Considering the possible late notice, I thought it would be appropriate to share some ideas for last-minute graduation parties that parents, family and friends could throw together for a weekend party. No reason to stress over the details, just try some of these ideas for snacks, decor and activity ideas for a great party your teenager will surely enjoy. Best part? Spending time together before they venture off. For more ideas, visit our Party Ideas board on Pinterest.

Snacks

Everyone knows you can’t have a party without some sort of snack food, right? There are some great ideas that are quick and easy, yet still centered around that grad theme. Whether you decide to host a full-blown buffet — taco or sandwich bars are always great ideas — graduation is such a sweet event for everyone, so make sure and spend some time on a great candy or dessert bar.

Create mini diplomas by wrapping ribbon around Pirouette cookies. Decorate Reese’s Mini Cups with little mortarboards and tassels. Set up a vast candy bar with your graduate’s favorite sweets and add a sign that says something like, “A sweet ending to a new beginning.” Order a bunch of cupcakes and set them up in the shape of ’17 for a great, tasty piece of table decor. And, if your child is heading off to college or an LDS mission soon, serve up some Aloha Party Punch.

Decor

Of course you can gather up balloons, streamers, party favors and other party essentials in your student’s school colors. Enhanced with giant 2017s and mortarboards, this decor idea is a great, easy way to add to the fun of the day. But why not add a little additional personality to your typical decor. Think photographs for a fun, and slightly embarrassing, way to celebrate your student.

Print out enlarged versions of your child’s class photos from kindergarten until now and get ready for some fun ways to share those sweet memories. You can create a personalized entry way into the party by adhering those photos to posts stuck in the lawn leading the way to your home. You could also create a piece of wall art — a wreath or photo collage — that everyone will enjoy looking at.

Activities

Don’t spend too much time trying to arrange for games and activities at your party. Everyone is really just going to want to visit and share memories anyway. Simply provide your guests with more opportunities to create and share those memories of your graduate in a way that they will be able to treasure those well wishes and memories forever.

Set out a large jar and a stack of colorful craft paper and invite people to share their memories of their favorite grad. Is your student heading off to BYU or UVU? Get some large wooden letters for the initials of the college, painted in school colors, and have guests sign the letters. And, go ahead and invest in a fun Polaroid camera and have guests snap fun photos that they can then adhere into a memory book. Make sure they add quirky captions to their photos, too.

– Jennifer Durrant