Graduation Invitation Etiquette

Graduation is a year round event with the majority happening in May and June.  For the graduate, their family and friends, the achievement of a milestone after much work and effort is an exciting event that calls for special recognition.  This is why tradition calls for a graduation ceremony and often a graduation party thereafter.  With this is the need for graduation announcements or graduation invitations.  Here are points of etiquette for each.

Graduation invitations formally invite others to the graduation ceremony.  These are normally sent to friends and family in hopes that they will come to cheer you along as you walk across a stage to receive recognition for a job well done.  More and more often though these ceremonies have limits on the number of people that can fit in the venue.  For this reason, tickets are given to each graduate to limit the head count.  It is important to keep this in mind when sending your graduation invitations.  Do not invite more people than you have tickets for.  Although it may be difficult to limit your list of special friends and family members, you do not want to officially send an invitation only to have to tell someone later that they cannot attend the ceremony.  A phone call explaining the situation may be appropriate.

It is best to send graduation announcements instead of graduation invitations to those you want to notify of your feat but regrettably cannot invite to the ceremony itself.  Reserve your graduation invitations for close family members and friends.  You may elect to host a graduation party following the ceremony itself and invite everyone to that event instead.  A formal graduation invitation with the time and location for the party is a welcomed alternative and gives those special to you a chance to congratulate you as well. 

Although a graduation invitation should not be viewed as a request for gifts, they often are.  If you wish, you can print “No gifts please” on your invitation.  When selecting to whom your invitations or announcements should be sent, it is wise to include only those who personally know you are soon to graduate.

Graduation announcements differ from graduation invitations in that they do not include information pertaining to the graduation ceremony.  Graduation announcements let everyone know you are graduating and allows them to congratulate you on your achievement.  Gifts are again optional and you can indicate they are not necessary if you so desire.

Addressing your invitations or announcements does involve a few points of etiquette.  There is normally and inner and an outer envelope that comes with each.  The inner envelope does not have a gummed flap and should include a less formal hand addressed name, like Grandma and Grandpa or Aunt Mary.  The outer envelope with the gummed flap is formally addressed with name and street address, without abbreviations.  Address each by hand in black or blue ink in your best handwriting.  When stuffing your envelopes, put your invitation or announcement in the inner envelope with the folded edge towards the bottom of the envelope and the printed front facing the flap.  Place this envelope inside the mailing or outer envelope so that you see the name on the inner envelope when you first remove it. 

Send Graduation Invitations between 10 and 14 days prior to the event.  Graduation Announcements can be sent as much as two weeks after the ceremony as they are meant to let people know you have graduated.

If you have received a graduation gift from anyone, be sure and send a short Thank You card in appreciation.  Congratulations on your achievement and best wishes for great successes in meeting your future goals!

About the Author

Linda Cress Dowdy is an avid greeting card enthusiast and professional author, editor and copywriter. For a great selection of greeting cards for all occasions, visit www.CardsDirect.com.

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