Now that your child's graduation is drawing near, you are probably having mixed emotions. On one hand, you are excited that your child has adventures in life ahead of him or her. On the other hand, you might be experiencing feelings of melancholy as you remember days gone by. One thing is for sure: having a graduation party for your child is a wonderful way to honor accomplishments that have taken place over the years. From invitations to the reception hall, here are some ideas that might help you to plan a memorable and fun event.

The Invitations - Of course, you can email invitations or you can phone those who are on the guest list. However, there's something very special about getting an invitation in the mail. It sets the mood for the upcoming event. Send clever invitations. For example, put a graduation cap on a picture of your child as a baby and add a caption like You've Come A Long Way, Baby. Another idea is to send a picture of a train and put a message on each of the cars. The message could include the pertinent information, like the time and the place of your party. In addition, different cars could state things like Chugging Right Along or This Train's Bound For College.

The Place - As you start writing down the names of everybody on your list, you'll probably be amazed at how many people are in your child's life. Besides family members and friends, there's special teachers, coaches, church leaders, and others who have played a part in your child's life. If this is the case, consider renting a reception hall for your child's graduation party. Often, hotels and restaurants have large rooms that serve perfectly as reception halls. The benefit here is that you can use the caterers on site. Be sure to reserve the reception hall early, as there will be a lot of others having graduation parties, wedding receptions and other events. Be clear on how many people will be attending so that you can obtain enough tables and chairs for your guests. You can also check out a venue such as Halls of St. George.

The Activities - Dance! Make it a super memorable affair by hiring a DJ so that everybody can dance. Renting a reception hall means that you'll have plenty of room for the DJ's equipment and that there will be amble space for a dance floor. Request music of all types so that people of all ages will have some music they can dance to.

Don't forget to have a book where guests can write a message to your graduate. This will be a wonderful reminder of a special event.