So you’re considering going to, or hosting a grad party – but how long do the celebrations usually last?
As a rule of thumb, a graduation party should last between three and five hours – any less, and it isn’t worth going; any longer, and your guests might get bored or exhausted. However, there really is no concrete top end for this scale, and some party animals will happily go all night.
Read on to learn more about graduation parties, the rules surrounding them, and how much they might cost.
The Next Step In Your Life
The Graduation Party is a pretty big deal – it’s that final celebration with your high school friends before you go off to whatever comes next. It’s likely one of the last times you’ll all be together in the same place, and it’s a celebration of your achievements over the last few years.
For many people, a graduation party might be their first ‘adult’ party, as graduating from high school is something of a serious milestone in life. As a result of that fact, many graduation parties will be lengthy, expensive, and attended by dozens or hundreds of people.
However, it can still be a small and intimate affair, but the nature of a high school environment is such that everyone will want to attend the best party. If you’re missing out, you’re never going to stop regretting it – or so you’d think.
There are many websites dedicated to giving advice to those planning a graduation party, but most of the tips translate to regular celebrations, as well. There’s plenty to do before, during, and after a graduation party, and it can be a very stressful time for both the hosts and the guests.
It’s around that time when teenagers are receiving acceptances or rejections on their college applications, and it’s following a comedown of months of studying. There’s a lot of tension, potentially some disappointment, and a whole host of jubilation to be seen.
That’s why a graduation party is so important, as it can help console those who are less than happy with their end result. Furthermore, it can act as a source of celebration for those who are successfully moving on to the next step in their lives.
With that being said, how exactly do you plan the perfect graduation party, how long should it be, and what’s the expected cost of throwing one?
Prepare To Party
Firstly, you’ll need to get your invitations sorted, and decide whether or not you’re hosting a closed or open event. If it’s the latter, you need to appreciate that an influx of people might pour into the event, the likes of whom you may not be familiar with.
However, if you’re keeping the event closed, then you can cherry-pick exactly who you want to invite from your friends and family. Although, you’ll need to be slightly tactical in these decisions – do you really need grandma to attend a raucous graduation party with your friends?
Once you’ve decided who will attend, you’ll need to determine what it is they’re actually attending. For example, are you going to host a themed celebration, or will it be a simple pizza party, or perhaps a barbecue, or pool party?
If you live in a quiet neighborhood, you’ll need to make your neighbors aware of your intention to throw a party, just in case it overruns into the night. Also, that’s another great point to consider – the duration of the celebration.
Will it be a short, three-hour party, or do you have the intention to carry on celebrating long into the night? According to advice, a graduation party should last around three to five hours; any longer, and your guests might get bored or tired of partying.
Furthermore, you’re going to need to entertain your guests, so consider the best ways in which you can do so. For instance, you could hire a photo booth, a band to perform live music, or, if your party is outdoors, arrange some backyard games.
Ultimately, planning a graduation party is relatively the same as planning any other kind of party, but it’s arguably a more meaningful one. If possible, the parents should plan and host the party, leaving the freshly-graduated youngster to really enjoy themselves and relax among their friends.
After all, they’ll only graduate from high school once in their lives, and they’ll want to remember it for as long as they live – party included.