My daughter’s is at the end of May. It could be hot, humid, thundering; cool, sunny, breezy; or freezing with sleet and hail. You just never know what the weather will be like in Massachusetts that time of year. The ceremony is outside, rain or shine, although I imagine they’ll move it if the weather is dangerous.
In spite of my screen name, we now live in Maine, so I will have to pack for all contingencies. Any ideas? Dress pants and a blouse with blazer? Dress and cardigan? If it’s freezing, all bets are off–I’m going for comfort and warmth! A family friend graduated from Case-Western last year, and her parents had to endure hail and snow in the space of an hour while waiting outside.
Layers and something comfortable and easy to walk around in. And I’d finalize my choice no more than a week before when I had a better idea of the forecast. Graduations can be very long. Walking to wherever it is from parking can be long, too.
Wore a sleeveless dress, sandals, and a sunhat to D’s graduation on the National Mall several years ago. Will wear the same dress to next D’s in So Cal if I can fit in it (need to shed a few pounds).
Really, they had hail and snow in May in Cleveland last year? Wow.
A lot of it will be determed by the facts and circumstances of the graduation ceremony. Here are some comments:
–Look up the weather for the location of the graduation online (weather.com, accuweather.com or a site like that) before you leave for graduation so you have a good idea of what to expect. It was super hot for our S’s graduation and drizzly and cool for my D’s graduation so it is important to be prepared for the expected weather.
–Also find out in advance where the ceremony will take place – if it is on a grassy area then (if female) go for flat or wedge shoes rather than heels so you don’t sink into the ground. If graduation is in an air conditioned location you may need a sweater as the a/c could be cranked up on high.
Bring sunscreen and water. I know that Massachusetts at the end of May is probably not going to be 85 degrees, but I also didn’t think it was going to be 85 degrees at my daughter’s mid-April graduation in southern California. I and D2 got very painful sunburns.
My D’s graduation in MA over Memorial Day weekend was a steamy 92 degrees. MIT’s was a week later in early June and it was in the low 50s and rained non-stop.
I was just looking at pictures from my daughter’s early May graduation last year in Boston. It was freezing and wet for the outdoor party the night before and my daughter was wearing her winter down jacket (we are all wearing heavy jackets). The actual day it was better - the sun broke out a little bit, but I am still wearing long sleeves and a jacket. (with khakis and flat shoes).
I remember my own college graduation - it was warm but raining and we just stood outside and got drenched!
“My D’s graduation in MA over Memorial Day weekend was a steamy 92 degrees. MIT’s was a week later in early June and it was in the low 50s and rained non-stop.”
@mamabear1234 , yes! It was May 15th. I remember this not because I was at our friend’s graduation, but because I was picking up our son at Oberlin. We nearly froze to death!
Bring a hat if you will be outdoors. If you are lucky, the ceremony itself won’t be really long. But when you add in the walk from the parking area, getting there early to get good seats, and the post-ceremony socializing, that’s a lot of time in the sun.
At my son’s Tufts graduation, it was freezing then hot, then cold again. Luckily I wore layers. You’ll definitely want a hat if anything is outdoors. For our kid there were two ceremonies, both outdoors.
I wore a dress to my son’s June SoCal graduation a couple years ago. This year I am going to my other son’s May graduation in Northern California. I am guessing it will be cold and foggy, but too soon to tell. I will try and wear school colors. Everyone will be there, and with 3 adult children that is a rare occurrence, so there is a good chance our Christmas card picture will be taken sometime during the weekend.
Several years ago at son’s day-long outdoor graduation at UofC in late June, it was so cold and rainy with wind off the lake that people, during the ceremony, started going to the bookstore and buying sweatshirts and sweat pants.
I love all of your responses! I am relieved to know that comfort rules. My question was more about protocol for attire than anything else, but I’m realizing that as long as I’m not naked or in rags, it’s okay.
My daughter has suggested that I wear her class color–green–which is my favorite color, so I’ll find a way to work that in.
Based on past experience, I vote for sunscreen (if outdoors), seat cushions (if on bleachers wet from dew), and way more comfortable shoes than my D and I had. In a moment of despair, I bought her $30 Adidas flip-flops from the bookstore and I walked around most of the campus bare-footed.
Graduation was a fairly fancy 3-day affair. We definitely did not look too swell
My S is also graduating this year - in Boston the week before Memorial Day. I bought a sleeveless dress in a mid weight knit that came with matching jacket. It the weather is seasonal, that’s what I’ll wear, likely with a pair of low heeled pumps or wedges that I have yet to purchase. If the weather is so so, I’ll add a raincoat, but if it’s really bad…cold and rainy, I’ll probably wear dress pants, a blouse, and said raincoat. The main point is to have a couple of outfits ready to go until the forecast is set. For my D’s graduation from Brown on Memorial Day weekend a few years ago, I wore a sleeveless navy/white dress with a white linen jacket. It was sunny and blazing hot, and my shoulders got a little burned. Still, I’d take a day like that this year.
Yes to layers, even those unseen. I ended up wearing warm leggings pushed up out of sight under the skirt I had planned for DS grad. Layered a black smart wool under layer beneath the pretty top. I was still cold, but better than most.
