how to throw a fun graduation party

Get inspired with these ideas for a fun graduation party, like graduation cupcakes, a mezze spread with colorful salads, a customized keepsake cookbook, and more. 

Planning a delicious, vibrant graduation party that people remember for years is easier than you think. It has been far too long since we’ve celebrated regularly, and I’m ready to entertain again!

In all my years of entertaining, the most important thing I’ve learned is that what matters most is how you make your guests feel, not the bells and whistles. Sometimes in an effort to impress, we try to make overly complicated meals or execute next to impossible decorative displays missing out on what matters most: having fun with your guests and making them feel welcome. 

Here are a few easy, accessible ideas to inspire as you plan this year’s graduation parties and celebrate hard-earned accomplishments. I’d love to know if you use any of these ideas! Tag me on Instagram @bakedbymelissa with your pictures. 

 

1. Ask people to bring a college-friendly (or budget-friendly!) recipe

No one wants to survive on ramen or Easy Mac alone. Ask guests to bring their favorite dorm-friendly recipe to glue into a notebook or pop in a photo album to make a custom cookbook for the grad to take with them. This is also a great space for guests to leave words of encouragement and advice. I love sharing food memories with people, and this makes a wonderful keepsake! 

2. Create a mezze table

No mezze table is complete without dips, either! I love pairing salads and pita with garlic dip, tahina, tzatziki, or fresh hummus. 

I use these bowls for serving and wholeheartedly believe that the focus should be on what you’re putting in the bowls (especially when you’re entertaining a crowd!), rather than stressing over heavy, breakable dishware.

3. …and cover it with salads

Mezze tables are amazing because everyone can pick and choose what they want to eat—and you can fill them with nourishing, delicious salads! Surround a bunch of pita, chips, and other dippable carbs with fresh salads, like a Mediterranean chopped salad, crunchy lentil salad, or a hearty Italian salad (you know I would do all three). 

4. Build a dessert table with lots of variety

Whenever I entertain, I try to make sure there’s a flavor for everyone. That’s what I love about our party packs, which have a variety of graduation cupcake flavors to make everyone happy. They’re also available in nut-free packages if you’re concerned about allergies. 

I know it’s been a few years since we’ve been able to celebrate, so why not have a big graduation celebration with a custom cupcake mosaic to celebrate everyone’s hard work? These show-stopping designs also make for an impressive focal point to welcome people. 

Whenever I invite people over, I always ask them to bring dessert. Your dessert table can be a mix of brownies, cookies, favorite candies, and cupcakes. Get bags so guests can fill them up on their way out—it’s a great way to give everyone something to take home and share all the sweets. 

5. Invest in nice paper plates

I love to entertain, but I hate the clean-up that can seem endless afterward. To improve my guests’ experience while minimizing my own stress, I keep really nice, cute paper plates on hand so people can fill plates of delicious dips and treats without worrying about them spilling everywhere.

6. Create a photo booth backdrop 

Creating a stunning wall decoration that celebrates the graduate is so easy nowadays. Get a photo booth backdrop like this one (or even a big piece of Kraft paper!), put a props station nearby, and leave an instant camera out so people can take pictures in front of it. 

7. Get friends together to create a Tribute video

It can be so hard to get all your loved ones together in one place, which is why I love services like Tribute. They allow your friends and family to upload videos and pictures and then do all the editing work for you to create a unique video the graduate can watch for years to come. 

8. Create a card box 

We love to reuse our cupcake boxes at Baked by Melissa. The eye-catching Congrats box is the perfect container to let friends and family leave advice and notes of encouragement before your next steps—and to take with you for colorful storage.

9. Blow up letter balloons to spell out the school name 

For my daughter’s birthday last year, I got a bunch of Mylar letters and colorful balloons and inflated them myself with this hand-held pump. It was so easy and instantly elevated the whole vibe of the party.

10. Curate a crowd-pleasing playlist

Good music is SO important for creating a celebratory mood. I love mixing top hits with classics like The Beatles and Grateful Dead for a light, upbeat party. 

 

Congrats, grads! You’ve earned this celebration. 

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