Can you believe it’s already time to start planning high school graduation parties? My little sister is graduating from high school this year and it’s so bitter sweet. I’m going to miss her so much when she goes to college. I seriously can’t believe it’s been 3 years since I graduated and now it’s her turn!
But it’s not time to send her off to college yet, first we have to plan the best graduation party ever! With all the craziness that goes on at the end of the senior year she’s leaving it in the hands of my mom and me to put together the party. I thought I would share some of the most creative high school graduation party ideas I’ve seen and plan on using for my sister.
So don’t stress about the party planning because I’ll be covering everything from thank you card to food to photo backdrops and more!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a commission, at no extra cost to you, if a purchase is made after clicking through a link.
High School Graduation Party Ideas:
1. Who knows the graduate best game
Test everyone’s knowledge of the graduate with these grad party games!
These pre-made cards questionnaires are on available on Amazon and perfect to get all the guests together to see who knows the grad best! Winner can get a prize too!
This is a great game to play at a high school graduation party because you are with the people who have known you the longest.
2. Diploma cookies
How cute are these diploma cookies?! This is a super easy and fast DIY to add an extra touch to the food.
All you need to get are some Crème de Pirouline cookies (which are so delicious) and red ribbon. Cut a bunch of small pieces of the ribbon and wrap them around the cookies. If you don’t have a lot of time just wrap ribbon around the ones on the top layer of the plate!
3. Friends backdrop
This is seriously the coolest graduation party backdrop I’ve seen! Props to whoever made this because it’s incredible!
If you are a graduate who loves Friends this is a must for you. My sister loves Friends so I’m thinking about doing this for her high school graduation party.
4. Photo Booth props
Don’t forget to get photo props! You can get this bundle of photo props right on Amazon.
5. Chocolate covered pretzel school colors
These school colored chocolate covered pretzels are so cute. All you have to do is mix food coloring with white chocolate to get your school colors.
I think this is so cute especially if you are having a school colors theme.
6. Memory board
This is the memory board my mom made for my graduation party. She saved all my lunch box notes from elementary school to high school. And yes, I still got lunch box notes through high school and I loved it.
I had no idea she was going this so it was such an emotional surprise lol, but seriously. Reading all the notes was so much fun. It was special to me since she saved them all and put together this cute high school memory board.
7. School colors cupcake stand
This cupcake stand is so cute!! You can customize it to be your school colors and letters. This is one of the most creative high school graduation party ideas I’ve come across. You can follow the tutorial on how to make this then customize it.
8. Grad straws
These straws add the perfect touch to high school graduation parties. They are so cute! You can get them on Amazon for pretty cheap so it’s definitely worth it.
9. Girly photo backdrop
I love this backdrop It’s a really creative idea to overlap the different tassel strands. They are all a mix of different colors which is cute.
For all bohemian loving graduates this is a really unique photo wall for you!
Amazon has so many different tassel strands that you can get, but these are the ones I found match most accurately. This company has SO many different color options. I would check them out to see if they have your school colors.
10. Thank you cards
Don’t forget the thank you cards! These are available on Amazon and are inexpensive for thank you cards. They come in a pack of 20 with envelopes.
Thank you cards can get pretty expensive so I recommend getting this pack because it’s a great price for how cute they are and how many you get.
11. Candy station
I love this idea for high school graduation parties! Display a bunch of different candies and print out some labels for them. You can copy the labels just like the picture to recreate the same candy station.
Leave some baggies with the candy so your guests can make little goody bags for the road.
12. Create a party hashtag
This graduation party idea is brilliant! Instead of everyone begging for everyone to send ALL the pictures to them, just decide a hashtag and make sure people use it!
Now whatever pictures people post with that hashtag everyone will be able to see all in one place!
13. Write your address on an envelope
This idea was originally for a wedding, but Let’s Get Festive customizes these prints for whatever the occasion. Your guests can write down their addresses on the envelopes to your thank you cards.
This is a brilliant party idea because you might not know everyones actual address especially if you sent out an e-vite instead of mail a card. Even if you have everyones addresses, it’s just a huge time saver.
14. Drink station
Instead of having to buy tons of packs of water, soda, iced teas, and more set up big dispensers. This will save you so much money because you’ll only have to buy mixes.
This is also a great idea if you are worried about high schoolers getting ahold of alcohol. Instead of having it all in one place, have this set up outside and have the alcohol somewhere else. Sorry to all the high schoolers that might be reading this, but parents – you’re welcome.
15. Polaroid book
This idea came from a wedding blog, but it’s a great idea for high school graduation parties too! Have your guests snap a picture, put it in the book, and write you a note!
The graduate can take this to college with them to have the memories of all their friends from home!
