May is here which mean graduation time.  Budgets are tight, but that does not mean you cannot have an absolutely amazing graduation party and not break the bank.  First of all, the most important thing to remember is that it is about spending time together celebrating with the graduate…not about how much money you can spend on them.

Time, Date and Place

Begin by setting the time, date, and place.  Personally, I enjoyed the fact that mine was at home.  Home is the center of my life.  I grew up there, I live there, I am me there…in fact, since I am a home school graduate, I was even schooled there!  If your home would not work, consider the use of your church or congregational hall.  They will often allow you to use it in return for making sure that it is returned to the original state or only charge a small fee.  The other idea is your local township hall which can often only be about fifty dollars.

Type of Party

Next, decide on the type of party you are going to have.  Are you going to have a classic type of party, a barbecue, or another theme?  This will help to give you your building base.

Size of the Party

Now, consider the size of the place you would like to host the party at.  How many guests do you comfortably have room for?  Also, how many can your budget handle?  Begin by listing the must have’s – family such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.  Then add in close friends and members of your spiritual family.  Finally add in the ones that you would like to have.  Make sure that you do not over-invite for your budget.

Food

As to the yummy part – food.  Many people automatically think of catering.  Stop!  This is where you can get really creative and save a lot of money.  Begin by choosing some easy to prepare dishes that will serve a lot.  At my graduation, we served pimento cheese, chicken salad, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, veggie tray, fresh fruit, chips, nuts and mints, cake, and punch.  Out of that entire list, we only bought the pimento cheese spread ready made and the ingredients for everything else.  We made the chicken salad from scratch.  Buying the veggies in the normal packaging and cutting them up ourselves saved money.  We also made our own dip using recipes we found in our cookbook stash.  So begin by getting creative in your list and finding items you can fix for large groups inexpensively.

Schedule

Plan your schedule out ahead of time.  This includes not only the party but also the prep work.  You will need to ask anyone you would like to make a speech or toast to do so ahead of time.  Also, do not be afraid to ask some people to help you with food prep and decorating.  Many hands make light work and the fellowship is always sweet.

Decorations

Speaking of decorations, they do not have to be elaborate; they can be simply elegant.  Strategically place floral arrangements as part of the buffet table to enhance it.  They can be pulled from the private areas of your home such as bedrooms where guests will not go and returned after the party.  Adding a few streamers, a nice tablecloth, and such will set it off and make it special.

Photos and Video

Finally, do not forget the photos and video.  Do you have a friend who is good with a camera that would be willing to help you in this area?  Many people count it a joy to be asked to assist you with this special occasion especially since they are already involved in the graduate’s life.

The key is to remember it does not have to be budget heavy to be a special time.  Relax and celebrate the blessings that God has given your graduate and family!

photo credit: steve.mullis