This post is all about the best 2021 graduation party ideas and graduation party decorations.

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The class of 2021 has had a very rough year in terms of high school and college graduations, and I can’t imagine how disappointing it must have been for all of you. Luckily, this summer everything will be more or less back to normal and you’ll be able to celebrate everything you couldn’t during this year.
To make up for this year without celebrations of any kind, we’ve looked for the absolute best graduation party ideas and graduation party decorations to help you organise THE BEST graduation party this summer. We hope these amazing graduation decoration ideas help you plan the party of your dreams! Let’s get started!
Our Favourite Graduation Party Ideas:
1. Make Graduation-themed Cookies
Who doesn’t love cookies, right? And even more if they are as adorable as these ones… themed cookies are a great way to impress your guests and add a lovely touch to your graduation party decorations.
Recreate these adorable cookies:
2. Create a Cookie Bar
I love a cute dessert table, and this one is one of the best graduation decoration ideas I’ve seen. Using this printable you’ll create the perfect cookie bar and you’ll ve able to use it in every party!
Recreate this cookie bar:
3. Have a Cute Welcome Sign
Your graduation party decorations should start at the door, welcoming and surprising your guests. You can also use a chalkboard if you have nice handwriting, but getting one printed is way easier and you’ll be able to have it forever and save it as memorabilia!
Recreate this Welcome Sign:
4. Have a Polaroid Guest Book
Your graduation party decorations should start at the door, welcoming and surprising your guests. You can also use a chalkboard if you have nice handwriting, but getting one printed is way easier and you’ll be able to have it forever and save it as memorabilia!
Recreate this Guest Book:
5. Create a Donut Wall
Donut walls are all over the place right now and I can’t be happier. It is a super smart and fun idea to spice up your graduation party decorations and your guests will absolutely love it. All things sweets and desserts are great graduation party ideas!
Recreate this Donut Wall:
6. Make a Balloon Garland
Balloon garlands are amazing graduation party decorations. They are super elegant and are always trendy. You can pick the ballon colours to adapt it to any theme and even make them yourself!
There are tons of youtube tutorials and you can even buy the whole garland kit off of amazon, like the one I’ve linked below.
Recreate this Balloon Garland:
7. Have Some Party Favors
I personally think party favours are really important. It is a lovely way to say: “thank you for coming and sharing this moment with me” – and hopefully also thank you for the gift. Tasty party favours are the best and you can create them according to the theme and the rest of your graduation party decorations.
Recreate this Party Favor:
8. Have a Card Basket
One of the best reasons to celebrate a graduation party is for the cards… and what’s in them. This is a very elegant and subtle way to have a designated space for your family and friends to place their gifts without having that awkward moment, one of the most practical graduation party ideas for sure.
Recreate this lovely card basket:
9. DIY Graduation Centerpieces
Centrepieces are great graduation party ideas, they make the overall look of the party a lot more put together. You can personalize them in a million ways, adapting them to the theme of your graduation party. This is one of my favourite graduation decoration ideas.
Recreate this Centerpiece:
10. Drinks Ladder
I shared this with my readers last year and they went crazy over it. I received tons of emails of girls that had done it for their graduation parties and it had been an absolute success. This is actually really easy to make and will become one of the best graduation party decorations really quickly.
Recreate this Drinks Ladder:
{Related post: LAIA’S ALL-TIME 10 FAVOURITE COLLEGE ESSENTIALS}
11. Have A Beautiful Graduation Cake
Cakes usually are one of the strongest points at every party, and nailing that part will make your party a success. This cake is really nice and simple, and the details are insanenly cute. Something I’d definitely have at my graduation party. One of my favourite graduation party ideas.
Recreate this Graduation Cake:
12. Have a Photocall
Photocalls are one of the most famous and used graduation party ideas and everyone loves them. They are a great way to create memories of that day and Instagram loves them.
The one below is really simple and elegant, and it’d be easily done with some garlands and a pretty background.
Recreate this Photocall:
13. Class of 2021 Marquee Numbers
Marquee letters and numbers make the absolute best displays ever. They are amazing graduation party decorations and will elevate your party to the next level. I would look into renting them from a local business but you can always buy them!
Recreate these numbers:

14. Have a S’mores Station
Eating stations are my favourite graduation party ideas because well, I love eating. A happy party is a party that has loads of different types of food for different moments.
When the party has been going on for some time people look for comfort food, and what better comfort food than s’mores?
Recreate this S’mores station:
15. Hang Cute Banners
Banners are lovely graduation party ideas because they are easy to find and to display, and they add a lot of cute spots throughout the place. This one made me laugh and I think it’d be perfect for a college graduation party.
Recreate this banner:
16. Make Sure You Have Cute Invitations
The first thing your guests will see from your party is their invitations. Before getting trapped on graduation party ideas, you need to make sure that your invitations are at the same level. Mint makes some really cute invitations that you should check out!
Recreate this graduation invitation:
17. Have Red Carpet theme
My 18th birthday had a red carpet/Coco Chanel theme – I couldn’t choose between the two of them – and it was so much fun! I had a red carpet and photocall and everyone loved it. We dressed up and celebrated all night long and it’s one of the best memories I have.
Recreate this theme:
18. Throw a Chill Backyard Party
Not all parties have to be big and at night, a small backyard party with your best friends can be a lot of fun and they are more intimate. I’d definitely consider this for my next party. You can find tons of graduation party ideas with this chill/backyard theme.
Recreate this backyard party:
19. Come up With Good Games
Coming up with good graduation party ideas and graduation party decorations is really important, but making sure that your guests are having fun is vital. This game idea is excellent fun, and you’ll find tons of others on Pinterest.
Other Good Games:
20. Throw a Spa Party
I have always had the dream to throw a spa party Blair Waldorf’s style. I think they are amazing alternative parties and not a lot of people throw them so they are pretty unique. If you have room and a big budget and want to do something no one has done, this is one of the best graduation party ideas.
Recreate this party theme:
21. Create a Photo Display
One of the best graduation party ideas is to involve everyone that will be at your party. You’ll be graduating with a lot of your friends and I am sure you have plenty of memories with them that you can use to create a lovely display to celebrate your friendship.
Recreate this photo display:
22. Memory Jar
One of my all-time favourite graduation party ideas is creating a memory jar. Everyone at your party will have tons of memories with you and reading them after your party will fill you with joy, and probably make you cry a little bit.
Recreate these numbers:
We hope you loved these graduation party ideas and graduation party decorations!
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These ideas are all darling! I wish I had the drive to plan Pinterest worthy parties, lol. I graduated with my MBA in December, and we went out to dinner, which was enough for me.
Congrats on your MBA!! That’s an amazing accomplishment, parties are secondary!
Love all of these ideas! I also love your “recreate this” box underneath each item 🙂 did you use a specific plug in for that?
So so cute! Loving all of these ideas!
Oh my word the donut wall is SO CUTE!!! I want that now, forget waiting till a graduation!! 🤣🤣🤣
Love this post! Those are some creative and fun ideas. The spa party is right up my alley and such a great idea even for other occasions. Thanks for sharing!
These are amazing! I’m graduating soon, so I can’t wait to use some of these ideas!