<p>DS wil be graduating, and family will be here. I want to make a party that can transition from a family party into a friends party. I plan on sending out 2 invites, 1 for our friends for the afternoon, and 1 for his starting in the early evening. I am going to hire a dj and bartender, tent the yard, DS and his firnds want an inflatable slide or bouncy castle ( realize they play toss football with one kid jumping on the tramp while the other throws it…its not nerdy, and I worry that they will make me lose my deposit for destroying the thing)</p>
<p>Anyone have any suggestions on how to blend this?</p>
<p>Sounds like a wonderful party. It also sounds as if you’ve already got the basis for one transition plan: Have your friends come mid- to late afternoon, and have DS’s friends come at the time you’re putting out the main food. Eating together works with the multi-age group; the food is an ice breaker and chances are everybody will be reasonably comfortable. (And nobody feels as if they were invited to just-the-dinner.) Most likely your friends will then gradually be ready to head off home, or to something else, as DS and his friends . . . hit the bounce castle. You and DS can also use the music to signal that there’s a shift taking place. </p>
<p>A couple of things: If there are enough common friends, consider throwing a combined party with S and a good friend or two. The kids had so many parties to attend that time of year–we appreciated the combined parties. Also, remember to get out invitations early enough so there aren’t conflicts with other parties. Seems there’s a window of about 2 weeks when ALL the parties take place!</p>
<p>My D managed to avoid conflict with other parties by having her party the night before graduation. It was great because no one else was having a party and no one had left town; ashe invited her friends, many of their parents, a few neighbors, some of my friends as well as a number of teachers and coaches. It worked out really well.</p>
<p>Your party plans sound terrific. We avoided the “party conflict” for friends by having DD’s party the first weekend in August. It was just before many of the buddies were leaving for college and was a great “farewell” for the kids.</p>
<p>Our family wasn’t much interested in a DJ and such (we didn’t have that for DD either…). We had a nice family picnic on graduation weekend. In August, we invited family friends and neighbors who live near here (like OP…grownups earlier…kids stayed later) and DD’s friends. It was really fun.</p>
<p>As for the logistics of the 2 parties…perhaps you could call it an Open House…with your friends invitations saying something like “3:00pm - 6:00pm” and the kids invitation saying “6:00pm - 10:00pm” … or whatever the times are that you want the different groups there.</p>
<p>we did a quiet thing since people are so busy with their own visiting relatives…a small supper before the Baccalaureate …ya gotta eat…buffet style. I didn’t cook it either.</p>
<p>You’re stressing out too much bullet! You’ve already figured out a good way to blend everything with invitations, etc and have a really fun party in the works. Sit back, relax, enjoy the party, and watch your kid rake in the cash from the congratulations cards!</p>
<p>I’d love to go to your party. Plus, the kids are going to be so preoccupied with each other that it doesn’t even really matter if you somehow don’t successfully transition from one group to the other. The groups will probably separate naturally anyway.</p>
<p>Sounds like fun, B&P! My boys always loved the trampoline + football/dodgeball game. (Yes, damage will occur!) Just a couple of suggestions: (1) Get clear with your neighbors beforehand, if they’re in sound/parking/trash range and (2) Don’t be surprised/disappointed if the kids head off in a different direction midstream than you had planned. (They tend to do that.) Good luck & have fun.</p>
<p>I am inviting the neighbors, I find it the easiest way to make sure they don’t get upset with the noise.</p>
<p>I won’t mind if they go off in different directions, I also suspect that we might get people that DS didn’t invite. I find hs students are like ants…they send out the scout and then the colony follows :D</p>
<p>I like the idea of inviting the neighbors…some of them at least.
I just thought about rescheduling my daughter’s party until I realized that some out of town guests have purchased airline tics to get here.
It is a slightly inconvenient date for some close relatives.
Oh well, too late.
We had a tent at my older daughter’s party two years ago.
We moved to a different house since then, so I think we might skip the tent and open the garage instead ( large enough to set up tables and chairs if weather doesn’t cooperate.) and a big bathroom…
We will set up volleyball net and horsehoe pit on the side of the yard.
Catered, no bartender…beer,wine soft drinks.</p>
You and DS can also use the music to signal that there’s a shift taking place. </p>