The following party planning tips were provided by Caldwell Event Outfitters of Caldwell, which carries all the items mentioned below.

1. Rather than rent out an expensive hall, have your graduation party outdoors under a tent with rented tables and chairs. A tent will protect you in most instances of bad weather and keep your guests shaded on a warm, sunny day.
2. Outfit your party in your graduate's school colors. Paper products, linens, balloons, and other decorations can all be found in local school colors. Consider a mixture of paper products in the school's colors.
3. Often, people have their parties on the same two weekends (just prior and just after the ceremony). Consider having your party a couple weeks later to maximize attendance at your event. You may consider having your party in August, just before the graduates head off to college!
4. The easiest two options for food are typical barbeque fare or having a local business cater your event. It depends largely on how involved you want to be in cooking and serving your guests. Many prefer to leave the cooking to someone else so you mingle with your guests rather than run back and forth to the kitchen!
5. Still want to have a barbeque but without the heavy lifting? Hire someone to do the grilling for your party to take the burden off you.
6. Create an MP3 list of hits from the previous four years and play through a docking station you can purchase on your own or borrow from a friend.  Make sure you have enough music for the entire party, so you have one less thing to worry about.
7. Cloth linens are another inexpensive way to set apart your backyard party with a little elegance. They are a sturdy step up from the typical plastic or paper linens and they are less likely to fly away in the wind.
8. Balloon centerpieces are an excellent way to decorate your party cheaply.  They come in a variety of colors and can be held down by a simple balloon weight.
9. Don't let the sun go down on your party. Rent a tent light and string holiday lights to keep party going into the dark of night.
10. Rent a beverage fountain for a fun way to serve wine, champagne, soda, or punch to your guests.
11. Having a keg of beer at your party? Keg coolers are available to rent and keep your beer cold throughout an outdoor party. Coffee urns are another rental that can be an invaluable help.
12. Add a little originality and conversation to your gathering by renting a cotton candy or popcorn machine! These rentals always liven up an event.