clean up, venue rental, etc. Set up a timeline through the date of the party. Finalize the décor theme.
December: Take the month off to enjoy the holidays. January will be here sooner than you think.
January: Finalize catering or food truck vendors. Be sure to ask about deposits, pricing, set-up/clean-up options, staffing, dining ware availability and cancelation policies. If you haven’t done so already, move on booking this month; food vendors and venues fill up with other spring and summer events.
February or March: If making photo boards, go through albums (digital or otherwise) to identify photographs you want to feature. Gather award certificates, school memorabilia, trophies, sport uniforms, etc. to include for display tables. If using annual school pictures, organize them now.
Using sports equipment can be a fun and easy way to decorate a space. Place skis a few feet apart, string chord between them and hang photos along the chords. Prop up tennis rackets or hockey or lacrosse sticks. Fill large, clear vases or containers with baseballs/softballs, pucks, tennis balls, etc.
April: Meet with families to finalize décor. If decorating individual display tables, share ideas with one another, so each student feels equally represented. Create a fun backdrop that is Instagram-worthy for photo taking. If the student is attending college, order the school’s banner or a pennant to display. Order or create party invitations for family, friends, neighbors and other guests. Drop those in the mail, so it’s one less thing to think about. Make sure students spread the party word via social media or on the school’s party page.
May or June: A few weeks ahead of the big day, check in with all the vendors to confirm final details and timelines. Once the party day arrives, enjoy it. Take time to celebrate your student and yourself. Let’s face it, K–12 isn’t a road traveled just by the students!
July: Thank you notes never go out of style, and they offer graduates a great opportunity to practice their cursive!
Food for Thought
Aside from the graduate, food is a major attendee at any graduation party. If the thought of making all the food yourself is giving you pause, here’s a starting point for local catering options.
Burro Loco: Tackles two big contenders in crowd favorites: burgers and tacos. 612.472.4210; burrolocomn.com
Crave Catering & Events: Yes. The same Crave. If you like dining at the Wayzata venue, consider this as an option. 952.562.5620; cravecatering.com
Hana Bistro: Serves up Chinese specialties running the gamut from appetizers to entrees. 612.315.3992; hanabistromn.com
Honey & Mackie’s: You’re never too old for an ice cream party. 16725 Cty Road 24 #106, Plymouth; 763.225.6682; honeyandmackies.shopsettings.com
Kowalski’s Markets: Tried and true. Locations vary; 651.313.6870 (catering); kowalskis.com
Lookout Bar and Grill: Did someone say double trouble? Lookout offers options for both its food truck and catering services. 8672 Pineview Lane N., Maple Grove; 763.424.4365; lookoutbarandgrill.com
Lunds & Byerlys: Consider this party regular that never disappoints. Locations vary; 952.897.9800; catering.lundsandbyerlys.com
Rock Elm Tavern: Book the rig to bring some of your favorite Rock Elm eats to your street. 16605 County Road 24, Plymouth; 763.208.4451; rockelmtavern.com
Turbo Taco: Serves up Baja inspired surf ‘n’ turf tacos and Cali-style burritos. 612.770.7660; turbotaco.com
Village Meats & Deli: From small events up to large gatherings (think: pig roast), these are the folks to call. 832 Lake St. E., Wayzata; 952.473.4466; villagemeatswayzata.com
