Choosing a design
Match the design to the kind of party. Black and gold or a single gold tassel suits a dinner, a formal reception or a college commencement. Greenery reads fresh and relaxed, which fits a garden party or a brunch. School doodles and the car full of grads are the playful ones, made for a high school party or a last get-together with friends.
If the graduate's school colors matter, choose a design that leaves room for them in the wording. Every color on the text is editable, so a black-and-gold card can carry navy, maroon or green lettering instead.
Want the school mascot, a hometown landmark or the graduate's next adventure on the card? Describe it and AI designs a card for it. Previews are free, and keeping one costs the same as a ready-made design.
What to put on a graduation party invitation
- The graduate's full name, the school, and the year they're graduating
- Whether it is a party, an open house with a window of time, or a dinner
- The date, with a start time, and an end time for an open house
- The address, plus a parking note if guests will need one
- How to RSVP, and the date you need replies by
- Whether younger siblings and plus-ones are welcome
The card holds a headline, a short message, the date and time, the location and an RSVP line. A note about gifts, a graduation registry or a college fund fits better in the text or email you send the card with.
When to send it
Three to four weeks before the party is the usual window. Graduation season is crowded, with several parties on the same weekends in May and June, so the earlier your invitation arrives, the better your chance of being the one on the calendar.
If the party is right after the ceremony, send the invitation once the ceremony date and time are confirmed, and say which comes first. For relatives traveling in, a save the date six to eight weeks ahead is a kindness.
Ask for replies one to two weeks before, which leaves time to settle the food order.
Graduation announcements and invitations
An announcement shares the news; an invitation asks someone to come. Many families send one card that does both, with the party details on it, to everyone they want to tell.
If you're announcing to a wide circle but only inviting a few people to the party, make two versions of the same design: one with the party details and one without. Every word on the card is editable, so the second version takes a minute.
Print it or send it
Every card comes as a print-ready 5×7 PDF and a high-resolution JPG. Print the PDF at home on cardstock for relatives who appreciate a card in the mail, and text the JPG to everyone else.
Turn on the free RSVP page and guests reply online with how many adults and kids are coming, so you know how much food to order.