3 Tips for Mastering Graduation Announcement Etiquette

Celebrating a high school or college graduation is an exciting time. But when it comes to figuring out the etiquette of sending out announcements and invites, things can get a bit confusing.

If you’re getting ready to design your graduation announcements, here are three tips about who should receive one and what each should look like.

1. Know When to Send Your Graduation Announcements

When to send your graduation announcements, the timing of when to send your graduation announcements can be one of the trickiest etiquette rules to master. But when you understand the purpose of an announcement — and the difference between an announcement and a graduation invitation — when to send your card becomes clearer.

Of course, graduation announcements are designed to let your friends and family know that your son or daughter has reached this important milestone. At least on their own, these cards are not invitations to a graduation ceremony or a party. Instead, they typically feature a photo of the graduate with a short sentiment. They may also include information about their plans, such as a college or master’s program that they’ll be attending next.

If your friends and family are attending the graduation ceremony, you can send the announcement in advance before the invitation to the ceremony. Or, you might consider sending them together, as ceremony invitations are often formal and usually don’t feature a photo. But if your recipients won’t be attending the graduation ceremony, aim to send your announcements after the ceremony has taken place.

2. Add a Memorable and Touching Photo

If you know that you’ll be sending invitations for the graduation ceremony or party, you’ll want to make your announcement stand out as its unique message.

One great way to do this is by opting for a photo card. When you add a photo, your announcement becomes a keepsake and a unique token for friends and family to receive as they celebrate this milestone with you. This will also make your announcement distinctly separate from a more formal, text-only ceremony invite or a graduation party invitation that may come at a later date.

You don’t necessarily need to have professional photos taken for your cards. With a bit of work, you can easily snap your own stunning photos to decorate your cards with.

3. Base Your Style on Who Will Receive a Card

If your graduation announcements will only be sent to friends and family, you can undoubtedly make them match your style. But while a fun, colourful, or even funny card is a good choice in that situation, it may not be ideal for others.

For instance, if you’ll be sending this announcement to more distant connections who won’t get the humour, or who could even be considered people you may want to network with in the future, it’s best to keep things a little more formal and traditional. If your parents’ friends are to be included on your mailing list, and there’s a chance they could be looking for an intern, sending a graduation announcement could be a great way to let them know that you’re entering the workforce with the training they’re looking for. 

To Sum up Sending Graduation Announcements

Graduating from high school or college is a significant accomplishment. And sending graduation announcements is a beautiful way to celebrate with family and friends and perhaps even start networking with other connections.

By understanding when to send your card, carefully choosing your style, and using a photo to make your card stand out, you can master graduation announcement etiquette once and for all.

Marie Foster
Marie Foster
Marie Foster is a reporter based in UK. Marie has also worked as a columnist for the various news sites.

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