Printable Graduation Invitations

Graduating from school is always a special event, joyous yet bittersweet. It marks the end of one successful period in an individual's life and the transition to a new beginning. Graduation at any level of school is an occasion that is shared with friends and family. Often parties to commemorate the event are held also. Graduation invitations for both the ceremony and any celebrations afterwards can be bought at many stores both online and off or you can make them yourself. First, let's look at the options and advantages of buying your invitations online.

There are many different stationery shops online where you can purchase graduation and graduation party invites. The advantage of shopping online rather than at a traditional stationery store is the wide selection and often, lower prices. There are hundreds of different styles from which you can choose, and many of the aspects can be customized to your specifications. You select the style of graduation invitations you want, then specify the text and often the font. The online stationery company will have a proof copy for you to review and make any changes to before printing and shipping your order.

Because printing costs on a home printer can be expensive due to the cost of ink (especially color) if you have a large number of invitations ordering online or from a catalog is probably your best bet. However for a small graduation party or a ceremony to which only a small group are invited making your own graduation invitations is a way to turn the invitation itself into a keepsake that is more personal and sentimental than any invite you could buy from a store or even the Web. You can make your own invitations using stationery software or by hand using supplies from the local craft store.

Whether you buy or make the invitations, you'll find that styles range dramatically from casual to formal. Often the front of the card features a graduation theme graphic like a cap with tassel, graduation scroll or even school mascot. Photo invitations are popular also, which of course feature a photo of the graduate on the front. Sometimes these are in postcard size with the photo on one side and the text beside it. You can buy and make photo graduation invitations. After you've chosen the style of invite, there are a few more things to take care of.

Wording on graduation invitations is important. While there are no rules set in stone, the text should specify who is graduating and from where, the day, date and time, the location, and an RSVP request with deadline date. Send the invitations between two and three weeks before the event and request an RSVP within a week of the event so you will know how many guests to plan for. To specify if single invitees can bring someone, it is traditional to specify plus one on the invite which lets them know a date can attend with them.