It’s time to celebrate the graduating seniors! The class of 2025 is ready to take their first steps into the big, wide world. We sat down with Seri Kertzner, chief party officer and founder of The Social Society (your home for all of those graduation party needs), to make sure you’ve got every tool in your arsenal to make your grad’s party truly unforgettable. Because every grad deserves a celebration as big as their dreams!
Tip 1: Go all-out with balloons
Who wouldn’t love an eye-catching balloon garland in their new school’s colors? Or letter balloons spelling out their school’s acronym, like “UNF” or “FSU.” Don’t be afraid to go a little balloon-crazy and fill the space with all sorts of “congratulations” mylar balloons or giant number balloons bringing their graduation year to life. At The Social Society, you can even order custom balloon bouquets with your grad’s name, school and a fun phrase like “Here I come, UF!" or "College Bound!” Maybe you want to let them know that “the world is your oyster” with jumbo gold circle balloons and vinyl letter stickers spelling out the inspirational phrase.
Tip 2: Create a photo-worthy backdrop
A photo-worthy backdrop is a must-have for any grad party and The Social Society makes it easy to create one that shines. Drape a shimmering fringe curtain behind a bold “Reach for the Stars” banner, or take it a step further with life-size cutouts of your grad’s school logo. Or, surprise your grad with a bed party! Decorate their space with school colors, mascot-themed decor and balloon letters on the wall or bedroom window. Let them celebrate their achievement in style with a picture-perfect setup they’ll want to share.
Tip 3: Theme the snack bar
No party is complete without finger foods and tasty drinks served in the most charming Gold Fringe Party Cups. When you stop by The Social Society, you can pick from a selection of school-inspired paper plates (like the Grad Shaped Paper Plate) and paper napkins (like the Grad Letter Paper Cocktail Napkins), perfect for transforming plain cutlery into something spectacular. And don’t think we forgot about decorating the table, too! There’s always room for a Congrats Paper Table Runner or a stylish Back to School Table Runner. The Social Society also partnered with Amy of the Gifted Boutique for college-themed snacks, swag, hats and more.
Tip 4: Set up a memory and advice station
As your grads set out down that untraveled road, they’ll need a little advice and encouragement to get them started. Set up a station with The Social Society’s Illustrated Florida Map Notebook and colorful pens and ask your guests to write down their best piece of advice on everything from making friends in a new city to creating the perfect class schedule. You can turn the station into a photo booth with the help of a Polaroid camera, a scrapbook photo album, and some graduation-themed stickers, like the red and silver heart stickers. It’ll make for an extra special keepsake.
Tip 5: Don’t show up empty-handed
Even if you’re not hosting, bringing a thoughtful gift is a great way to celebrate the grad’s big moment. Start with a thoughtful graduation card (of which The Social Society has plenty) and consider a special way to let the grad know you’re thinking of them. Maybe you’ll pick up a Homesick candle in the “New Grad” scent or maybe you’re leaning more towards a Brass Monkey Hidden Agenda Undated Mini Planner, to help them keep track of sports meets and classes now that they’ll be doing it on their own. Maybe you’re the kind of guest who wants to get the party started with Multicolour Star Confetti Small Crackers or 12-inch Deluxe Sparklers. Throwing a great grad party doesn’t have to be complicated — and your grad will remember the effort for years to come!
