<p>My SIL informed me that it’s “tacky” to send out college graduation announcements. I didn’t send them out when I graduated, but I graduated as an adult in my mid-to-late twenties. Honestly, I’ve not ever received one either, but not many in my family attended or finished college. (My SIL had one child who should have graduated last year and one who should have graduated this year, but both kids dropped out of college.)</p>
<p>We (as a family) weren’t sending them out far-and-wide, and S only purchased 25. But has anyone else been told these announcements are tacky? We are driving to S’s graduation (800 miles away) and we are hosting a brunch at the hotel the day of his graduation for the people who are attending. We aren’t expecting gifts to be sent to him (which my SIL said the announcements would reek of a “money grab”) but we are very proud that he is graduating. About half of them are going to S’s close friends and half to family. </p>
<p>I’d like to hear other parents’ thoughts and experiences with college graduation announcements. She has me spooked to send them out. :(</p>
<p>We didn´t send it out. People we were close with knew D1 was graduating. People we didn´t know well, we told them next time we saw them. Yes, if someone were to send me an announcement, I would feel like I need to send a present. I think other people would read it as such.</p>
<p>Both of our kids’ colleges provided a very small number of graduation announcements free of charge. Anything beyond that had to be ordered for a cost. The grandparents wanted to have them…so we sent them to the grandparents. We also kept one for each of the kids (they really have NO interest in them…they have their diplomas).</p>
<p>There have been other threads about hs graduation announcements. (In our house one kid did not send them but one kid did–the one who got them for free.) I agree that close family, particularly grandparents, probably appreciate them. We have our first college graduation coming up in May (fingers crossed), and will send a few out. (DS will also be the first grandchild on either side to graduate from college.)</p>
<p>I wouldn’t stress it too much. Also–I made sure that the kid who sent out the hs announcements understood he’d be doing all the envelope addressing/stuffing/. . . That might cut down the list a bit. ;)</p>
<p>I would stop short of tacky, but I don’t much care for them. I didn’t send them when I finished high school or college or graduate school, and I didn’t mind at all when my daughter had no interest in sending any when she finished high school.</p>
<p>Hmmm, we were so harassed by one set of grandparents that we ordered 25 and sent them to the grandparents, aunts & uncles, and to some old teachers from HS or even elementary school with a personal note. Maybe I should rethink them and create one page on my computer to send to the grandparents for the next round of graduations!</p>
<p>We are going to have a party at the house the weekend after graduation. So I was thinking that instead of the stuffy school announcements I would make some sort of picture invitation for the party.</p>
<p>I’ve only had one friend send announcements for their kids’ graduations. It did feel like a solicitation for gifts. I haven’t done it for my own kids…</p>
<p>For the most part, I have to agree with your SIL. Anyone who is is close enough to get an announcement knows that your son is graduating or will know it the next time you speak to them. That said, past threads seem to indicate that this is somewhat regional thing - more common down south than it is in the mid Atlantic or northeast, for example. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with giving an announcement as a keepsake to a grandparent or very close family member who wants one.</p>
<p>I agree with your SIL. A keepsake for the grandparents is fine. Anything else reeks of either bragging or trolling for a gift. </p>
<p>I’ve never received a graduation announcement, for HS or college, nor have I sent one. Perhaps it is regional, as suggested above. The only announcements I’ve ever sent or received were birth announcements.</p>
<p>My DDs college provided 10 free announcements. One went to my mom, one to MIL, and one to SIL who would be traveling to attend the ceremony. We later got a message from my MIL that the elderly aunt on DH’s side really wanted one, so we sent it with a little note about DD’s plans.
I’ve always felt that I needed to send something when an announcement came, so I only sent them to the closest family who would give a gift anyway. </p>
<p>My son sheepishly handed me 10 graduation announcements when he cleaned out his room as he was heading up north for his Fellowship the fall after he graduated, “Do you want these?” :rolleyes: They must have been buried in a suitcase or something and he obviously had no intention of sending them out.</p>
<p>We sent out h.s. grad. announcements (maybe 15 total) but not did not do college ones for S1 nor will we do them for S2 who graduates this year. I too feel like it’s a “send me a gift” announcement. </p>
<p>My niece (or my SIL) sent out college grad. announcements. I sent a card with a nice note inside. I was really surprised when two years later we also received her Grad. school announcements. I didn’t send anything for that one because her sister’s h.s grad. announcement arrived in the mail box the same day!</p>
<p>Agree with the people that think they are tacky and most people already know, and if they don’t know, they most likely don’t care that much or will percieve it as bragging. My daughter said it is an obnoxious idea, ha.</p>
<p>I’m glad HurricaneMom brought up this issue, as I’ve had this Josten’s brochure on my desk all week. $92.50 for a package of 25 invitations is outrageous! I’d only send out a few, so will sit back and wait to see if 10 free invites show up.</p>
<p>We love receiving graduation announcements and hearing that a young person completed this important phase of life. If the recipient cannot be happy for the graduate or the family, well that reflects on their lack of compassion more than anything. </p>
<p>If you are afraid of the gift solicitation tone- you can easily cure that aspect by including a handwritten “no gifts please” phrase on the bottom right of the card, as you might with a birthday party invitation.</p>
<p>As for the card being braggy–well how many kids graduate from college? A ton. It is not really too unique. If it is rare in your particular family, well, perhaps it will inspire the rest of the family to encourage education. </p>
<p>People sashay around with their designer bags, jewelry, and hot cars exhibiting plenty of brag–why not celebrate the milestone of education–a truly valuable asset-- with a pretty card?</p>
<p>You can probably go to Staples and get nice card stock…and make your own announcements for a LOT less than $90.</p>
<p>I’d skip it…take a nice pic of the graduate in his/her cap and gown at the graduation and send an email with the pic in it. Many folks will be happy to see the picture.</p>
<p>We have a nice one of our whole family at DD’s graduation (actually taken a couple of days later while vacationing). We sent that to family and friends via email.</p>
<p>So funny, my S1 is a graduating senior and is home now for Spring Break. Just this afternoon I told him that I read on the Commencement website that on 3/26 announcements (free) will be available and that he needs to go pick them up. He looked at me like I had ten heads! Couldn’t imagine why on earth I would want them. I told him I just wanted 3, for us, and each set of grandparents, as a keepsake. He thinks it is the most absurd thing, and I doubt that he will get over to the building and get them for me.</p>
<p>No we did not send out college graduation announcements. I don’t think I’d go so far as to say that they are tacky, but it’s just not typical among our family and friends. We generally know what is going on with our family members and kids of our close friends so an “announcement” is not necessary, everybody already knows.</p>