There are two typical choices:  a graduation party or a graduation open house.

A graduation party is usually held at a hall, school auditorium, restaurant, pool, or park.  The idea of a party is to have all your guests come at a specific time and stay until the party is over.  Most often these events are catered.  The advantage to having a graduation party is that it is less work for you.  You don't have to worry about getting your house ready, parking, seating, preparing the food, gathering all the serving equipment, or cleaning up after the event.  The disadvantages of having a graduation party are that it is less personal for your child, it is more expensive, and some people will not be able to come because they are unavailable during the time of the party.

Most people prefer to host a graduation open house for their child because they feel it is the best way to celebrate their child.  It is more personal because the event is in the child's own home.  During this once-in-a-lifetime event, the graduate may be more at ease because the party is in the place they are the most comfortable.  An open house also allows you to use various areas in your home to showcase your child's life.

Graduation open houses are similar to real estate open houses.  Guess are free to come and go any time during the hours of the open house.  This works well for busy families and friends and for guests who are invited to several graduation open houses on the same day.

An open house is less formal than a graduation party, the food is less expensive because the family usually prepares it, there is no facility rental fee, and clean-up does not have to be completely finished on the same day as the preparation and the party.

The disadvantage to having a graduation open house is that it is more work for you.  You may decide to renovate, remodel, paint, landscape, garden, and/or clean like never before, to make sure all areas of your home are ready for your event.  Since people may be using your bathrooms, you may feel you need to thoroughly clean every drawer and cupboard in your house.  Unlike a wedding, which should be even more work, the open house is in your home, so as you prepare, you have to keep cleaning up and putting away and you may feel that everything has to be perfect.

Once you have determined whether you will have a graduation party or a graduation open house, you are making progress.

Laurie Phelps