My friend asked me to put together a BYU graduation party. We of course used the BYU University’s colors of blue and white! The graduate loved this part and best of all it was so much fun to pull together.
I am sharing lots of tips and ideas for easy food ideas including my most pinned idea no bake diploma cookies How to put together a dance party. DIY blue and white decor and how to create a photo booth!
I have to tell you that putting this BYU Graduation party together allowed me come up with some fun ideas that can work for any graduation party.
Even a plan B for when it rains like it did for this party!
Graduation Party Planning
My friend wanted this party to have a boardwalk theme with outdoor games, fun decor using the universities blue and white colors. Originally we had planned to have the entire BYU blue and white Graduation party outside and play outdoor lawn games.
As fate would have it, it rained, and not just a little…it poured!
Moving the party inside and renting canopies for the outside patio area saved the day! The canopies were brilliant because everyone could still go outside and eat their pizza.
Lighting the areas with white lights and adding a chandelier made it feel amazing!
Tip- Be prepared with a plan B when planning an outdoor graduation party in case of rain.
DIY Blue and white Decorations
To create a boardwalk feel and keeping with the blue and white theme, I used a round table with a white tablecloth. Drape blue and white striped fabric up one side and down the other and then creating a puff on either side using hair elastics.
Super easy to create and no sewing.
I wanted to bring in more of the boardwalk feel so I made lots of triangle pennant banners in blue and white. The tutorial on how to make these banners is here and it is really easy!
I was able to hang them in many places. Over the front door so guests can be greeted with the blue and white, over the fire place and in the room where the dessert table was.
Hanging one over the photo booth that I created also made it feel more like a boardwalk party. The tutorial for the photo booth backdrop is here.
Dessert table
The dessert table became the centerpiece of the party since we had to move it in the house because of the rain.
On the dessert table I served brownies, lemon bars, raspberry bars, chocolate chip brownie cookie cups, caramel chocolate dipped pretzels and mini orange cupcakes with a mini chocolate graduation cap on top!
I love to use serving dishes that are different heights to create interest and highlight certain desserts.
Brownie Cookies
Nestles chocolate chip brownie cookie mix is a favorite.
Baking them in little blue and white paper cups from Ikea they turn out tall and skinny and display nicely inside the tiered stand.
Brownies
I used a Ghiradelli brownie mix and make them ahead of time and freeze!
Then about 30 min before you start the party take them out to thaw. They stay moist and delicious.
You can make these fun “Y” toothpicks using the free printable from MyeyeQ
The raspberry bars are also from a mix. So easy to make and really yummy too! Cut them into small squares for bite sized pieces
Mini Graduation cap cupcakes-
Create mini cupcakes by using your favorite cake mix and simply add 1 cup of sour cream, 1/4 Cup oil, 4 eggs and orange juice in place of the water.
It really makes the cupcakes to die for!
To make the mini chocolate graduation caps, use mini Reese’s peanut butter cups, a small square of nestles chocolate, mini M&M blue candies and a little strip of air head candy.
I used melted chocolate chips to attach everything together. Click here to see my tutorial.
No Bake Diploma cookies!
Pepperidge farms Pirouette cookies are perfect to use as diploma cookies, simply tie skinny blue ribbons on each cookie. No baking involved!
Keepsake guest sign
A wooden keepsake letter “S”, was on clearance at Hobby Lobby in bright pink. I decided to spray paint it white and made it available to her guests to sign it as a keepsake.
The DIY advice jar is easy to make using stick on letters. Friends can leave notes of advice to the graduate on colorful note cards and pop them in the jar.
Pizza
At this party the host had a pizza truck come to the house for everyone to enjoy!
It was so awesome but you could have Pizzas delivered or make your own pizza station with lots of different toppings.
Use large tiles and red and white checked parchment paper to serve your pizzas on to keep them warm. Make little signs for the different types of pizzas you serve.
Dance Party
We hired a DJ for this graduation party and it was a blast! Y
ou could always get your graduates favorite songs and have that playlist ready to play with wireless speakers
To make your graduation BYU blue and white party even more fun, direct your party goers to the dance party area and photo booth by writing it on a chalkboard.
Click on these links for DIY photo booth and the blue and white banner tutorial.
Make sure to check out more of Karins Kottage parties
Here at the Kottage we have lots of parties! Everything from kids birthdays, adult birthdays, to baby and bridal showers and more! Click on the photo to see my library.
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Great ideas and simple too! The diploma cookies and Graduation hat treats are going to be a part of future grad events!
Very creative ideas! The graduation caps are my favorite; I am guessing that your guests must have had a memorable experience. Thank you for sharing.
All so cute!! I love the way you draped the blue and white bunting over the table. Those grad caps and diplomas are the cutest treat idea!!!!!
I really had fun putting together this graduation party celebration. Blue and white was actually my high school colors too! Those little grad caps take a little time but they are so worth making!
Karin