I am literally typing through tears today. It’s my daughter’s last day of high school and all I see is her kindergarten photo, pigtails, and all things pink. I am beyond grateful for her high school experience and it has truly been a joy. But senior moms, you feel this. I’m crying one minute and rejoicing the next. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions that wipes you out. If you are in the same boat, no explanation needed. I get you.
Today I am sharing random things that might help if you are scrambling to get things together last minute (like me). I’ve been living in the moment with all of our birthday celebrations and suddenly feel very behind for graduation. A friend and I were talking about how we haven’t even made time to buy dresses for the upcoming events. Sharing quick ship dresses as well as last minute grad gift ideas. I hope it’s helpful.
QUICK SHIP DRESSES
Let’s start with dresses. I have three functions that I haven’t even thought about and will need to wear a dress. These are all really pretty, under $100 and will arrive soon. I have this one in a print and LOVE it. This dress looks very high end in person. Highly recommend.
Hello, cheerful and bright dress. This looks high end to me and comes in some great prints. Also wonderful for the summer months or vacation.
This bold print caught my eye and is a flattering cut. Its available in other color options, too.
There is something about this print. I just love the green and pink together.
I have this in green and love it. So does my daughter. This smocked maxi dress is available in many colors and has been a great dress (under $40).
If you prefer shorter, I thought this was really cute. Classic but still fun.
This is another tried and true favorite. I really like the smocking detail and the feminine bows.
Whenever I wear this one, people ask where it’s from. This is easy to wear and comes in many colors.
I’ve had this one quite some time but it’s still a favorite (I have three colors) and will be wearing it to an outdoor graduation party with sandals.
This dress is a bit more spendy but so darn good.
KEEP IT COMFY
Ya’ll know I love heels but I am being realistic and sticking with sandals, especially for the graduation party. Ours will be outdoors and I’m sure we will be on our feet most of the time. These sandals are $25 and adorable.
If you are looking for an affordable heel, this is my choice. I have them and wear them all the time.
UNDER THE GOWN
This is the white dress our daughter will be wearing under her gown. It is $60 and it arrived in just a couple of days. She’ll wear it with her favorite wedge sandal (in white).
I have not seen this dress in person but it’s a great price from Amazon.
SELF TANNER FAVORITES
Needed a glow? We have two self tanners we love. This one we put on at night and sleep in. No transfer! If you need same day color (even within the hour) this one is fantastic. It dries quickly and gives you wonderful color. I use this all the time when we decide on a last minute date night. I won’t shower it off until the next day (but it can transfer so wear full covered jammies . . it will wash out of them, no problem).
GRAD PARTY IDEAS
Where we live a lot of the kids do joint grad parties and set up a table that has photos and colors of the school they are going to (if they are going to college). This banner is fully customizable and so cute. You can do any color combination and include their school name.
We will be using these dessert trays for the grad party as well. Definitely a favorite purchase as of late.
PARTY INSURANCE
This canopy has become known as “party insurance” in our home and came in clutch for Riley’s 18th birthday brunch. This is under $200 and AWESOME. We will be taking it to our outdoor grad party for sun protection (and in case it rains). It will arrive by May 20th.
KEEPSAKE BOOK
Whether you are having a party to celebrate or just keeping it personal with family, you can ask dear friends/family to sign a book for your grad. Always a nice idea to have those we love share bits of advice and words of wisdom. The one above is cute or you can go with something a bit more plain (love this).
GRAD GIFTS FOR FRIENDS
May means tons of graduation parties! For the girls, we love to gift these silk pillowcases. The more you buy, the better the price. They are fun to wrap in a pretty paper and who doesn’t need an extra pillowcase? Great to take to college and they don’t take up a lot of space. A win-win. They also carry them on Amazon.
These trays are a wonderful option for graduates.
The initial bracelet remains a favorite gift to give. I adore mine and wear it daily. Highly recommend for an upcoming grad.
Riley received this travel tote and adores it. She has already carried it for two weekends away.
OH THE PLACES YOU’LL GO
This book is under $10 and a wonderful way to share your thought with a child or friend. You can handwrite a message inside and it will make for a lovely keepsake. We plan to do this for Riley.
