Years of homework, studying and extra-curricular activities have all come down to this. Your young adult is graduating from high school and soon starting a new adventure. It’s time to celebrate your child’s achievements with a grand shindig. The graduation party is not only your chance to honor your child’s many accomplishments, it’s also a time to welcome family and friends into your home, or another venue of your choice. If you plan to host a graduation party this spring or early summer, read our tips for making it an event your graduate and guests will love—and a low-stress one that you can enjoy as well.

Take a Seat

There are many advantages of hosting a graduation party at your home. It allows you the freedom to do things exactly the way you (or your graduate) want, with no restrictions on using certain vendors for food and beverages. It can also save you significant money. However, it’s important to first determine the size of your party and make sure you can accommodate everyone with sufficient seating. You may be able to borrow tables and chairs from family or friends, or you can rent these items from a number of retailers.

For those who have been eyeing a patio upgrade, it may be the perfect time to purchase a number of new outdoor patio chairs, such as patio folding chairs, outdoor stools, or stylish Adirondack chairs. Outdoor poofs can also provide extra seating for casual celebrations. These options can be used towards your chair count for the party and also enjoyed at outdoor gatherings throughout the years.

Of course, you’ll also need to determine where to place all the tables and chairs. Many opt to enjoy the (hopefully!) nice weather and host a party in their yard. You can purchase or rent outdoor tents to provide a place for comfortable dining and more. For small parties, you may be able to open up your garage to provide a place to serve food and beverages.

Home and Party Décor

Start with the obvious: balloons and streamers in your school’s colors, as well as photos of the new grad. Photos of your child throughout the years as well as their senior photos gives guests something to look at while they mingle. Choose some stylish frames, and some of the photos can be moved to your mantle or shelves after the party, or even given to grandparents and other family members as gifts. For the rest of the décor, you can create simple centerpieces with fresh flowers in mason jars, or use a variety of vases for an eclectic look.

Keep in mind that people will be looking at more than just your graduation party décor. For many, especially those with family coming in from out of town, it may be the first time that guests have seen their home, at least in some time. While there is no need to redesign your home, it may be an ideal time to take on that home improvement project you’ve been eyeing, or simply refresh your home with some updated home accessories and décor.

Read our tips for refreshing your home here.

Let’s Eat!

If you are hosting a graduation party in your home, you have a couple of options. Either cater in food from one of your child’s favorite restaurants or keep it simple and relatively inexpensive with catering options from your local grocery store, such as trays of sandwiches or wraps. For the ambitious host who chooses to make their own food, preparation is key. Make sides, such as pasta or potato salad, fruit salads and more, ahead of the big day. You can set up a stylish outdoor serving cart, so these dishes can just be brought outside right before guests arrive. Of course, grilling is a popular option for a main dish, and the Big Green Egg can create impressive entrees for guests. Again, do as much prep as possible ahead of your event, such as forming burger patties the day prior.

Finally, don’t forget the drinks! Cold drinks are a must for warm-weather parties. Keep a cooler stocked with a variety of sodas and plenty of water bottles for guests to enjoy throughout the day. Coolers featuring a roller cart base are convenient, and some offer functional features such as extra shelves for storage, a side mount bottle opener and cap catcher, as well as a drain plug for easy ice melt draining.

Once you have the seating, décor and food and drinks set, it’s time to relax and celebrate your graduate. Make sure to have outdoor lighting, such as LED lanterns, so guests can converse into the evening.