I will be hosting a graduation brunch for approximately 20 the day after my daughters university commencement.
I would like to go the extra mile for this party with decorations and a small token gift at each setting.
School colors are Navy and grey (not super springy and festive!)
Would love any and all suggestions!
Are these all family? Would they like a graduation framed photo of your daughter?
Can you add a spring green or lavender to accent navy/grey?
A cute little favor at each setting could be getting those colored M&M’s in the school colors and making up a little bag in tulle, tied with ribbon. I meant to do that for my kids but never got around to it!
You could also order cupcakes and either have a cupcake at each place or do a cupcake tree to serve as both decoration and dessert.
I did the framed photos of my kids since it was family, but it doesn’t necessarily work as a party favor because it’s one to a couple, not one to a seat.
What about little succulents at the table? You can bunch them together for the centerpiece and then guests can take one away as a parting gift. You could put them in a variety of things from teacups to cute little pots. Wrap a bow around them in school colors maybe?
Succulents are all the rage with the 16-25 set down here at least. The tables would be decorated AND they can be takeaway gifts. They are about $2.00 a little plant at our big box gardening/home improvement store.
Who will be the people attending? If all are graduates of the same school vs family and friends, that would make a difference as to the “small token” IMO.
Meant to add this link earlier
https://www.pinterest.com/explore/succulent-party-favors/
Another thing to consider is if many of the guests will be flying home, as in that case it will be better if the party favor is easily packable.
@katie93mom could you please clarify who will be attending your brunch, and if they will be traveling on planes to get there?
I will say…we had brunch for both of our kids when they graduated and we didn’t give any graduation favors either time.
If you think of the colors as navy and silver that changes the look a little. Shop the college bookstore for possible favors – perhaps shot glasses or coffee mugs from the college and you could add flowers, succulents, candies etc.
I guess a lot depends on your budget. You can use tablecloths in school colors and place small white rosebud centerpieces. Or you can brighten it up and use white tablecloths, succulents for the centerpiece accented with different shades of blue.
For our d’s high school graduation, I made three long pennant banners in school colors with glued pics of her from K - 12. These were strung along the fence in our backyard. You could do something similar but only include college photos. This can be as cutesy or classy as you want. Something like this, but with photos rather than letters: https://www.■■■■■■■■/listing/245064189/custom-flag-banner-mint-pink-and-gold?utm_source=Pinterest&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share
If the school has a cute mascot, you could incorporate that into your theme. But if it is a flying squirel or such, I would just stick with the blue and silver theme.
I would not make the favors specific to the school necessarily. Or use the school favors (coffee mug, etc.) for the fellow students, and offer something non-college related to the family and friends not connected to the college.
Someone mentioned using greenery. I like the idea of a long strand of greenery wound around the other decor down the center of the whole table. I am thinking of a long table, if you are using round tables you could make a circle of greenery instead.
Some fancy chocolates in a cute little bag or box would be appreciated by most folks.
Yikes. My days have been flying by as graduation approaches! I really appreciate the suggestions…I too missed the deadline for the customized M&Ms but have tucked it away for future use as they are a great idea for a variety of events.
I should have mentioned I am flying to the graduation as are all family members except my Ds dad and family…which is a big constraint on ideas such as potted succulents which are actually adorable.
I ended up ordering some blue graduation cap hand fans and customized water bottle labels for the hot, outdoor commencement ceremony.
Found a bakery that is making custom graduation hat cookies (with blue and grey trims!)in cellophane bags that I will tuck into navy and silver tissue paper in small silver bags affixed with a customized photo grad sticker label and matching hang tag…with the tissue puffed up I am thinking these will add just enough “fun” and color to the brunch table and be easily portable for all!
Now just need to find a dress ( can I lose 20 pounds in two weeks and get toned arms to look good in a sundress?)and decide on a grad gift (my D has mentioned wanting to get scuba certified and I am actually thinking I may use that as her grad gift. I think she may like it better than my usual go to gifts of jewelry)
One last question for others with recent or upcoming grads—are flowers still given to the grads by family after the ceremony? I may need to place a quick order from a local florist…
We gave our kid flowers. Someone at the school was selling them at the graduation venue…so we bought them. Otherwise…we probably would not have.
I think the scuba lessons would make a great gift. We didn’t give jewelry either…we gave our kid a cross country train ticket in a sleeper car…it was what she wanted.
I don’t think we did flowers for DD2 UG as we were departing the next morning. I did bring flowers to her Masters ceremony (in our home town).
The education was the gift.
We asked our kids and they both wanted edibles, NOT flowers, so I made leis our of candy and mac nuts. It was a huge hit.
I love the whole lei concept, @HImom. I wish I could pull that off out here on the East coast.
It is easy for us. I am hosting 3: my wife, the one who graduates and myself. Enough said!
My parents have passed away. But even if they have not, they do not know when their grandson graduates and from where. (At one time, my parent said to us (luckily not to their grandson) he does not like the college he would attend – and “beneath” the college he himself attended when the dinosaur still roamed the world.)
@doschicos, cellophane (to make a "tube), ribbon, tape (if needed) and stuff to put in the “lei” is all you need. I’ve made them in CA and wherever I am where I want to provide a little festive something. Folks are generally thrilled with it and can wear and eat it. That was what I gave both kids to give to folks who helped them through college and their graduating friends too. Flowers are perishable, so I was happy not to have to deal with that, especially since we were going elsewhere before the graduation.