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Outdoor Graduation Party Ideas

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Plan a fun outdoor Graduation party for your graduate, using inexpensive ideas and simple DIY projects.

While this was a Graduation Party, so many ideas can be used for any outdoor party. This party was done on a budget with a lot of repurposed items, not only because of cost but also because I love the look. First I have to show a pic of the Happy Graduate! 

 
Could I look any more proud? Now let’s party! First as guests walked in I set up a table with grad photo frames that her friends could sign.
 
Thought she could bring these to College with her & when she was feeling homesick she could think about all the people who love & support her.
 
These were bought from the Dollar Store!
 
 
 
I printed lyrics from Rascal Flatts My Wish and mod podged it on a wooden plaque, as the lyrics say exactly what my wish for her is. 
 

 
 
A card box also from The Dollar Store.
 
 
Grad cap bubbles also from The Dollar Store
 
 
 This was a great idea from Pinterest & I snuck a peek at the notes. A special thank you to my beautiful recent & current College student nieces, Breanna & Kaitlin, for truly giving Amanda great advice for adjusting to College life.
 
 
I picked up wooden initials, printed out Senior year photos & used mod podge to adhere them. She will also use these in her Dorm.
 
This table sat right under the tree where I hung the repurposed window/chalkboard listing the menu & showing pictures through the years.
 
This window idea would be great for a wedding or anniversary party too.
 
 
Next up one of my favorite repurposed ideas from Pinterest, using old wheelbarrel’s filled with ice to hold drinks. I had an under 21 & over 21 barrel. 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
The wine station with plastic wine glasses from The Dollar Store. These lanterns were from Oriental Trading

 

 
I had a hanging basket with bug spray, sun block, bacitracin & band aids just in case.
 
 
The  happy Graduate & her friends enjoying the yummy food which we set up buffet style with trays/sterno. Forgot a pic. Thank you to my neighbor & friend Vicky for making the awesome food.
 
 
The hit of the party was definitely the DIY Photo Booth. I looked into renting one but they were crazy expensive, so I checked Oriental Trading & sure enough they had a bunch of different photo backdrops.
 
I also bought these cool “frames” with funny saying that the teens really loved, but so did the adults! I had a table set up with props, mustaches on sticks, etc that they could also pick.
 
I will mail the picture of the person to them as a thank you card. 

 

 

 
 
My sister Joanne don’t ya love the pink dress?, brother-in-law Larry & nephew Brady, who is turning into quite the basketball player!
 
 
My beautiful nieces, Breanna & Kaitlin & my sister Lori-who looks like she could be there sister don’t tell her I said that 😉 
 
 
Me & my girl! 
 
 
Sarahanne has been friends with Amanda since 2nd grade, although going to different high schools they still remain close. Her boyfriend Henry is a College student & talented graphic designer. He is going to revamp my blog for me, yay!
 
 
The cake made by Amanda’s Dad, beautiful & delicious in school colors.
 
 
I also set up a S’mores Bar which we didn’t even get to because everyone was so full! Lastly, the center pieces were mason jars with various flowers & a pic of Amanda from preschool graduation.
 
I found these cool tabletop tiki torches at Job Lot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For even more Graduation party ideas check out these posts:

Summer Fiesta Graduation party

50+ Graduation Party Ideas

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Crystal Green

Monday 14th of March 2016

Looks like you all had a lot of fun. Congrats on having a graduate. I also had an outdoor party for my graduation, and I thought it was the neatest thing. It was a lot of fun.

ourcraftymom

Monday 14th of March 2016

Thanks Crystal! It was a lot of fun. Thankfully we had nice weather. Have a good day!

Isabelle Thornton

Monday 30th of June 2014

Thanks so much for linking!

Emily

Monday 23rd of June 2014

Super cute ideas! Love the menu board and wheelbarrow for drinks! Thanks for sharing with us at Your Designs This Time!

Erlene A

Wednesday 18th of June 2014

I love this idea. My oldest is graduating next year and I'll be pinning this for ideas. Thanks for sharing this on Merry Monday.

For the party links - you can use 1) inlinkz project manager 2) create a party page with all your link ups and a link to that page

Michelle James

Monday 16th of June 2014

Hi Isabelle! I will link up to your party! Thank you for visiting. I am always looking for new parties to link up to. It is so fun. I have a question, as I am still new to this blogging & linking world, I link to pretty much the same parties every week, but I don't think I am doing it the correct way. I manually link to each one on the day that they begin. But, then it basically takes up the whole bottom of my page & is very time consuming. Is there a different way I can do it? I see alot of bloggers have it more condensed. If any one can give me some advice, I would greatly appreciate it! Happy Monday.

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