These are fun for giving a gift card.
FOR THE BOYS
I’ve done a ton of polling from my friends and they say the boys appreciate and love cash or GrubHub cards. I know, I know. Not fun to gift and certainly not as personal but I’m passing along recon from boys who have already graduated. If you go that route, I think it’s fun to wrap it in a more personal way. I like to put them in a box and wrap it with their school colors. You can also print out a logo of their chosen school to put on a gift tag.
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER
I also did a deep dive asking former graduates about gifts they received. Most could not remember. Take note of that. But what some did remember were experiences. For your own child, maybe tickets to a concert or a weekend trip to celebrate. Maybe even just a fun day of doing things they love. I’ll take quality time and experiences over anything else all day.
FROM THE HEART
I also want to take a moment to say that not all grads are going to want parties. I can tell you right now that my daughter would not have unless she were doing it with a group of friends. My son will not want one and we will celebrate as a family. Embrace that! So much beauty in keeping things simple and intimate. Just know that that the each child is different and so is their graduation month.
If I think of anything else that we are doing or using, I will come back and it to this post. I know this has been a random collection of things, but I hope it is useful.
Love you, mamas. We’ve got this.
Beautiful ending to your post. My daughter will be graduating from college next month, the first in our family and although we want to celebrate her big, she has asked that we have no party. She would rather have a game night with us than a huge celebration. And we’re embracing it! Congratulations to your graduate, xo.
Congratulations to your daughter and I couldn’t love this more! Yes! That’s so perfect and honoring who she is. Thank you for sharing.
Just enjoy it! I stressed about too many things, and the next day it was all over.
I need this advice. Thank you! Cleared the calendar and really trying to savor these last two weeks.
Love all of this and the thoughts you always share ❤️. My daughter has chosen to keep things small with close family instead of a big grad party. I’ve reached out to a variety of people in her life from family friends to teachers to her hair dresser asking if they’d write her a brief letter giving their advice for after high school. I’m putting them all in a book to give to her as a keepsake. It’s been so much fun receiving the letters in the mail and reminds of all the people who have supported her and us along the way.
So incredibly thoughtful and beautiful. Love this. I’m sure the notes rolling in have been incredible for you just as much as they will be for her. Congratulations to you all!
When our son graduated high school , he had a party with family and close friends. He only wanted family when he graduated college. However, our daughter did not want a party for either high school or college graduation, so we just had a nice family dinner for her. You are right to honor what your children want. I trust Riley’s party will be wonderful with great memories. Enjoy!
Ha! My son doesn’t even like gift cards – too much bulk in his wallet and forgets to take them when he needs them (yes he can add them digitally but doesn’t 🙂
This is such an emotional time. And two years later I still get teared up. Best of luck to your daughter. I remember when she was a little!
Best of luck to your daughter and to you as you savor these days leading up to graduation! My high schooler had graduation three weeks from today – I can’t believe how fast the days are flying by. (I still haven’t gotten graduation announcements out ha! – we just did senior portraits at Crystal Cove last night.)
I need all the luck I can get. We just made it through prom last weekend, so on to graduation! Our son’s graduation is the first week in June, and I still don’t know what to wear. And I haven’t gotten the announcements out yet. And, and, and…. the list goes on. I am trying to enjoy the last few weeks of his senior year, even if we are still arguing about homework. 😉 I better get on ordering those announcements!
And he at first said he didn’t want a party, and now he thinks he wants one with a friend. We are navigating that last minute change as well. We shall see where we end up. It’s been bittersweet this year. I was shocked that when he had senior night for hockey or played his last hockey game (state tournament!) that I didn’t get emotional. It was actually more joyous. I am hoping that I feel similarly at commencement.
Dear Courtney,
Congratulations to Riley and to you both as parents .She Did It! and you as parents Did It! Please let her know I wish all the best to all that lies ahead of her.
My daughter graduates next year. Courtney Iknow your in Tennesse. My fiance resides in Nasheville Tennese. Yes its my future home.
I would like to extend a hand of friendship beyond this platform and keep in touch, I dont know alot of folks there. I ‘m a Virgina gal.
Keep posting darling, coz I’m reading
Cheers,
Anjiline