In BC, grad season runs into June, and so does the rain. These grad party ideas work at home for a high school or university graduate, with a rain plan for the outdoor ones. If the graduate's school runs a dry grad, this is the after-party the family hosts.
Twenty ideas
- Taco bar. Set out toppings and let guests build their own. It feeds a crowd for little money.
- Photo wall. A sheet, string lights and a phone on a tripod. Print a few shots for the graduate.
- Slideshow. Run baby photos through to grad day on a TV or projector.
- Advice jar. Put out cards and a jar. Guests write advice, and the graduate reads them later.
- Backyard movie. A projector and a white sheet. Pick the graduate's favourite film.
- Dessert table. Cupcakes in school colours, plus a few store-bought extras.
- Lawn games. Cornhole, giant Jenga and ladder toss keep mixed ages busy.
- Fire pit and s'mores. Where it's allowed. Check your municipality's fire bylaws first.
- DIY pizza night. Pre-made dough, toppings in bowls, and an oven that runs all evening.
- Ice cream bar. Scoops, sauces and toppings. Easy for a hot June afternoon.
- Karaoke. A speaker and a mic. Let the graduate pick the first song.
- Photo scavenger hunt. Teams get a list of pictures to take around the neighbourhood and a time limit.
- Golf simulator in the backyard. We bring a portable golf simulator to your backyard, garage or living room, set it up in 30 to 45 minutes, and an attendant runs it. Teens and grandparents can both play, and it works indoors, so a wet June day doesn't cancel it. It needs about 10 ft by 15 ft of clear space. See the party golf simulator page, or the details for Langley and Maple Ridge. A half day is $499.
- Potluck. Ask each family to bring one dish. It cuts the cost and fills the table.
- Memory box. Guests add a small item or a note. Seal it for the graduate to open in ten years.
- Tournament night. Cards, board games or a video game bracket with a small trophy.
- Tent and string lights. Rent a tent for rain cover and hang lights inside for the evening.
- Family-recipe dinner. Cook the graduate's favourite family recipe and tell its story.
- Guest quote board. A whiteboard where guests write a favourite memory of the graduate.
- Campfire-style singalong. A guitar, a playlist and lyrics on a screen. Works indoors too.
Plan around the June weather
June in BC can be sunny and wet in the same afternoon. If you're hosting outdoors, rent a tent or put up a canopy with sides, and clear space indoors as a fallback. Hang the string lights under the cover, not in the open. Tell guests what the backup is when you send the invitation, and put the date of a rain fallback on it if you have one.
Feeding a crowd
Grad parties mix teenagers, grandparents and neighbours, so the food needs to work for all of them. Build-your-own stations like tacos, pizza and ice cream let people pick what they want and keep the line moving. Ask about allergies when you send invitations, and label dishes at a potluck. Plan for about two hours of eating and then let the activity take over.
Keeping teenagers and relatives happy
Give the graduate's friends something to do that isn't standing in a corner with their phones: lawn games, a bracket, karaoke or the simulator. Give older relatives somewhere to sit with a drink and a view of the action. A photo wall works for both groups, since everyone wants a picture with the graduate.
Budget
Most of the cost is food and rentals. Set the total, ask friends and family to bring a dish, and pick one paid extra rather than six small ones. If you want a golf simulator, a half day is $499 and a full day is $799, with delivery, setup and takedown included. Travel is only added for events a long way from Surrey.
Day-of checklist
- Tent and tables up the day before, if the weather is iffy.
- Parking and signs. Tell neighbours and mark where guests should park.
- Garbage and recycling bins in two or three spots.
- Cake, candles and a knife ready before guests arrive.
Say thank you
Keep a list of who came and what they brought. Have the graduate write short thank-you notes within two weeks. It takes an evening, and the people who showed up will remember it.
Photos
Ask one friend to be the photographer and share an album afterwards. Guests will remember to send pictures if you ask them in the thank-you note.
Or hire a golf simulator for the grad party
A half day is $499 and a full day is $799, with delivery, setup and takedown included. See pricing or tell us your date. Planning a formal or after-party? See our university formal golf simulator page.