Event Tips – How to Have an Unforgettable Graduation Party!

Graduates…congratulations on one of life’s greatest moments!!! No doubt you are looking to celebrate the occasion. Weather it is high school or college grads proud parents scramble to throw a memorial party. Do not allow that celebration to suddenly become overwhelming. A solution, keep it simple with foods that can be prepped in advance, no fancy desserts, and tricks to cut down on the amount of cleanup left at the end of the night.

Should I Hire a Food and a Drink Caterer?

Parties are supposed to be fun. When you’re doing all of the planning, the cooking, the hosting, the serving and the cleanup, they’re not so fun. Reliable help can put the enjoyment back into throwing a party. Having your party catered will save you days of planning, shopping and cooking, but it comes at a higher cost. If you decide to do some or all of the cooking yourself, consider hiring a few college students to help. These college students could also do some of the cupcake baking. This will make the party a little more affordable.

Raising the Bar

Set up a drink station by filling glass dispensers with a few different options. If you’re serving alcoholic beverages, mix up a big batch crowd pleaser so you do not end up playing bartender all day or night. If you want a great non-alcoholic selection try an espresso and smoothie bar. Espresso and smoothie bars are a bold and sophisticated addition to any event. Little things make an event memorable. Drink names can be customized to coordinate with your theme. Fill an ice bucket with store-bought bagged ice and let guests help themselves.

Build a Better Buffet

For a casual grad party, whether outdoors or in, buffet-style dining is the way to go. The key to the buffet table is helping guests move quickly through the line. Place the table so that lines can form on both sides, allowing guests to get their food twice as fast. Label each dish clearly on both sides of the table. If you know you have guest with dietary restrictions you may also want to label “Vegetarian” or “Gluten free.”

No Fancy Desserts

Fortune Cookies are the perfect treat for recent grads who are still unsure what the future holds. Place unwrapped cookies in a basket and let each graduate break open a cookie to reveal their fate.

Candy Bar if you’re planning to host children and teens, consider a candy bar. Fill glass containers with colorful candies and set out cellophane bags and 1/4 c. measuring cups to serve as scoopers.

Cupcakes are so much easier to serve than a sheet cake. So many cute ideas today and your college student helpers could help with cupcake baking and decorating.

Picture Perfect

A fun photo prop kit will help make this event a time to remember. Graduation photo props encourage everyone to take shareable photos and these pictures are sure to be looked back at fondly for years to come. Choose from classic photo props or funny mug shot signs – whichever one suits your party style. Paint a large board with chalkboard paint to create a backdrop for the photos. Leave a box of chalk and a disposable camera beside the board so that guests can write a personal message to the graduate and then take a photo next to it.

Keep it Clean

Label some garbage cans “RECYCLING” so your guests know where to toss recycled items. Use disposable dishware and utensils this saves hours of cleanup. If you’re having a backyard bash, use large serving trays to carry dirty dishware back to the kitchen. If you are transporting things form home to a venue use large plastic tubs for transporting.

Please keep Valet Coffee in mind when you are planning your next party or event! 

Contact us (859-409-1628) for a free consultation!


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Valet Coffee is a full service, mobile espresso and smoothie bar. It’s a unique way to impress customers, appreciate employees and kick up any special event to the next level. Our professional baristas will bring the taste and feel of an authentic European coffee house. We do all the work, all you have to do is entertain. Valet Coffee’s mobile espresso and smoothie bars are one of Greater Cincinnati’s best marketing tools.
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