Graduation Party Planning!

Graduation Party Planning!

It’s hard to believe our baby girl, Elizabeth, is graduating!  It sounds cliche to ask where has the time gone, but really where has it?

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 I want to celebrate this event beautifully for her as we have had so many major changes and moves over the past four years, that we glossed over other milestones like confirmation and “sweet sixteen”.

We are still working on the home that we built two years so this event has really kicked us into high gear to get some outdoor projects done.

I’ve been furiously pinning ideas and here are some of my inspiration photos for this party:

Firepit

We’ve had this on our To Do list for awhile and hubby is in the process of leveling off an area and building a retaining wall. I am envisioning something like this:

For that overgrown wooded area in the back yard!  THIS IS GREAT IDEA 4 SURE. THIS MULCH IS HIGHLY RECOMENDED FOR ITS DURABILITY AND ABILITY TO SMOTHER WEEDS.:

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Lights!

I love this idea of wrapping a few trees with small white lights.  These trees will frame the fire pit area.

Create a romantic spot by twisting a string of white lights around a cluster of trees in your backyard.:

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More lights

I like these larger string lights to frame out the patio area.

a feast in the forest / sfgirlbybay:

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I am working on some easy drop cloth curtains to frame the covered patio area, something like this.

Do you need some shade on your back patio?  Try these easy DIY drop cloth curtains!:

Dock

I don’t know if this will happen in time but we would like to build a floating dock for easy access to fishing and boating on our pond.

Nothing too fancy, just a small wood floating dock for fishin or chillin -:

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Signs

We’ll have an area for lawn games so I think these signs would be really cute.

Wood Signs Lawn Games by WoodenTreeBoutique on Etsy:

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Stations

We are planning a beverage station and snack station on the lower patio, with a buffet dinner on the upper level sunroom and deck.  Here’s some photos I have been pinning.

Abbott Zinc-Top Island & Hutch | Pottery Barn - probably wouldn't have room for this, but maybe something smaller but same style for serving food & drinks:

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rustic wedding ideas-cute display of different lemonades for party or wedding with stump as base:

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S'mores Station- Outdoor rustic farm wedding | Megan Brooke Handmade:

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galvanized tubs for drinks - (via Style Me Pretty):

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I love these little daisy cut mason jar toppers from this Etsy seller.

15 Gold Pewter Daisy Cut Mason Jar Lids for by FancyThatLoved:

For the little guests, I think this idea for a bubble station is super cute!

Set up a homemade bubble station so your kids can play without needing your help every five minutes.:

Photo Booth

I like this idea of hanging a frame from a tree with a few props.  I think the kids will have fun with this.  And,  we’ll encourage them to post photos on Instagram.

High School Graduation Party Ideas:

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Photo booth at grad party:

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Instagram Hashtag Rustic Wedding Sign Lawn Stake by WoodAndInkCo:

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Fun Decorations

I love these giant latex balloons.  My daughters are going to craft the tissue paper garland to attach to them.  We’ll use the balloons to direct traffic flow to the backyard and pond area.

Party Ideas (!):

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Paper Tassel Garland & Giant Balloon - Indian Summer by Paper Fox on Scoutmob Shoppe. Give your shindig a modern, crafty feel with a handmade paper tassel garland and giant balloon set.:

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Lawn Games

We are planning to set up badminton and quoits.  I thought this DIY twister game looked fun … another project for my daughters.

 

Outdoor Twister Graduation Party Idea. This game is the perfect addition to your graduation party for outdoor get together by using only 4 cans of colorful spray paint and 5 sheets of poster paper.

Flowers

I haven’t decided on a color scheme yet but I am thinking fairly neutral with maybe a pop of orange here and there  I would like the decorations to compliment the rustic setting of our home.

I have a lot of “Hens and Chicks” so I plan to incorporate them into some table centerpieces.  Something like this.

Love the succulent and candle mix. Very simple yet pretty. Citronella candles for patio table.:

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And  some colorful blooms to add a fun pop of color!

Throw a fabulous outdoor party with these 7 steps for backyard entertaining   www.uncommondesignsonline.com:

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 Here’s  a few other ideas that have caught my eye:

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sources: suitcase, card display, bugspray station

I figure if we accomplish 75 percent of what I am dreaming up, that’s a win!  So right now it is all hands on deck to pull this celebration together … and lots of prayers for nice weather on June 18th!