Every spring, we start hearing the Graduation March play in our heads, and our inboxes fill up with grad announcements and grad party invites. This year is proving to be no different, in fact graduates this year are even MORE excited to celebrate their accomplishments, considering the challenging past few years they’ve been through. Graduation parties can be a little tricky to throw, because there usually isn’t an obvious theme. And if this is your first time hosting a grad party, good luck! I mean, what type of food do you serve? What time of day should the party be held? So. Many. Questions. Fortunately for you, we’re grad party experts! We’ll walk you through everything you need to throw an amazing graduation party to celebrate your grad. I hope you’re ready to take notes, let’s get right to it! Graduation Accessories & Gifts Hmmmm… what do you give a 2022 graduate? This question always seems to be one of the most-searched terms annually between May and June. Well, we checked with some 2022 graduates to find out exactly what they want! Hello Fresh Meal Box Subscription Get your grad started with healthy eating with Hello Fresh, the #1 mealbox kit in the world. They offer 15-20 meal options per week, and all of their fresh ingredients arrive to your door within 7 days of harvesting them! Plus, your grad will learn so many cooking techniques from this box, it’s a gift that will pay for itself! Homesick Candle Is your grad moving far away for school next year? Send them off with a little piece of home with one of the Homesick Candles. This super-popular range of soy-based candles has a scent for every single state, several major cities, and other scent memories your grad will love experiencing. Plus, they’re super affordable– grab one for yourself while you’re at it! OurPlace Always Pan If your grad will be moving to their first home (or a new place) after graduating, save them the hassle of buying a full set of new pans with the Always Pan. It replaces 8 cookware pieces, is made of nontoxic materials, and has a super nonstick formula. They’ll thank you forever! And as for graduation accessories, celebrate your grad the right way with some fun graduation accessories! Festivegal’s line of 2022 graduation party crowns are comfortable, easy to wear, and go with just about anything! Grab a bunch for everyone to get in on the fun at the graduation party! Want something one-of-a-kind? We’ll work with you to create a fully custom party crown just for you! Graduation Decoration Ideas Skip the boring graduation banner, it’s time to get creative with the decoration ideas this year! Everyone wants photo-worthy decor, so start slaying it with a gold “2022” 40-in. balloon set! It’s perfect for above the buffet table, near the entrance, or even for the photo booth! One nice thing about graduation party decorations is that you can make a lot of them yourself! We love creating custom pennant flag-straws, graduation cap cookies, and even graduation centerpieces filled with old (and current) photos of the graduate! Since there isn’t really a specific theme here, our best advice is to pick a color scheme and stick to it! Some grads like their colors to be their alma mater, the future school, or simply something classic like black and gold. Regardless, stick to these colors to keep things from looking too mismatched! Graduation Party Food & Drink Ideas Deciding what to serve at the graduation party really depends on a few things. How many people are invited? When will the party occur? Where will the party occur? Generally, most graduation parties are around that Happy Hour time of 4-6, so it’s a good idea to serve appetizers, light bites, and refreshments. Of course, serving a cute dessert, like themed cupcakes or a cake, is a must during a graduation party, so leave room for that! We’ve also seen grads celebrate with a graduation brunch or a graduation garden tea (best suited for smaller groups). Graduation Party Activities While graduation parties are usually an open-house style, it’s always good to have a few activities just in case things seem to slow down. We love anything that nods to the graduate’s past, so if they participated in sports in school, you could include a soccer ball, or some tennis rackets, for guests to enjoy outside. Also, a yearbook-style guest book with photos and mementos of the grad through the years is a great way to have guests give their well-wishes. For the most part, graduation parties will usually center around food, and speaking with the graduates themselves. Plus, a lot of folks will probably be hopping from one grad party to another (we’ve been there), so don’t worry if the party is kept to a 2-3 hour timeframe. Most guests will probably prefer it that way! We hope that you’re ready to go plan an amazing party for your grad, with tons of new ideas and inspiration from us! We can’t wait to see how you celebrate this grad season. Click here for more party advice, tips, and inspiration! Follow us on Instagram to keep up-to-date with our new product launches! Congratulations, Class of 2022! Xoxo, Festivegal