How Much Did You Spend on Graduation Party?

[aimeeinohio]

We are taking our Disney trip in August for the girl's graduation gift, so we will be doing just a small get together graduation weekend.

The one thing i will do is rent a tent- we have no shade in the back yard. My girl friends are making food- one is making the dessert she's lknown for, the other is making her potato salad, the third is making a taco dip that we all love.

We will grill burgers and dogs and that's it!!

 

[DawnM]

Sorry. That stinks.

My BFF and I went to an expensive restaurant with our families as our graduation party. It was awesome.

Dawn

My mom told me when I graduated (15 years ago now- eek) that I was not getting a party or announcements. I was not done with school and she would not signal to the world that I was. Reading about these parties makes me envious!!

 

[Priorityonecb]

When our first dd graduated, she wanted a party in our backyard. We have a huge open space, bordere on all sides by forest. We rented tables and chairs. we already have basketball, volleyball, trampoline. This was a theater/choir crowd so we set up the karoke machine for entertainment. We ordered pizza and I had several veggie and fruit platters, chips and dip, cupcakes etc. Dh built a huge bonfire in the middle of the yard and that was the highlight of the night. We had so much fun sitting around making smores listening to those great kids share all thier high school memories. I'd say it was $500 all together.

Our youngest dd is not a party fan, it will be interesting to see how she would like to celebrate!

 

[elgerber]

I have been to a number of grad parties that have done taco bars. It was a hit. If you think about it a taco on needs a small amt of meat with is the biggest cost at most parties.

Instead of pop do lemonade, sun tea, water and such.

We did a taco bar at my sons, it was a huge hit! And I didn't think it was horribly expensive. I do not recall, however, what the grand total was.

 

[SC Minnie]

When I graduated high school no one had parties. Most people left the night of graduation to head to Myrtle Beach for a week.

For DD's graduation party last year it was a smaller thing with a cookout in the back yard which is what DD wanted. We had about 30 people total- some stayed the whole time others didn't. We probably spent ~$500 all together. Instead of cake I got cupcakes from the local cupcakery that was a winner on Cupcake Wars a year or so ago.

 

[sayheyrenee]

We live in Philly. My son is graduating with his BSN college and we are having his party on the 2nd floor of the bar. It holds 75 people and is $15.00/person for 7 hots, sides, soda, coffee/tea, beer and wine. We have to bring the cake and decorations. There is a juke box and an ipod doc for music.

I like that we show up, party and leave. No work involved. We asked him if he wanted a vacation or a party. He said party, then he can pay for his vacation with the gifts. Smart kid

 

[anelson81993]

My graduation party cost ~$250, maybe $300. It was an open house held in my parent's house/garage, so no venue fee. My dad decided that we should do a desserts-only party, which ended up working out really well for us since most of my friends ended up having parties at the same date/time I did, only they had "real" food--so our guests had lunch/dinner at my friends' parties and dessert at mine. We did an ice cream sundae bar with hard ice cream (Edy's) and toppings. My mom and grandma also made a variety of brownies, cookies, and cupcakes. We used card tables and chairs that my parents and grandparents owned. We also rented a couple bigger tables and a tent; however, we rented these from the grocery store my parents and I worked at, so we got them at a lower rate. We bought party decorations at Party City, and made our own memory board with pictures as well as stickers from the craft store. At the grocery store my parents and I work for, they give graduating high school student employees a free sheet cake from the bakery, so no cost for that. Overall, we didn't spend too much money, and everyone had a great time.
My little sister graduates high school in a couple years, however, and my dad has already decided he doesn't want another graduation party. He's already offered her $500 to skip the party. We're waiting to see what happens with that one.

 

[pjlla]

Just wanted to comment here....

DD graduates this year and we have been talking about/planning for her party since last fall. The BIGGEST cost for us will probably getting the house prepared! I'm not investing in new furniture or anything like that, but there are so many LITTLE things that need to be fixed up and/or touched up! Plus LOTS of man hours getting the yard looking extra nice!

That being said, I plan to do a home party, do most of the food and decorations myself. I haven't really budgeted any particular amount yet. It will, of course, depend on what we decide on for a final guest list and for a final menu. We plan to have the party in the backyard (mostly on the deck with overflow into the yard), but if the weather turns it will be a house party with overflow into the garage and playroom.

I'm not doing anything extreme like a candy bar (seems like fun but a waste of valuable $$ for something basically unhealthy and unncessary). No DJ, but I do plan on doing a video/slide show set to music (which will run continuously in the living room) and a "mix tape" type music playing in the background (will let DD help me with that ). We do have a nice pool with attached deck that the kids are free to use. Hot tub will be off limits.

Not doing standard New England backyard cookout fare (hamburgers and hot dogs.... just not a fan), but still considering all of the options. We tend to eat pretty healthy at my house and I didn't want to serve something that I wouldn't eat myself. Plus DS has food allergies as do a few other family members, so we need to take that into consideration (plus I want to offer lower carb and vegetarian options). And I need foods that can sit out either in crockpots, steam trays, or coolers/cooler bowls for a few hours. I'm thinking cut-up rotisserie chickens, a pasta dish, LOTS of green salad, a big crockpot of pulled pork or chili, and perhaps baked potatoes with lots of toppings (cheese sauce, broccoli, bacon bits, salsa). May even stick with just a baked potato bar and big salads!

No booze will be offered for a few reasons. First of all is the cost. Second of all.... we live out in the boondocks and I don't relish the idea of people drinking and then trying to drive home on our windy back roads! Third.... there will probably be plenty of teens there and I don't want any temptation.

I will be offering lots of nice fresh cold ice water, lemonade, homemade unsweetened iced tea, and maybe a fruity drink or iced coffee. I bought four big spouted drink dispensers (hold about 3-4 gallons each) on clearance at Kohl's last fall for about $5 each! SCORE! I will be sure to fill each one with drink/ice/fruit to make them look all pretty!

Dessert.... not sure yet if DD will want some sort of dessert buffet or a cake. Will defer to her choice on that. Cake will probably come from Costco.

I bought paper graduation-themed napkins on clearance last summer for something ridiculous like $.25/package. They are basic blue (school colors are red and blue) with a black mortarboard on them. I figure I can add white Chinet plates and maybe red dessert plates and be all set. I've been lucky enough to come across a few really GREAT deals on plastic utensils recently (nice sturdy clear ones) and stocked up. I despise using plastic (makes me cringe to think of how much goes to the landfill) but can't really think of any other way to do it.

FWIW, I would consider offering just a dessert party or something like that, but ALL of our family is coming from at least 2 hours away and it wouldn't be right not to feed them. I AM considering having a "family" time earlier in the day with "real" food and then opening it up to local friends later in the day and just making it "nibbles and dessert."

I'm anxious to hear everyone else's ideas!..............P

 

[heartsy77]

When my son graduated hs i was graduating nursing school so we had a joint grad party. It was about 1500$ for everything ( catering) with 50-60 people.

My DD graduates next year and we are going to WDW instead and taking her boyfriend, and bestie and the whole family for week. We are DVC owners so it won't be as much as if we had to pay for rooms.
It beats planning a party any day!