| There are two typical choices: a graduation party or | | | | houses. Guess are free to come and go any time |
| a graduation open house. | | | | during the hours of the open house. This works well |
| A graduation party is usually held at a hall, school | | | | for busy families and friends and for guests who are |
| auditorium, restaurant, pool, or park. The idea of a | | | | invited to several graduation open houses on the same |
| party is to have all your guests come at a specific | | | | day. |
| time and stay until the party is over. Most often | | | | An open house is less formal than a graduation party, |
| these events are catered. The advantage to having | | | | the food is less expensive because the family usually |
| a graduation party is that it is less work for you. You | | | | prepares it, there is no facility rental fee, and clean-up |
| don't have to worry about getting your house ready, | | | | does not have to be completely finished on the same |
| parking, seating, preparing the food, gathering all the | | | | day as the preparation and the party. |
| serving equipment, or cleaning up after the event. | | | | The disadvantage to having a graduation open house |
| The disadvantages of having a graduation party are | | | | is that it is more work for you. You may decide to |
| that it is less personal for your child, it is more | | | | renovate, remodel, paint, landscape, garden, and/or |
| expensive, and some people will not be able to come | | | | clean like never before, to make sure all areas of your |
| because they are unavailable during the time of the | | | | home are ready for your event. Since people may |
| party. | | | | be using your bathrooms, you may feel you need to |
| Most people prefer to host a graduation open house | | | | thoroughly clean every drawer and cupboard in your |
| for their child because they feel it is the best way to | | | | house. Unlike a wedding, which should be even more |
| celebrate their child. It is more personal because the | | | | work, the open house is in your home, so as you |
| event is in the child's own home. During this | | | | prepare, you have to keep cleaning up and putting |
| once-in-a-lifetime event, the graduate may be more at | | | | away and you may feel that everything has to be |
| ease because the party is in the place they are the | | | | perfect. |
| most comfortable. An open house also allows you to | | | | Once you have determined whether you will have a |
| use various areas in your home to showcase your | | | | graduation party or a graduation open house, you are |
| child's life. | | | | making progress. |
| Graduation open houses are similar to real estate open | | | | |