We get a lot of these announcements. I would rather get that and send a gift than be expected to sit through a graduation ceremony. If I didn’t want to send anything to that particular kid, I’d have NO problem with not doing it.
But if these are kids we know or are kids of good friends, we happily send them a check, with our congratulations.
I live in the south and it is pretty common here. I get them from extended family (cousins’ kids, or cousins back. In the day) friends I’ve known for years, etc. I would say that more often than not I send a gift (usually a check), but would have done so without the announcement.
My son graduated last year. We sent announcements to grandparents, most of my aunts and uncles, and some of my cousins. In the case of aunts/uncles/cousins we excluded the ones we are never in contact with. Most sent a gift but not all.
It the announcements are simply to report news, rhen why the need for fancy printing & matching pastel envelopes?
In this digital age, unless it’s an invitation, are hardcopy announcements still relevant?
I personally find the announcements way less offensive than the whole “gift equals the cost of your plate” and “dollar dance” wedding customs.
It is the digital age, but none of my kids’ three remaining grandparents have email. Nor does my 95 year old grandmother. She should get on that, I guess.
Not really much different than a baby announcement. Some people send out printed cards with a new address. Why fancy? Because that was the older tradition. Baby announcements used to be fancy, too.
Graduation announcements are one of those things I feel strongly about insofar as I wouldn’t do them for me and mine, but I don’t really sniff haughtily if I receive them - I think “how nice they thought of me, good news is always good.” I think that way about a lot of things that we discuss - strong feelings for myself, but not a lot of strong feelings when others do it.
I love threads like this. It’s a good reminder that there are lots of viewpoints that we all take for granted within our micro-societies and local areas, and I think that’s really useful.
I sent them for our daughter and had some made to send for our son. I consider them like Christmas cards - they have a photo collage with a senior picture and one or two of activities and maybe a “remember when” photo. If they are tacky I guess I am guilty. I am not sending them out randomly but to close relatives, long time friends or other people who have an interest in the kid’s progress.
I have never quite gotten sending out the canned school based ones that can be ordered from Jostens or whomever. As was mentioned above, most people can’t come to the ceremony due to distance and space limitations but most people wouldn’t want to sit through that anyway. Unless you are very close the the kid in question it’s worse than a Junior High band concert or some other such function involving hot rooms, hard chairs and lots of wondering when it will end. I ordered for both kids on Tiny Prints and both included a notation about future plans along with an appropriate photo.
I don’t go to most ceremonies due to the crowd and risk of catching an infection from someone present. I will make a lei or purchase a gift and give it to someone who is attending to present but I don’t often attend these events (unless it’s my kid).
On the flip side “Sweet 16” parties are not done where I live.
@saintfan, your cards sound lovely. It is a nice way to commemorate a milestone and to update distant friends and family. We will do something similar for DS college graduation so that we can send out pictures to relatives. We don’t do Solstice cards anymore so it is a chance to say hello.
We sent them out when S graduated from HS and will probably do the same when he graduates from college. It’s a way to make people who live all over the country (friends and relatives alike) aware of what he’s doing and send them a current photo. Like saintfan had them made through TinyPrints. Not sent in hope of gifts. When I receive them I generally send a card–sometimes, but not always, a gift card. Yes many of these people would find out news on Facebook or holiday cards, but we wanted to celebrate this milestone with far off family and friends and this way works for us.
The only people we sent them to were our family overseas who don’t have the same educational system we do (and thus might not be aware of milestones) along with my senior picture.
This was before they got on facebook… not sure if we’d still do them today.
Another who thinks it’s tiring to go through life questioning motives…
Those fancy announcements bought through the school were, I think, good for use before the ease of Tiny Prints and the like, and are nice for families for which hs graduation might be the most important for their child. They were the standard in my time; no one would spend lots of money for wedding-like announcements back then. Some still use them now. I’m surprised anyone is “very confused” about them 
We did the Tiny Prints ones, not too many, but for friends and family who are far away. They weren’t a solicitation for gifts and people appreciated getting them. I doubt we’ll do them for college graduation.
@saintfan, is that you cat with the shades on?!
Btw looked at Emily post who definitively said announcements are NOT invitations and shouldn’t have an expectation of gifts.
What about venues for graduation parties? As a high school teacher, I’ve mostly been invited to hundreds of parties held in backyards and garages. I’ve also noticed less and less high school parties and announcements. They have become more immediate family dinners.
With college graduations, most graduates go out to a restaurant with family only. Is this different in other parts of the country?
In my town the graduation parties last all summer long. They are large and gifts are expected. At least two of DS classmates made enough for a year’s tuition and books at the local college from the party. We had a group one since we had only lived in the area for 5 years and had no expectation of a large haul. Instead, we just wanted a party.
It does seem to be a regional thing.