<p>Most of you know I’m going off to SSU in the fall…I’m pretty much the only one of my friends (besides one or two that come to mind) that is leaving the Los Angeles area for college. So instead of having the typical graduation party in June, I kind of want to have one in August, and have it be more of a “bon voyage” thing…sort of a chance to say goodbye before we all head off to our prospective colleges (albeit most of them will be local ones).</p>
<p>Any advice on the execution? I’m the first one in my family to go straight to a four-year university, so I’m pretty much flying blind. Thanks for any and all input!</p>
<p>You could do a boat party if it’s a lot of people. Literally, bon voyage. Costs major cash most of the time…</p>
<p>Maybe, you could just have something at a local restaurant. And it can be like a Secret Santa COLLEGE-style where everyone gets a parting gift for the other. Hopefully things useful in college. That way, save money…and get gifts…</p>
<p>Having now had two graduate from high school and matriculate to college, I have the insight of experience. The answer to your question is yes, and yes, to both parties.</p>
<p>I’m sure many other parents will pipe in here and tell you that just about the time the graduation parties are done, the good-bye parties start as kids start to head off to college, varying anywhere from mid-August to late August. The more formal party is usually the graduation party, and the latter are much more casual and almost spur of the moment.</p>
<p>XD I dunno if spending “major cash” for a boat party (while it does sound fun, and I’m about 10-15 minutes from a Marina) would please my parents too much.</p>
<p>I’ll probably do something like teriwtt (I ALWAYS read that terwitt for some reason) suggested and have an informal party at my house. :)</p>
<p>First how many are you planning on inviting and how much are you looking to spend? A dozen or so guests and a few hundred dollars or several dozen guests and a few thousand dollars? </p>
<p>First if it’s a party representing many people, you’d best change it to something to reflect that spirit. With the Olympics this summer, maybe you and your college-bound friends could have a mini-Olympics-type party where each girl will represent their school (colors, shirts, etc.) and you’ll split your friends/guests into groups and have silly races or games. Have a nice buffet style lunch/dinner afterward followed by photo-ops, speeches and a champagne toast by all the student’s parents? Maybe the dad’s can get together and do a faux-“The Real World” type sketch where they will attempt to humorously act out how life will be for their children in college.</p>
<p>And to incorporate guest involvement you can maybe have a few activities where the guests can judge the event participants. Like maybe a singing or dancing contest and the guests will judge them with letters similar to a school grading system (i.e., A,B,C,D,F) using different color sheets…</p>
<p>I onced planned a wedding reception based off of 5 of the bride’s favorite musicals. A very exciting affair but costly as I had to have someone build sets and each area had a cast where actors would roam around and interact with the guests in character. </p>
<p>I think you’ll have a winner with that theme :)</p>
<p>An August party is exactly what I did for DS, my niece and my step-grandson - all going off to college the same year.</p>
<p>I did a slide show with music background - with pictures of them starting from newborn, through all the years at grandma’s place on the lake, through school/middle school/hs graduation… including their passions (drums, hockey, dance) etc. It was a hit! The party and the slideshow were titled “They’re Off! To College!” and I used that on the invitation as well.</p>
<p>Cake had my home-grown attempt to render the names and logos/mascots of their chosen schools.</p>
<p>This was a bbq at our home - family (extended) and a few friends. </p>
<p>My niece pointed out that DS actually teared up at the slideshow. I can’t believe I was so absorbed in presenting it that I forgot to look his way while it was playing. But it was my directorial debut!</p>
<p>Yes, this is how we do it in our family, August farewell parties instead of June grad parties. There are so many graduation parties in June, that scheduling and attending them all can be tough. We have a big bbq type party the weekend before the kids go off.</p>
<p>We decorate in the college colors and the invites state " Come help us wish X well as he heads off to XU to pursue a degree in X". It’s a great chance for the kids and their parents to get the gang together one last time before they all go their separate ways and for all the relatives to see the student one more time before he leaves. </p>
<p>It’s a good idea, but you might want to check with your friends about their summer plans first. If too many are traveling or are working at jobs where they have to be at work when most other people are off (e.g., working in restaurants on weekend evenings), the August party might not work out so well.</p>
<p>Many schools start in mid-August and schedule orientation the week before, so be sure to check guest availability before setting a date.
Last year, to celebrate 3 graduations in our family, we had a party mid-July. We didn’t get a slide show completed but had select growing up photos for each child in a separate album. We tried to include pictures of the graduate with significant party attendees when possible.</p>
<p>We did a farewell party for my daughter and it was a great thing because there was so much going on in June that it would have been very hard for people to come. It was also a time for her friends to come back together one last time after they had had a couple of months after working/preparing for college to actually miss each other. They had also started to wind down from summer jobs and travel to start gearing up for the new year. Definitely give notice, though, so people can be there. I recommend this highly.</p>
<p>Around here there are so many June grad parties that kids can’t attend them all. Several people I know switched to an August “bon voyage” party and they have worked out quite well.</p>
thank you!</p>