Published: May 03, 2008 10:44 pm         

Groovy grad parties

Small details can add a touch of fun to room and table decorations

This time of year, parents are looking for ways to throw a “cool” party for their graduates.

Most likely, your teen or young adult graduating college or trade school will have some ideas of their own.

Get organized by starting with some basics.

- Indoor or outdoor party?

- Formal or informal?

- Location.

- Sit-down meal or buffet?

- Catered or not?

- Theme.

- Canned music or a DJ?

- Budget.

Deciding these categories will help the rest of the planning fall into place, said Brian Adkins, owner of Party King Rentals and Sales in Beckley.

“By graduation time, it’s warm weather, and it seems like everybody wants to get outside. One of the best parties is a good old-fashioned barbecue or picnic,” he said.

Outdoor parties are at the mercy of the weather, so decide how many tents and tables you will need, and it’s always good to have a backup plan in case of a gully-washer.

“Always plan the party in an area where people can get to shelter quickly, and it’s a good idea to have some chairs and tables there so the party can continue with as little interruption as possible. The tents will provide good shelter unless there’s a really bad storm, and if you’re planning a larger event, think about having a larger tent or several tents arranged in one area,” Adkins said.

It’s also a good idea to get input from the person for whom the party is given.

“Include the graduate in the planning so you can make sure they and their friends will enjoy the event. Their input on things like the music and the kind of party will be really helpful in pulling together all the details,” Adkins said.

Budget how much you want to spend on this occasion, taking into account food costs, decorations, supplies and special items to fit a theme, if you choose one.

“Most graduation parties don’t follow a theme,” said Tammy McGuffin, manager at Gotta Party by Vicky’s in Beckley. “They’re mainly interested in the cups, balloons and plates in their school colors.”

Including some sentimental items in with those decorations adds a nice touch, she said.

“Photos, albums or items that will bring back special memories from their years in school are nice. It makes the party more personal,” McGuffin said.

Lisa Kothari, author of “Dear Peppers and Pollywogs,” offers some ideas for adding those special touches. Her Web-based company supplies ideas for parties for kids of all ages.

Here are a few of her ideas for grads:

- Have a theme. Consider one that looks back on the school years but to the future as well. Have some sentimental items, but include some that will inspire all of those graduates to look at the next phase of life with a true spirit of adventure and finding life’s balance in the mix. If your grad is headed into nursing, teaching, journalism, business administration, law, medicine or a particular trade, for example, look for items that would be used in that career.

When it comes to finding ways to cherish memories, consider these suggestions:

- Give each guest a small blank notebook and a fun pen. During the party, they can write memories in each other’s notebooks, draw pictures and write quotes and messages to one another to capture their high school experiences.

- It’s also neat to have a slide show running throughout the party. This can be piped through your TV, on your computer or with a projector and a wall. This is an unobtrusive way for the guests to remember the year and their times together, or it can be a slide show of the graduate growing up over the years. It will be fun to reflect on the past year.

Kothari offers one special tip: “Do not include music on the slide show because it would interfere with the party music playing.

- Have disposable cameras available throughout the party area so that everyone can take pictures whenever the right moment strikes. Develop them in multiples and send them to each guest afterward.

More of Kothari’s advice can be found at www.pepperspollywogs.com.

— E-mail: bdavis@register-herald.com