3 How To Decorate For A Graduation Party (Complete With Pictures)

How To Decorate For A Graduation Party - Graduation is one of the most special events in a young person’s life, and what better way to celebrate than with a big graduation bash? With fun, creative decorations and delicious snacks, you can celebrate your grad’s achievements and get them excited for what’s to come!

Decorating the Walls and Tables

Choose a graduation-related theme for more focused decorations. Talk to the grad about what they enjoy, their dreams or aspirations, their school’s mascot--anything having to do with graduation and your grad in particular! If coming up with a theme and decorating for one feels too complicated, just come up with a simple color scheme instead. If you want to try for a more focused theme, consider ideas like:

Nautical or All Around the World, for a grad who’s looking forward to traveling. You could include sailboats, fish, and other nautical decorations.

Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, for a cute, general graduation theme centered around the popular Dr. Seuss book. Decorate with bright, pastel colors and pictures of characters from the book.

Safari Adventure, especially if the grad’s school has an animal mascot. You could decorate with stuffed animals and safari accessories, like hats and sunglasses.

Something to do with the city or school they’re going to next--Hollywood Glam if they’re moving to California, for example, with glittery stars and film reels.

A theme centered around their high school life. For example, a baseball theme for a baseball player, or a music theme for a grad that was in band.

Choose a color scheme based on the grad’s school. If the grad is in high school, you might choose to decorate in their high school colors, but you could also deck the party out in the colors of their new college. Choose whichever one the grad likes most, or do a mix of them both! You can also go with something even simpler, like the grad’s favorite colors.

To combine both color schemes without clashing, use them on separate tables, or use one scheme indoors and the other outdoors.

Try to get a mix of 3 colors per color scheme so you have a few shades to work with. If the school only uses 1-2 colors, use white or black as the third.

Use tissue paper numbers to highlight their grad year. Cut big block numbers out of foam board with sharp scissors. Cut your tissue paper into squares of 2 inches (5.1 cm). Pinch one square of tissue paper, and dip the middle, folded part into a small pool of liquid glue, then stick it on a foam number. Repeat until the numbers are totally covered, then let dry for an hour.

You can hang your tissue paper numbers on a wall or prop them up on a table.

You can also push sticks into the bottom of the foam board and stand them up in tall glasses side-by-side. Fill the glasses halfway with sand for extra stability.

Get 2-3 different tissue paper colors and dot them randomly over the board for a fun, textured look.

Use tassel garlands as bunting on the walls. Fold 1-2 sheets of tissue paper lengthwise, then twice widthwise. Cut long strips from the bottom of the paper up towards the fold, leaving about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of space before the fold. Unfold the paper once, cut it down the middle widthwise, and open up the sheets. Roll up the paper so that the tassels are sticking out on both sides, twist it in the middle, and make a loop. String it up on a cord and repeat until the cord has 6-7 tassels on it.

One sheet of tissue paper will turn into 4 tassels, so you won’t need to buy a ton of tissue paper.

When you’re done, your bunting will look like the tassels that attach to a graduation cap. Hang it up on a wall or table as a festive decoration.

Blow up balloons in school colors. Head to your local party supply store and buy a pack of balloons in each of the colors in your color scheme. Get help from family and neighbors to blow them up, then attach a long ribbon to each and tie them together in big bunches. You can also tie them onto the ends of tables, chairs, or trees.

You can also buy clear balloons and sprinkle a couple pinches of glitter into each before blowing them up. Shake the balloon a bit to distribute the glitter for a sparkly addition to your balloon bouquet!

Make sure that none of your guests have latex allergies before buying your balloons. If they do, you can buy shiny, crinkly latex-free balloons instead.

Some colleges sell balloons with their logo on them. Check online to see if your grad’s college does!

Write inspirational quotes on chalkboards around the party. Look online for simple, inspirational graduation quotes and neatly print them on small chalkboards. Set them up on tables or walls around the party to inspire the grad and their guests!

You could choose bright, catchy quotes, like from Dr. Seuss’ "Oh, the Places You’ll Go!": "You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So… get on your way!"

You could also choose more serious quotes, such as this one from Henry David Thoreau: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

You can find chalk and chalkboards at craft stores and online. Look for chalkboards outlined in a matching color and choose simple white chalk for a clean look.

Set up a "photobooth" with a fun background and props. Hang a long piece of cloth or paper as a backdrop, and string lights around it or hang up bunting or streamers. Set out funny props, like graduation caps, big sunglasses, and fake mustaches, for guests to wear in their pictures.

You can set up a timed camera on a tripod, or you can let guests use their own cameras and phones to take pictures.

For added entertainment, print out yearbook superlatives (like Most Likely to Achieve and Class Clown) in bright colors and glue them onto sticks for guests to pose with in their pictures.

