At a basketball tournament last week one of the other moms calmly said, I need to start planning my daughters graduation party. Another friend casually said that now that prom is over she can make plans for her daughters graduation. Yet another friend has planned an anniversary and a wedding just weeks apart and days after returning from the eighth-grade Washington D.C. trip. I feel like I am standing in the presence of greatness when I encounter women like this who seamlessly throw huge events for 250 or more people without breaking a sweat. Im not worthy! So I take good notes from gracious women who throw great parties.
If you feel the pit in your stomach at the thought of renting tents and coffeemakers, stay tuned for some tips from real people who plan events like professionals.
Get a notebook. From what my friends tell me, for any great event you want to start with a notebook even before you have a date and a budget set for the event. Start planning the party by envisioning the results and jotting them down. How do you want the graduate, newly married couple, or whoever the guest of honor to feel as a result of this event? Of course, you want them to feel loved and celebrated, so focus on these goals with the rest of your plans. When you focus on what you want to create for all of your guests, it has a way of simplifying everything. Dont forget to envision how you want you and your family to feel that day, so you can plan to achieve that as well. No longer are you worrying about impressing anyone, so you wont need to go to extremes. Next, when you brainstorm your wish list for the party, it will be a lot more reasonable.
List all the cleaning/repairs that need done for the party if you are hosting it in your home. Keep a separate section for guests as they come to mind, recipes, shopping lists, decorations. Keep a separate page for each vendor with their contact information: party store, grocery store, online invitations, rental company, etc. Start a to-do list for the day of the party. Dont forget a personal preparation page for errands on the week prior to the event like shopping for a new dress and getting your own hair done for the day. Keep your notebook handy, so you can add to and refer to it often.
Direct traffic. Include directions in the invitation. Make directional signage for your street, yard, even for the guest book, gift table, and your restrooms once guests arrive in your home. Position the guest of honor for maximum accessibility to the other guests, so there are not any log jams. Perhaps have the graduate come around to the guests instead of the other way around.
Get help. Do not attempt to throw a party alone. It just wont be any fun for you. And when Mama aint happy, you know the rest. Give everyone in your family a job to do on the big day, so you can check it off your list. Fully instruct younger children, and have them practice, so that you are confident they can handle it. Swap help with friends who have children graduating. Do as much food preparation ahead as possible or let those helpful friends and family who offer to bring something go ahead and bring cookies and have a cookie buffet or whatever you choose. Just dont be afraid to let people help you, so you can enjoy your great party, too.
