Graduation Announcements

[leebee]

How do you feel when you receive a graduation announcement? DD21 is graduating, summa cum laude, from college in a few weeks, with double majors and double minors. We are incredibly proud of her and I'd like to send announcements to the immediate family (grandparents, aunts/uncles), but I don't want it to seem like a "gift grab." These are not graduation invitations, they are announcements, and I'd include a professional photo (wallet-sized) with the announcement. We live very far from our families, so they wouldn't necessarily know that DD had reached this milestone in her life (we are in Maine- they are in Ohio, Indiana, Louisiana, and California.) I just don't want it to seem like we are seeking gifts, when really all I want to do is share her accomplishment with the folks who love her.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

An announcement is just that. I'd think it was awesome, and send something out as a gift, but would love the announcement. If you were sending this to everyone you know, everyone your mother knows, everyone your MIL knows, that could seem like a gift grab, but immediate family, it's letting them know of a major upcoming event, I wouldn't think anything of it.

 

[stsomewhere]

Honestly, I just throw them away. I would prefer a post of facebook.

 

[Happy Snowman]

In our area that would be interpreted as a gift grab. It's not something that is commonly done for college graduations around here. Most people would announce something like this on Facebook, etc. and not send anything formal.

 

[NAB]

Wow social media really has taken a lot away. I would love if my nieces and nephews send me a grad picture and announcement in the mail. Nice little surprise in the mail and more personal. I wouldn't think it was a gift grab, it isn't an invite to a party.

You have every right to be proud of your dd and show her off. Congrats to your dd.

 

[Happy Snowman]

I should add, for high school graduations, "everyone" sends announcements--but they are generally a graduation party invite/announcement...just not for college graduations.

 

[Dawnlight]

Wouldn't immediate family already know of this upcoming graduation, even if they live a distance away?

I think you should be awfully proud of your daughter and I'm sure immediate family is, too. I do think that it could be seen as a gift grab, but then again, immediate family might intend to be giving gifts for the occasion anyway.

 

[HM]

We received college announcements for all our nieces and nephews. We did send them gifts. I've never received one from someone not related to us.

 

[StitchBuddy]

Personally, I would love to get one from my nieces/nephews and close friends. I would want to give them something for reaching that milestone.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If you would like to send them an announcement, go for it. My youngest is graduating from HS and my mother insists that we send announcements to her brother and sister.

 

[cabanafrau]

You must be very proud -- and for good reason. Congrats to your DD, that's a wonderful accomplishment.

In our area, family included, it would not be well received. Completely understand your intentions and I'm certainly not criticizing, just offering opinions asked for. Very close friend's daughter graduated in December. I sent a card and check. I did get an announcement and a pic taken on her grad night as part of a thank you because she had received my card. My friend told me later they had ordered the minimum number of announcements in order to have one as keepsake and had only sent out two, mine and one to her aunt. Professional grad photos for college are not really done here either.

I find it annoying that I manage to get HS grad announcements, wedding/shower invitations and baby announcements from distant relatives, even those who live hundreds of miles away, yet they never manage to send a single Christmas card.

 

[LBIJim]

I'd consider a college graduation announcement as just that, not a gift grab. I've received a few about cousins and their kids graduating college, and thought, "that's nice." I probably sent a card congratulating them, but not a gift. I've only been invited to two college graduation parties: my brother's wife had a BBQ for him when he got his Masters, and a cousin had one for her B.S. No gift for brother (invitation specifically requested no gifts). I suppose I gave a gift card to my cousin.

 

[Christine]

I love announcements. Whether I give $$$ or not. I think they are nice.

 

[verleniahall]

I love getting the announcements - i get them for kids from church or that i knew from babysitting - i don't see it as wanting gifts - just a person who was in their life and you want them to know the accomplishments that have been made. don't let it worry you - send them out and show that pride!

 

[shoney]

I've never received a graduation announcement.

The way I see it, if we are close enough, then I would know or tell the person our news.

If we aren't close enough, then I don't really need to know your news (and don't necessarily want to) or I wouldn't tell you mine.


I should add:
I'd rather recieve a graduation invite for a party. I'll show up with a card ($$) and brag all night long. We'll all have a good time Congrats!!!!

 

[Mizzoufan]

Congrats to her!

 

[scrapquitler]

I wouldn't send them (and didn't when my daughter graduated from high school last year). I figure that the people close enough to her to care that she was graduating would already know that she was graduating. Anything else seems gift grabby to me.

 

[Pre]

No advice just my experiance. I sent college announcements and had a party. when I graduated law school I did not send out announcements. For several years later I had to consistently tell people that yes I did graduate law school. Many said "oh we didn't get an announcement" so in hindsight I would have rather sent out announcements rather than repeating myself 100's of times. Even really close family members who I see almost every week hadn't known I graduated.

 

[bcwife76]

I've never heard of this. I don't think it's 'done' here.

 

[leebee]

I am encouraged by the responses here. I remember when I received announcements from 2 nephews, it made me smile, remembering them as they grew up, and I still have the announcements and photos.

We won't be having a party for DD's graduation. We only have 5 graduation tickets, and both my sister and brother have asked about attending. They are the only relatives within driving distance, so they'll drive up for the weekend. We have a ticket for each of them, DH, DD's boyfriend, and myself. My sister will bring her 2 daughters (14 and 17) with her for the weekend, but unless we can score a few more tickets, they won't attend the ceremony. We'll probably have a celebratory lunch/dinner here at home, as we live in a small area and there are several graduations that weekend (as well as being Mother's Day weekend); I know all the restaurants will be PACKED!

DD didn't have formal graduation photos done, although they were available. The photo I will include is her head shot from this year's sorority composite. They have them taken every year but I never order. However, this year's pictures were beautiful, and I couldn't help myself! They are the only pictures she's had taken since senior year of high school, and I can see a change in her face over those 4 years.

Facebook isn't an answer, as none of the grandparents and most of the aunts/uncles don't use social media. While I am sure that Grandma knows about graduation, she has 22 grandchildren, so it's understandable when aunts and uncles lose track of where in the "growing up process" any one grandkid might be, especially when we only see them once a year. However, just because we are separated by distance doesn't mean we are separated in our hearts! I will send announcements to Grandma, the 2 grandfathers, and the aunts/uncles. I know I am happy to have my nephews' announcements and will assume they'll be glad to have DD's! Thanks for your opinions!