Just like everything else right now, graduation parties and celebrations are going to look very different for most people this year due to the quarantines. This milestone is such an important event to celebrate, and it’s frustrating and sad for many graduates and their families who cannot get together with everyone they might like to celebrate with under normal circumstance. However, there’s no reason to skip the “party” all together, even if it just includes immediate family. Thus, I’ve put together some ideas and easy ways to pull together a fun and memorable shindig for your graduate. Y’all know I like to delegate, so there’s as little “DIY” as possible and no recipes included. Just a list of resources for you to pull from that can all be delivered right to your door. Happy graduation friends!
Option 1: Traditional Graduation Decor
For the traditionalist, you can’t go wrong with black white and gold. Below are several sources for classic non-cheesy graduation decor. There are banners, invitations, table decor and more for your high school or college grad. For this decor, the sky’s the limit when it comes to what to order food-wise. I suggest ordering to-go from your graduate’s favorite restaurant. Most restaurants, even the uber-fancy steakhouses, etc., are offering part, if not all of their menu for pick-up or delivery due to the quarantine. I don’t think it’s strange to eat steak off of a paper plate, in fact, I think it’s fun and different (not to mention, clean-up is a breeze). If you want to include flowers, help support your local economy by reaching out to your local florist who is most likely still offering delivery services. Throw in a cookies or a fun cake/pie/cookies shipped in from one of my sources listed below, and you’ve got yourself a quarantine grad-themed party.
Decor Sources:
- The Party Darling Graduation Decor
- Celebrated Black/Gold Party Supplies
- Sprinkles & Confetti Graduation Collection
- Confete Party Grad Party Box
- Momo Party Graduation Collection
Cakes, Cookies & Pies (Shipped directly to your door):
The Grad’s Future School-Themed Celebration
Rah! Rah! Go TCU! (That’s where I went to college of course). Get your grad excited for wherever they are headed next. Whether it’s to college, a new job or new high school, deck out your celebration in their future school’s colors or fun items from the city they are moving to. Almost every university has an online book store where you can find school-specific items, and then just use the school’s colors of your grad’s college for everything else. If they’re graduating college and heading to a new city to start work, then find fun things from the city they are moving to. The easiest way to do this is to apply it to the menu! Heading to Chicago for college or a new job? Serve deep-dish pizza! Going to school in Nashville? Serve southern food family-style or pick-up some hot chicken. Get your grad excited for the next step they are taking so they have something to look forward to, as this crazy, isolated time will for sure pass.
Decor Sources:
- My Mind’s Eye Celebrate Graduation with Your School Colors
- Party Hat Paper Celebrations Game Time Party in a Box
Cakes, Cookies & Pies (Shipped directly to your door):
Fiesta! or BBQ-Themed Celebration
Ole! Ole! It’s Your Graduation Day! Does your graduate love Tex-Mex food or just a good old fashioned hamburger? Well, who says that a graduation party can’t be fun, relaxed in your backyard and still very special?!? Plus, if you host something casual and outdoors, you can invite “more people” as it’s easier to socially distance from others. There are so many Tex-Mex restaurants who will offer catered food that you can easily pick-up and serve (or have it delivered), and even I can cook hot dogs and hamburgers, so no need to order-in there. For the BBQ idea you could request that anyone you invite bring their own picnic blanket to sit on so that everyone can spread out on a yard and stay safe while celebrating the grad. For the fiesta-theme, our local frozen margarita machine rental company (Rent-A-Rita) is still delivering right now (woohoo!). Just look up your local frozen drink machine rental company, and you too can have one machine making frozen margaritas for the adults and one making frozen mock-tails for younger guests. And I don’t know about y’all, but I personally don’t believe I’m too old for a bounce house (as I always request that the ones I order for my kids’ birthday parties be left an extra hour for me to jump on- not kidding). So, why not rent a super fun-bounce house or obstacle course for your graduate to enjoy before they really have to “grow up”!
Decor Sources:
- Party Hat Celebrations BBQ Party in a Box
- Party Hat Celebrations Fiesta in a Box
- Crated Fiesta Party Collection
- The Party Darling Fiesta Party Supplies and Decorations
- Momo Party Fiesta Collection
Cakes, Cookies & Pies (Shipped directly to your door):
Boujee Breakfast-Themed Celebration
I don’t know about y’all, but my kids LOVE it when I make breakfast for dinner. Who doesn’t love breakfast food?! This party theme can take place as a brunch or at dinner time, and I think this idea is more about the food than the decor, so the sky’s the limit as far as what you do there. As for food, I love the idea of a biscuit bar or just a huge yummy spread of casseroles and pastries. Plus, the adults can enjoy mimosas so it’s a win-win for the kids and adults- ha. Below are some of my favorite places to order breakfast goodies from, and I’ve included some “cute-sie” decor options as well for this one.
Decor Sources (this idea could be paired with the decor idea above by using their future-school colors for decor and serve a breakfast menu):
Breakfast Food Delivery Options: