OT: I need wording help..

[ThreeMusketeers]

Hi there, I am having a graduation party for my hubby following his ceramony. We are obviously on a limited income, as he just graduated and we are moving soon. But he has worked so hard, dd and i want to do SOMETHING.
His graduation isn't until 5pm on a Saturday. We have about 6 people coming in from out of town. But they can easily drive into town and go back same day (only 3 hours) My thoughts were to just have a cake and Champagne after the graduation. But I don't want to be rude to anyone, and I don't know how to word it in the invitations. We were going to do a dinner, but the graduation will not be overwith until around 8pm (or later) and not having a big dinner saves us money (when i was telling dh my plans, he seemed more concerned with saving the money, since we are moving right after he graduates)

here's what i have so far..(dd and i are making the invitations ourselves, this graduation has been a JOURNEY for our whole family, so keep that in mind when reading.


Front of Invite:

Each of Us has differnt Talents
Different Dreams
And Different Destinations
Yet, we all have the power to make a New Tommarrow

(inside)

Please join us in celebration of all Jack's hard work, late nights, and endless ambition to make our New Tommarrow a reality!

Jane and Jill invite you to ................................This is where I lose it. Not sure how to word the rest. I NEED HELP!

Please help me! Remember its just going to be cake and CHampagne following the graduation.

Instead, should we do something BEFORE the graduation b/c it will be so late? Then we will have to do a dinner though.
Any thoughts any ideas at all on wording or how to go about this would be WONDERFUL!

 

[darlak]

I would keep it simple, but be direct enough so that it’s clearly understood what will be served. Something along the line of…

“Jane and Jill invite you to join us following the graduation ceremony as we have cake and champagne to celebrate Jack's accomplishment.”

By the way, I’m sure it’s probably a typo, but you’ve misspelled tomorrow in 2 different places.

 

[jenrein]

A Champagne reception following the ceremony....then have cake and maybe some little eclairs/pastries

 

[MrsBanks]

My DS's birthday is in December and with the possibility of bad weather we always invite guests to "join us for cake and coffee to celebrate DS's birthday" - there is no doubt in anyone's mind there will be NO FOOD

BTW congrats to your DH

 

[mickeywho?]

How long will it take your guests to drive in for the ceremony? 3 hours?

 

[my2boyzrock]

Maybe something like:
"Jane and Jill invite you to join us immediately following the ceremony at _____ where we will celebrate Jack's accomplishment with cake and champagne!"

 

[lesliewitt]

What a sweet invitation and a nice acknowledgement of the sacrifices your husband has made to make a difference in your lives. I like the wording of any of the PP. As an aside, I would not feel bad about not having a dinner. People understand how difficult it is for new graduates and the expense of moving.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

At the risk of sounding rude, if people are driving 3 hours each way you should really serve them something other than cake and champagne. Your choice entirely but 3 hours is a long way.
I would keep it simple like
Jane and Jill invite you to toast the graduate with champagne and cake!
Good luck and congrats!

 

[GoinToDisney]

If it were me, I would eat dinner at 4ish before a 5 pm ceremony, so cake and champagne would be fine, even if I had to drive 3 hours. I would not expect anything more than that from a grad who is moving soon. Another idea, if the no dinner isn't sitting right with you, is to have a potluck type of thing before the ceremony. You could say something like instead of gifts, please bring a dish to share. Really, I think you have the right idea of just having something simple, especially since you are making it clear that this is not a meal.

 

[mickeywho?]

Have to agree with PP. I think I would be a bit upset if I drove 3 hours to attend - given a glass and a slice of cake and then goodbye! - back in the car for another 3 hours. I really like the idea of a potluck after the ceremony - at least I could look forward to something in the tummy before heading back on the road.
We were invited to a "coffee w/friends" get-together before Christmas and had to decline because it was a 2.5 hour drive - it was only a 1 hour invite - and then 2.5 hours to get back home again! They were insulted that we didn't go - until we invited them to one of our boys birthdays - come by for cake! - didn't go over very well. Needless to say - they did not come. But were actually upset that we didn't change our invite to include dinner to make it worth while to them. Ugh!

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

Have to agree with PP. I think I would be a bit upset if I drove 3 hours to attend - given a glass and a slice of cake and then goodbye! - back in the car for another 3 hours. I really like the idea of a potluck after the ceremony - at least I could look forward to something in the tummy before heading back on the road.
We were invited to a "coffee w/friends" get-together before Christmas and had to decline because it was a 2.5 hour drive - it was only a 1 hour invite - and then 2.5 hours to get back home again! They were insulted that we didn't go - until we invited them to one of our boys birthdays - come by for cake! - didn't go over very well. Needless to say - they did not come. But were actually upset that we didn't change our invite to include dinner to make it worth while to them. Ugh!

Except for these aren't friends that we are inviting, these are our parents. And one grandma. I think they would understand.

Thanks for all the great advice guys.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Except for these aren't friends that we are inviting, these are our parents. And one grandma. I think they would understand.

Thanks for all the great advice guys.

Even more reason why I would serve food. Even if you just got a hero and some salads.

 

[ThreeMusketeers]

Even more reason why I would serve food. Even if you just got a hero and some salads.