Location

• The location you choose for the graduate's party will depend on her preferences and guest list. If you want a small, intimate gathering of mostly family, reserve the group room at her favorite restaurant or bar. For an all-out bash for a large group, consider renting a dance hall or using a friend's big back yard. For the graduate and her closest friends, rent a yacht to cruise them around or get them a suite at a beach resort. You could also simply hold a drop-in open house at your home so anyone who wishes can wish the graduate well.
  
  

Theme

• Many parties can really up the "fun" factor with a theme. Hold a "Dress for Success" party --- tell guests to dress in their interview best and decorate your home to resemble an office. If the graduate has just finished college or higher education, hold a "Cliques" party. Instruct guests to dress like the stereotype of the group they belonged to in high school; for example, nerd or jock. Decorate your venue to look like a classroom. If you're keeping the party to mostly family, you could have a "graduation shower" and have guests bring gifts to help the graduate transition to her next phase. This can be silly --- such as lots of lipstick to "suck up" to the new boss --- or serious, like outfitting the new college student's dorm room.
  
  

Activities

• Graduation often brings an enormous sense of accomplishment and freedom, so let the graduate really cut loose at her party if she wishes. Allow space for dancing and play lots of her favorite music. Collect information about the graduate beforehand and then play "(Grad's name) Trivia" with the guests. Devise questions beforehand, such as "Who was her biggest crush in high school?" or "Who was her favorite teacher?" You could also rent a karaoke machine and let the graduate sing memorable songs from her school days. If your party is outside and your graduate is adventurous, play paintball or have a water-balloon fight.
  
  

Gifts

• The graduate is about to enter a new phase of life and she'll probably need some new equipment. For a high school graduate headed to college, consider a bike for getting around campus easily or some fast-food restaurant gift cards. If she's going directly into the workforce, hire a professional to write her resume and cover letter to maximize her chances of finding a good job. For a college graduate, try some professional clothing to get her work wardrobe started or make one or two months of her student loan payments. For higher-ed graduates, you could have new business cards made with the "M.D." or "Ph.D." added to her name or have her diploma framed. A new watch, with a congratulatory message engraved on the back, is also a tasteful idea.