After years of hard work, the big day is about to arrive and you want it to be perfect. The invitations and announcements have gone out. You already have the perfect graduation dress or tux. All that is left to do is plan the perfect send off. This guide will give you tips on how to throw a graduation party.

• Is your high school or college graduation fast approaching? Have you already sent out all the announcements and bought the perfect graduation attire, but still have no idea what type of party to throw? Well, you've come to the right place. This guide will help provide you with information on how to throw a graduation party that is sure to send you off in style!

• The first step to planning a successful graduation party is setting and keeping to your budget. Graduation parties can become extremely costly, so it is important to know how much you can afford to shell out entertaining family and friends. Once you have made this determination, you will be better able to assess what types of food, entertainment, etc. that you are able to provide. For Mahalo's guide on planning a cheap graduation party, go here.

• Now it is time to choose a location for the party. This is also the perfect time to determine how many people you want to invite. The amount of people will help you determine how big the location needs to be. Some ideas for party locations include:

1. Your home. This saves money, but it also leaves a huge mess to clean up, so explore your options.
2. Restaurant. This is another popular choice, but only works for smaller parties unless there is a back room you are able to rent out.
3. Banquet halls or community centers. There are many places varying in size that you are able to rent for the day. Many cities and towns have local community or rec centers you are able to rent out too.
4. Park. This is a great option, and like holding it at your house, it does not cost you any money!

• What types of food will you be serving? This will probably depend on where you choose to hold the party. For example, if you are throwing the party at a restaurant, you will obviously be serving food from their menu. Decide whether you want to:

1. Have the food catered. If so, which caterer? There are many options available. Often restaurants will cater, but some places are specifically designed for catering parties. These places usually provide you with tables, chairs and serving utensils. Catering is a great option if you do not want to spend time in the kitchen. You can even have the party catered if you are holding it at your home.
2. Cook the food yourself, in which case you will need to decide what types of food you are capable of making in large quantities out of your home. This option will only work if you intend to host the party out of your home.

• Regardless of whether you have the meal catered or do it yourself, you might want to consider having a special cake baked for the occasion. Although you might be an excellent baker or the catering company may offer cakes, many people like to have cakes specialized by a bakery.

(Creative Commons photo by boboroshi)

• The location of your party will most likely determine what type of entertainment you provide. Some options include:

1. Hiring a band. This works best if you are holding the party at your home or at a banquet hall or community center.
2. Rent a karaoke machine. This will probably be cheaper than a band and a lot of fun for everyone.
3. Show a slideshow. Many people like to put together a commemorative video or slideshow for the graduate.
4. Hire a videographer. This is a great way to capture the event, and is often fun for guests, who are given the opportunity to be creative in front of the camera.

• Once you have everything planned out, send the invitations. You can create customized invitations, or buy generic invitations to send out. You may want to have people RSVP so you will know how many people to expect before making final preparations for the party.

• Now that you are about to become a graduate, why not go a step further by throwing a bash to commemorate the occasion? By following the above steps, you will be that much closer to having an unforgettable graduation experience.

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