7 Ideas for Hosting a Memorable Backyard Graduation Party

Whether you decide to throw an intimate family graduation party or make it a big celebration with extended family and friends, we’ve got seven tips to make your backyard graduation party a smashing success.

Choose a theme.

You’ve got quite a few options here. From taco-themed, to tropical, and school spirit — the creative possibilities are endless. 

At Picnic People, we’ve got many props and games to help your party come to life:

• Wild West – split rail fences, lasso roping, bouncy bulls and of course, hats and bandanas
•  Tiki Island – wooden tiki idols, sea shells, leis, thatched beverage stands and Hawaiian shirts
• Fiesta – piñatas, sombreros, cacti and decorative linens
• Carnival – carnival booths, midway-style games and carnival cutouts

Decide what kind of food you’d like and consider ordering BBQ catering. 

The second most important thing (if not the first, really) is taking care of the food. If you’re having a backyard graduation party, then why not order BBQ? Ordering BBQ from a caterer will let you spend more time enjoying the party and less time worrying about the details.

Order from Picnic People and you’ll get a catering experience like no other. Our BBQ catering menu includes dishes such as chopped brisket sandwich, veggie burgers, tomato basil penne pasta salad and fudge brownies. Our BBQ options include pulled pork, pork ribs, tri tip, burgers and more. 

View the BBQ Catering menu.

Decorate the front walkway.

Decorate the front yard with a simple sign pointing guests to the right house. Simple or fancy — it’s up to you. Be sure to use theme colors when creating your signs.

Create a display with photos of your graduate.

Whether your graduate has just finished middle school, high school or college, they’ve worked hard for many years and should take a moment to look back on how they’ve grown and changed. Set up a table to display photos from previous years to celebrate the accomplishments of your graduate.

Set up a gift table.

Decorate a gift table with balloons and include a guest book to let your grad know who attended the party and who to send thank you cards to. 

Create a DIY photo booth.

The photo booth is where your theme really gets to shine. Set up a backdrop and find props that guests can use to create truly memorable photos. Encourage guests to dress according to theme and they’ll be talking about the party for years to come.

Ask party guests to write notes and best wishes for the grad.

Give guests the opportunity to write a simple note of encouragement for the grad before they leave. The grad will appreciate each note and have something tangible to remember the party by.