High school graduation is a huge deal! And graduates deserve a huge fuss to celebrate their accomplishment. More and more schools are hosting graduation parties (like after-prom parties) to encourage kids to stay safe and celebrate without alcohol or drugs. If you’re a graduation party planner, here are the things you’ll want to have lined up for a fun and successful time.

Food and Drinks

Let’s start with the most obvious: food and drinks! Growing teens have the luxury of youthful metabolisms, and they can’t have a party without stuffing their faces! It’s tough to go wrong with pizza, and local pizza places often cut deep discounts or donate food to schools (especially if they have a family connection with a student.) When buying food and drink, think ahead to clean up. Individually prepared portions or finger foods are best, and it’s always good to buy individual cans or bottles of soft drinks with recycling boxes or cans nearby. Buying 2-liter bottles may seem like a good idea until you have to clean up the cups!

Games and Activities

Keeping the kids busy and engaged is an important responsibility for a graduation party planner! You can “go big” and rent bouncy houses, wind tunnels, or karaoke machines. If you don’t have the connections or budget for that, there are no shortage of DIY competitive games that are easily found with an internet search, tons of fun, and can be done using household items.

Photo-Heavy Decorations

You’ll want to have flashy decorations, whether they’re store-bought or made at home. A graduation party planner should remember that the purpose of the event is to make memories and reflect on the students’ time in high school. If it’s possible to incorporate photos in the decorations or to make slideshows on TVs or monitors using digital pictures, they’ll be a big hit!