Few occasions in life merit celebration more than a graduation! Completing high school, a bachelor’s degree or more advanced schooling is a major accomplishment and a huge milestone that represents years of hard work and dedication. If someone special in your life is graduating this year, we’re here to help you plan the party they deserve.
Start by deciding on the theme you want to use for the graduation celebration. By deciding on this in advance, you can make sure that all the party materials match for a cohesive look. Theme options are virtually endless, so be sure to choose something that reflects your graduate’s personality! Classic, traditional styling can be appropriate for the importance of the occasion, but many graduates prefer something playful and punny, or just colorful, bold and celebratory. If your grad participated in extracurriculars like sports or drama, you might choose a theme that reflects this interest.
PostNet offers a range of customizable themes to make it easy for you to select the perfect look and feel for your graduate. Our graphic design team can also create something unique for your graduation party materials!
Once you’ve decided on the theme you’re going for, it’s time to order your graduation announcements and invitations. Invitations should be sent out a few weeks before the graduation or party itself. Short on time? Request a quick turnaround to get your custom graduation invitations printed and mailed out fast. Your graduation party invitations should feature all the details your guests will need to attend, like the date, time, location, and contact information to RSVP or ask for more details.
Graduation announcements are a little different than invitations. Why send graduation announcements? It depends on your situation. Sometimes, announcements can also function as an invitation to the graduation itself (not the party). But in many cases, graduation tickets are limited, and only immediate family members will be able to attend. It’s still nice to send a graduation announcement to mark the occasion! Proud relatives will love having a beautifully designed keepsake to frame or display on their refrigerator. Wondering when to send your graduation announcements? If you’re not using them as an invitation to the graduation event, it’s perfectly fine to send them weeks after the actual graduation occurs.
If you did a graduation photo shoot or ordered senior pictures, announcements and invitations are the perfect place to showcase those beautiful pictures of your graduate! PostNet can customize any graduation announcement or invitation to add a photo and make them extra special. Selecting a thicker, glossy paper will really help those photos pop.
Now for the fun part! The graduation party decor you choose will vary depending on the theme you selected. PostNet can apply the same theme to all sorts of print materials for your party to give everything a cohesive feel. Browse the graduation look book to get a sense of all your options and what the theme will look like on your graduation party invites, posters, banner, thank you cards, and even stickers and labels.
A personalized banner with the graduate’s name and photo is the perfect way to make the event feel special. Many families also decorate with inspirational quotes or celebratory messages. From simple balloons and streamers to yard signs and posters, the sky’s the limit for your graduation party decor. We recommend choosing decor that matches your grad’s alma mater colors, or that reflects their interests. If your grad is moving on to a higher level of education or a trade school, you could also incorporate imagery celebrating their next chapter.
Ultimately, the party should be all about your graduate — it’s a celebration of their hard-earned accomplishment! In addition to a custom banner, consider ordering high-quality, enlarged photo prints to add to your decor. In addition to senior pictures or shots from a graduation photo shoot, it’s fun to share old pictures, too. Your party guests will love reminiscing over cute baby photos while celebrating a young adult ready to enter their next stage of life. Consider getting photos printed on canvas wraps for added sophistication, or print on foam core and display them on easels.
Get the whole neighborhood to share in the celebration by displaying yard signs, too! These weather-resistant signs come with metal stakes included for easy display in your yard. They’re the perfect way to let any passersby know about your graduate’s accomplishment. Yard signs became especially popular during the pandemic when people were unable to gather in person to celebrate milestones, but even if you are holding an in-person party, we think they’re still a great way to make your graduate feel extra special.
Graduation party planning may seem overwhelming, but PostNet is here to help! With one quick stop at your local PostNet center, you can choose your graduation theme, then customize your graduation invitations, announcements, banners, posters, yard signs, and more. We’ll ensure that everything is beautifully printed and set you up with everything you need for the special celebration your graduate deserves.