Graduation Party Ideas – Food Planning, Hired Help & Entertainment.
Can't you just SMELL
the aroma coming from those chocolate chip cookies? YUM!!!
Day 4 is all about Graduation Party Ideas, for Food Planning, Hired Help & Entertainment.
Let's dig in with the meal planning.
Planning food is stressful to some and a breeze for others. Which are you? Upon researching our own party we came across a "gold mine" website that we wish we would have read before we planned our menu (you can see link below)
Tip 7 and what we found Simply Recapped:
- Not everyone will eat at your party if party is on the weekend.
- Weekday parties are helpful and better attended, as guests appreciate not having to cook dinner.
- Dare to be different with the meal. Consider Dessert Bars, Taco Bars, or even Chinese Food!
- Be sure your out of town guests and family eat first. It's safe to say that most will not be going to other parties if they are family or friends from out of town so you want to make sure they are fed first. If food runs out chances are most will have other parties to attend. If left over food you won't have to cook for a couple days (winning!). The main thing is to relax and consult experts….which brings us to the next tip.
TIP 8 – HIRE HELP
- Your food caterer if you go that route will be a great resource when planning food. Lean on their experience, or if you wish you can contact a friend that's great at planning parties to help you.
- Consider hiring a Maid or Cleaning Service for either before and/or after the party (which ever you might need more).
- Hire a wait staff (aka ask friends/your friends college students/pay them) to help keep food hot/cold, napkins available, silverware, plates, cups, toilet paper replenished and trash emptied. This allows you to help visit with guests along with the graduate and allows YOU to enjoy the party as well.
- Also highly recommend hiring a bartender or someone to act as a bartender to make sure (if you serve alcohol, beer or wine) that no one under 21 is consuming illegal beverages.
TIP 9 – ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS – Know Your Audience
Just as not every one will be eating at your home not everyone will want to or need to be entertained. Others will need to be entertained. Here are the top ideas to make your party stand out and appeal to many.
- Bounce House/Inflatables - Good if you have a lot of kids coming that are 10 or under in age to run off energy and keep them occupied.
- Swimming – If you are fortunate enough to have a pool be sure to indicate on the invite for guests to bring towels. Otherwise you will be doing a LOT of laundry! Teenagers and Young Kids are likely to take advantage of the pool.
- Lawn Games – are an inexpensive and fun thing to have for the Type A guests that always need to be moving. Footballs and Basketballs are good to have on hand and appeal to a wide range of ages.
- MUSIC – MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC, a party isn't a party without music. You can hire a disc jockey if your budget allows, or enlist your grad to hook up their phone and monitor the music.
- Be sure to have the conversation with your graduate about appropriate music for the guests that are attending. For example, Aunt Betty who is 78 years old probably doesn't want to hear blaring music and Jason Derulo sing "Talk Dirty To Me" . Music does make or break a party so we recommend a wide range for all age groups with PG rated Music until the older adults and kiddos have left the property or venue.
- SLUSH, Popcorn, Cotton Candy Machines – Everyone loves these, they add a touch of fun to the event and can be often rented from the Tent Company!
We hope these tips and ideas will help make the process less stressful for you or that you can share these tips and pass along to your friend or family member that might be going through this very party planning.
Below are links to websites with other great information as well as graduation supplies.
Please note that 1st Class Creatvity is NOT affilated with these websites, read them and heed them at your own risk. 1st Class Creativity is not responsible for any of the content or business practices located in the websites below. Use caution and commen sense.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW OTHER IDEAS ON HOW TO THROW AN OUT OF THE BOX GRADUATION PARTY
CLICK HERE TO VIEW 4 CREATIVE WAYS TO DISPLAY YOUR PHOTOS
Tomorrow we will showcase Our Challenge Card for the Dazzling Divas Challenge #25