Displaying the Grad’s Accomplishments

Set out a decorated table on the edge of the main party room. Throw a colored tablecloth over a fold-out table and accent it with twinkly lights or ribbons. Place it to the side in 1 room but make sure people can see it by placing a balloon bouquet or some bunting nearby. Keep the decorations neutral and let the grad’s accomplishments take the spotlight.

Display the diploma and awards on the table. Prop up the grad’s diploma on your table and lay out any awards or trophies they might have from academics, sports, or other extracurriculars. Set out pictures from their time at school for guests to look at.

If the grad has a letterman’s jacket, you can hang it nearby or fold it up and place it on the table.

Make a collage of old yearbook photos to place on the table. Find as many wallet-sized yearbook pictures of the grad as you can and attach them to a piece of construction paper or cardstock with blue painter’s tape (which is easily removable). Prop up the collage on the table for guests to enjoy.

Besides yearbook pictures, you can use any photos you like of the grad playing sports, hanging out with friends, smiling with family, or studying.

Fun photos will add a bit more personality to the table, which would otherwise be just awards and a diploma.

Tack up pictures and paper awards on a decorated corkboard. Another creative way to display the grad’s achievements is on a bulletin board. Decorate it with paper, ribbons, and other decorations in your color scheme, then tack up a few pictures, pins, or paper certificates. Prop it up on the table or hang it on the wall behind.

You can add pictures of the grad to the bulletin board, or even use it to hang up a picture collage.

Some grads receive pins from sports, classes, or national achievement organizations. This is a great place to display these too--simply stick them in the corkboard.

Collect cards and gifts in a basket or a cute, open suitcase. Place some colored tissue paper in a small basket. Make a label by folding a piece of cardstock in half and writing "Cards" on the front. Place the basket on a nearby table, or on the same one if you have room, for guests to drop off cards or other gifts for the grad. Set the folded label in front.

For a unique, creative alternative, lay open an old-fashioned suitcase and string the word "Cards" across the top. This is especially great if the grad is planning on travelling or heading away for school!

Crafting Decorations for Food and Drink

Pick up tablecloths and utensils to match your color scheme. Grab a few packs of disposable plates, cups, and silverware for your guests to use. Choose a few tablecloths as well. Go with plastic ones to save money, or choose linen for a more upscale look.

Choose colors in your color scheme for the most put-together look.

If you can’t find colors that match your theme, go with clear utensils and cups. You could also choose dishware and silverware with a generic graduation theme.

Tie a ribbon around long pretzels or cookies to make edible diplomas. Choose a ribbon color to match your color scheme and tie it in a bow around each pretzel or pirouette cookie. If you want your ribbon to be edible, use a Twizzler or Sour Straw.

You can do this with any oblong snack food. Try it with rolled pastries--they’ll look even more like diplomas.

Set out a bowl of Ring Pops as "class rings." For a simple grad-themed treat, buy a pack of Ring Pops and lay them out on a tray or in a bowl. Fold a small piece of cardstock in half and write "Class Rings" to use as a label and clue guests in on the joke.

Make graduation s’mores pops for a sweet finger food. Melt 3-4 blocks of chocolate in the microwave and push a popsicle or lollipop stick into the bottom of a jumbo marshmallow. Dip the top of the marshmallow in the chocolate, then place a small square of graham cracker on top and let it dry for a few minutes. Cut a Twizzler string to 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) long and stick it to the top with melted chocolate, then place an M&M on top to hold it in place.

When you’re done, your s’more pop will look like a head with a graduation cap on it!

You can make a face on the marshmallow by using small sprinkles for eyes and a nose, and red icing for a mouth.

Place the pops in a tall glass or in styrofoam to keep them upright. Place them on the table and enjoy!

Place a square chocolate on top of cupcakes to make a grad cap. Make a batch of cupcakes and wait until they cool, then turn them upside down and slather some frosting on the bottom. Place a large square of chocolate on top. Cut a 1.5 inch (3.8 cm) piece of Twizzler and use a dot of frosting to secure it to the top like a tassel.

You can also place the chocolate "cap" on the top of the cupcake, but turning it upside down looks a bit more symmetrical.

Wrap utensils in a napkin with a ribbon to look like a diploma. This simple trick can make even the cutlery part of the graduation theme! Wrap up a plastic fork, knife, and spoon in a white napkin and tie it all together in a bow. Place your utensil diplomas in a basket next to the food.

Set out cookies and cupcakes on a graduation cap stand. Place a plate on top of an upside down bowl, sticking it in place with scotch tape or a small piece of duct tape. Tape an extra graduation tassel in the middle of the plate, so that the tassel hangs off the edge like a graduation cap. Set cupcakes, cookies, and other snacks on the plate and enjoy!

This graduation cap serving dish looks best when the plate and bowl are the same color, especially black.

You can buy extra tassels online.