These Fun Graduation Party Ideas Are the Best Way to Say Congrats

All those tests (and all that nerve-wracking studying for those tests) add up to one thing for a recent graduate: an amazing send-off party before they fly from the nest and go out into the real world.

Ree Drummond knows her way around a graduation—there have been quite a few over the years from their family of seven! Whether it’s taking place in your home or decked-out backyard, you can make it a day to remember with these fun DIY graduation party ideas (and some thoughtful graduation gifts, of course!).

There are so many fun ways to turn this celebration into a special day that you won't know where to start. For a sentimental gesture, make tributes to childhood memories with a sweet photo wreath or a card box decorated with pictures snapped throughout the years. Create a color palette using your kid’s school colors and shiny gold touches here and there. Round up meaningful graduation quotes to add to centerpieces. And of course, celebrate your grad's academic career with graduation cap decorations, garlands with tassels, and more.

No matter what the future holds for your favorite graduate, you're covered with some of the best DIY graduation party ideas around.

Give your graduate something extra fun to wear at their graduation party with this lei inspired by a charm bracelet. You can include their graduating year and cut-outs representing their hobbies and things they love.

Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built.

SHOP GOLD PAPER

All that hard work deserves a lot of celebrating. To put everyone in a celebratory mood, you’ll definitely need some confetti! These cones are the perfect confetti holders.

Get the tutorial at A Bubbly Life.

SHOP CONFETTI

Snap a picture of your graduate in their cap and gown, then turn that photo into these skewers that’ll take center stage at your party. Use them as photo props or drop them into vases of flowers.

Get the tutorial at 17 Apart.

SHOP WOODEN SKEWERS

For a really cute touch to add to your grad’s party, make the most adorable graduation trophies as centerpieces!

Get the tutorial at Handmade Charlotte.

SHOP PAINT BRUSHES

How’s this for a why-didn’t-I-think-of-that detail to add to the graduation party? Black paper plates with tassels! They look just like graduation caps.

Get the tutorial at Good in the Simple.

SHOP HOLE PUNCHES

To make this graduation banner that’s ideal for a photo backdrop or to hang on a mantel, you’ll need your Silhouette or Cricut maker.

Get the tutorial at Kelly Leigh Creates.

SHOP BAKERS TWINE

After such a fun night, your guests should go home with something sweet…like these cookie party favors! You can celebrate the graduate who is one “smart cookie.”

Get the tutorial at Studio DIY.

SHOP WHITE CARD STOCK

There’s no doubt that your party guests will all come with cards in hand, so you’ll need a place to keep track of them. Make it easy with this cute DIY card box displaying childhood photos.

Get the tutorial at Angie Holden/The Country Chic Cottage.

SHOP WHITE SPRAY PAINT

Your grad will say “aloha” to their bright future with this tropical lei. It’s just the thing to dress up their graduation party ensemble.

Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built.

SHOP CRAFT KNIVES

All that great food at the graduation party should really be spotlighted with an eye-catching backdrop! All you need are colorful streamers and balloons with their graduating year.

Get the tutorial at A Wonderful Thought.

SHOP STREAMERS

Wasn’t it just yesterday that you dropped your little one off at kindergarten? Show off all those wonderful childhood memories with this photo wreath to be displayed at the party.

Get the tutorial at DIY Beautify.

SHOP DUCT TAPE

Rolos are pretty great on their own, but Rolos made to look like tiny graduation caps? Even better!

Get the tutorial at Made to Be a Momma.

SHOP BLACK CONSTRUCTION PAPER

If your grad is heading off to their first apartment and their first taste of “real” bills, send them off with these delightful origami money graduation caps.

Get the tutorial at Sugar and Charm.

SHOP SCISSORS

Gift some flowers to the guest of honor with a bouquet bedecked in tons of “Congrats!”

Get the tutorial at Oleander + Palm.

SHOP GLUE

Gold just seems like the perfect hue to include in a graduation party color palette. Make a handful of these vases and decorate each table.

Get the tutorial at Kristi Murphy.

SHOP GOLD CONTACT PAPER

Incorporate the classic graduation cap tassel by attaching one to a giant balloon along with the graduating year.

Get the tutorial at Tikkido.

SHOP HOT GLUE GUNS

Whether your child is graduating from high school or college, paper rosettes will be a great cupcake topper.

Get the tutorial at Amber Oliver.

SHOP CRICUT MAKERS

Rainbow confetti and some pocket cash? Your grad is going to love these money poppers!

Get the tutorial at Studio DIY.

SHOP RAINBOW CONFETTI

Black and white are certainly the traditional colors associated with graduation day. This black-and-white tassel garland is made with plastic tablecloths!

Get the tutorial at Sincerely, Sara D.

SHOP PLASTIC TABLECLOTHS

With photos attached to skewers and sprigs of baby's breath, you can create centerpieces for the graduation party that are sure to be memorable.

Get the tutorial at Angie Holden/The Country Chic Cottage.

SHOP WASHI TAPE

Send your guests home with one-of-a-kind favors, like these “shine bright” light bulb favors that are so clever.

Get the tutorial at Julie Measures.

SHOP HOT GLUE

Even the napkins can get the graduation party treatment! Using mini diplomas and ribbon, you can easily dress up the silverware rollups for the party.

Get the tutorial at Big Dot of Happiness.

SHOP EMBROIDERY THREAD

Here’s a sentimental accent you can add to the party. Display gold spray-painted branches in a vase, set out some paper and pens, and ask guests to share their best pieces of advice for the graduate, which will be hung from the tree using mini clothespins.

Get the tutorial at Play Party Plan.

SHOP GOLD SPRAY PAINT

Cupcakes at a graduation party are a must-have. When they’re presented on a graduation cap-styled stand with school colors, they look even better.

Get the tutorial at Creatively Beth.

SHOP EMBROIDERY FLOSS

Throwing confetti at any party is always a blast, but for your grad, level up the confetti by dropping some into balloons! They’ll make your party look even more festive.

Get the tutorial at JMS Entertaining.

SHOP CLEAR BALLOONS

To add a little something to bottles of juice at the party, include these graduation cap toppers.

Get the tutorial at Celebrations at Home.

SHOP BLACK SCRAPBOOK PAPER

Your grad may want to include a funny message on their graduation cap, which you can DIY using this tutorial. Make a few of your own and display them later at the party as fun décor.

Get the tutorial at Studio DIY.

SHOP CRICUT PRINTABLE VINYL

Who knew that you could make a graduation cap out of paper money? It’ll help your graduate pay their first month of rent!

Get the tutorial at Less-Than-Perfect Life of Bliss.

SHOP CLEAR TAPE

For a simple and thoughtful touch, showcase your child’s graduation year by crafting this garland with numbers in gold glitter card stock.

Get the tutorial at Kristi Murphy.

SHOP GOLD GLITTER CARD STOCK