<p>Last June we had a joint graduation party for D (HS) and S (college). It was a big, low key backyard barbeque. Family, friends, big kids, little kids and just a lot of fun. I made a great 3 tiered cake decorated with all their elementary, HS and college colors and logos. It was a great day!</p>
<p>We had a high school grad party last year in our back yard. Most of our family lives far away, so we had a few neighbors, some close family friends, and the rest were my son’s friends. Very informal with a barbeque and croquet. Nice and simple.</p>
<p>Grad open house parties are big around here. D1 had hers the week before graduation. Approximately 250-300 people…you never know how many kids to plan for!! Had it partially catered, friends and I made extra salads. Caterer decorated dining room table with flowers and fruit displays with salads and sandwiches nestled in. Desert was a large chocolate fountain with items to dip (fruit,pound cake, pretzels, etc.) and then a chest freezer filled with ice cream treats out on the deck. Set up a dozen or so small round tables in back yard and had school colored flowers on each table. I even planted my gardens with school color plants for the party! Made a video of D1 with music that played throughout the event which ran from 2-6 and had all of her scrapbooks on display…big hit with the kids! We told our close friends to stay and at 6 when the kids left we got out the adult beverages, fired up the bonfire and went until the wee hrs of the morning! I had 3 friends volunteer for kitchen help so we could relax and entertain…best idea EVER!!!</p>
<p>NorthMinnesota, how would you handle it when the tables are reversed? I’ve got about 30 friends and relatives coming to S’s college graduation party (casual, on patio, no tent, badminton net, basketball net, music) and he has invited his closest 70 pals. I’m hoping his turnout is fairly light. Meanwhile, party starts at 1:00 pm but S has asked that his out-of-state friends stay overnight because they’ll be drinking. How can I refuse that? But how much beer do I supply? (Certainly not enough for it to flow freely from 1 pm into the night, right?) What about food? If I get some frozen burgers and dogs at Costco to throw on the grill that evening, must I do more? I’m a bit overwhelmed by what this simple afternoon get-together might evolve into. Advice, parents?</p>
<p>Open House finger foods, some catered some made. First half of party invited family 2-5 then friends of son and thier parents from 5-8. Worked well as son could visit with relatives and then enjoy being with his friends.</p>
<p>worrywart: you could get a keg or two. let them relive those freshman kegger days plus it’s by far the cheapest way to get beer.</p>
<p>in missouri, you can get a keg of natural light beer for around $55, which (i believe) is the equivalent of 180 cans (150 solo cups). my friend’s brother had a keg for his college graduation party and it kept probably…50-60 people happy (and drunk!) all day. there’s usually a deposit too, but when you return the keg and all the things that come with it you get that back. you’ll also need a bunch of ice to keep it cold.</p>
<p>ask your son. you could strike a deal with him too, that you’ll supply a keg/some cases/etc and beyond that it’s byob. definitely seems reasonable in this case.</p>
<p>have fun! these parties sound GREAT.</p>
<p>I don’t entertain much because I used to live on a lake, where we had people over all summer. Which was OK, I guess- but I don’t * like anyone* that much, unless I am already living with them. So 1/2 the time I hid in my bedroom ( luckily- my boyfriend ( not my H )and I had the entire attic- which was nice and very light and airy), or else I ran to the neighbors ( which was fun also)</p>
<p>So- I live in a small house- perhaps purposely?, so that when I entertain it is at the local park or beach or at the most in my yard.
We also have a very small family- my mother didn’t have any siblings, my father had two 1/2 sisters ( one from a fathers 2nd marriage & one from his mothers), as one was a missionary and one had mental handicaps neither had kids. so no cousins growing up- perhaps why I don’t like being around a lot of people? I don’t really get along with my brother and sister- but he was " the boy" and my sister was " the baby" so can you blame me?</p>
<p>Anyway- when both of the girls were turning 10 & 18- also it was the graduating from elementary/high school. ( their birthdays are almost on the same day- 8 hours apart) I did host a smallish party at the " party room" at my mothers condo. It worked well- they have a pool that no one ever uses so we had access to that. No one really uses the party room either, because their condos are much nicer. It had a small kitchen ( so I didn’t have to use my mothers because that would have driven me insane)</p>
<p>But I don’t know if D#2 wants a party. She didn’t want to do much for her 18th birthday- and her sister isn’t coming up. This is a tricky thing.</p>
<p>However, one family we have known for about 10 years, is hosting an open house party for the whole class & as they share many friends, I am going to see if I can co-opt that for the graduation celebration for D- that may be better- because the focus won’t be on her- because it will be on her friend & on all of the class of 2008 :D</p>
<p>I love the idea of making a CD of the music from the musicals they’ve been in. My son would love that. My daughter is on the drill team, and there could be a CD of songs they’ve danced to. Thanks!</p>
<p>Outdoor party, 2pm - 6pm. A mix of relatives, neighbors, and S’s friends. Casual food, volleyball net, basketball hoop, and… a “moonwalk”. Yes, a bouncy thing you rent for a kindergartner’s birthday party. It was a huge hit.</p>