
Extravagant Graduation Parties on a Budget
Bouncy houses. Trained llamas. Glitter guns. Graduation parties are the new hot occasion to flex your creative muscle and show off your family’s accomplishments.
People are getting more and more creative with how they celebrate their graduate, and none more so than celebrities. Nowadays, a graduation party replete with food and entertainment is somewhat expected from the graduate’s parents, leaving moms and dads wondering how to make the graduation experience the best it can be on a budget.
For the parents whose kids want the Kardashian experience on an Uncle Kracker budget, we have adapted a few extravagant graduation celebrations into realistic DIY ideas that don’t break the bank.
Treat Your Graduate like a Kardashian
Kylie Jenner and the rest of the family are notorious for being a little extra with everything from the perfect selfie to wedding proposals. It was no exception when Kylie graduated high school and had one of the most over the top surprise parties in recent history. Her bash was complete with giant “happy birthday” balloons, diamond jewelry, synchronized swimmers, a photo booth and more.
Although you might not be able to match the star-studded guest list including rapper Tyga and sisters as infamous as Khloe and Kim, you can ensure that your grad party offers just as much fun without the immense out-of-pocket cost. Give your grad a perfect pic for the instagram with a DIY photo booth. It’s as easy as setting up a solid color as a backdrop and crafting a graduation themed cut-out to start snapping away and saving memories.
Book Music like a Desperate Housewife
When Eva Longoria Bastón graduated with a Master’s Degree in Chicano Studies from California State University, she hired El Tigre, a popular mariachi band. The music is upbeat, great for dancing, and avoids the issue of finding a DJ with an acceptable playlist.
El Tigre is a high-profile Mariachi, but there are actually hundreds of bands and artists throughout the US that provide affordable day-long prices. Find out if there are any bands that match your style in your area through Gigmasters. If you aren’t feeling the Mariachi vibe but still want something unique, let Songfinch craft a completely personalized song that will immortalize your grad and the experiences you have shared together.
Be Like Busta: Make Sure the Party is Lit
When Busta Rhymes’ eldest son finished college, he flashed more cash than his “Gimme Some More” music video to make the party pop. Swizz Beats DJ’d the event with additional performances by Fetty Wap and Jadakiss, and the Hennessey was liberally flowing.
If your grad is of legal age and looking for the party of a lifetime, there are still some tricks you can use to kick the hype level up a notch. Celebrity rappers may be out of the picture, but you can still make sure you get a really good DJ. It seems simple, but there are a few things to consider before making the investment. Here are 22 tips to consider before making a final decision on which DJ is best for you from the folks at the Knot. While this post is geared towards weddings, the advice is still super valuable.
Also consider DIY party snacks or special refreshments for the attendants. For example, making your own vodka gummy bears/worms will go over great while satiating both hunger and thirst without getting too lit.
Just like Justin: Filming your Graduation
How could we exclude the notorious JB? In 2012 when Justin Beiber graduated high school, Ellen Degeneres threw him a graduation commencement ceremony on-air. Since he was traveling so much while on tour, this was a substitute for missing his own commencement.
Spice up your graduation party with an opportunity for your guests to leave a memorable impression. You can set up a stationary video camera on a bipod and encourage people to leave a message for your grad as either a thank you or wishing them well for the future. Everyone can watch it together at the end of the night or give it as a gift to your new grad to cherish forever. You can also make a time-capsule for your grad as a group. You will be surprised to see how deep friends and family will get, especially if they’ve been popping those vodka gummy bears.
Whether you’re looking for an idea that goes above and beyond or you simply want to make sure that your graduation event is fun, we hope these celebrity examples will encourage you to be thoughtful and original when planning this year’s graduation party.
