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Our Future Is So Bright We’re Gonna Need Shades
preschool graduation party
Hi Friends! It’s officially summer over here! Last week was Sawyer’s graduation from preschool. I really can’t believe that my big guy is going to be in kindergarten in the fall. How is he ready for elementary school?!? Time really needs to slow down!
So to soften the blow that my baby is growing up, and to kick off summer with a lot of fun, we threw a Our Future Is So Bright We’re Gonna Need Shades preschool graduation party for Sawyer and all of his classmates this past Friday. It was such a blast!
Our Future Is So Bright We’re Gonna Need Shades
preschool graduation party
THE THEME
When I was first envisioning this theme, lots of crazy sunglasses were, of course, a must! Also, I loved the idea of a big, bright shining sun and a limitless blue sky and clouds. I wanted the party to be focused on graduation but also full of a lot of summer fun. It really was the kick off to summer! As for the color palette, the brighter the better! With the pops of vibrant colors, I thought incorporating black and white made a nice compliment. As with most of my parties, after I established the overall look and feel that I would try to achieve in my mind, I first designed the invitation. Then, next up was the design of the backdrop as well as all of the other details of the party.
When I spotted these adorable sunglasses-wearing summer food balloons in Soiree Love’s shop I just had to have them. Aren’t they SO cute?! I can’t say enough wonderful things about Dee’s shop. She was so fantastic to work with. I would highly recommend you check out her shop for your next party!
Our Future Is So Bright We’re Gonna Need Shades
preschool graduation party
THE FOOD
Since the party was mid-afternoon I went really simple with the foods. Fruit, cupcakes, diploma cookies, “class rings” (Ring Pops) and sunglasses cookies made for a perfect menu.
When I came across these Sunglasses Cookies by Amber’s Cake Creations I instantly fell in love with them. I mean, I’ll be honest, (party blogger nerd alert…haha) it made me a little giddy to think of how well the cookies would work with these Meri Meri Sun Plates (*affiliate link) and the theme in general. AND, the fact that they could also double as edible place cards…SO cute! I would highly recommend these cookies! Not only were they delicious, Amber is a complete dream to work with and such a sweetheart!
I also absolutely love coming up with fun, themed names for simple foods. The “class rings” (Ring Pops) were such a hit! Also, the “diploma cookies” got a lot of laughs. They were super simple to assemble too. I just used Pirouette Wafer Cookies (*affiliate link), straight out of the canister, and tied each one with a Twizzlers Pull n’ Peel. So cute and both required little to no effort at all!
Another party food hack that I love to do is to buy simple, no frills, store-bought cupcakes and then top them with fun lollipops, like we did with our You Are Jaw-Some Valentine’s Day party. So for this party, I found these mortar board graduation hat lollipops from Oriental Trading and they worked so perfectly.
Our Future Is So Bright We’re Gonna Need Shades
preschool graduation party
THE FAVORS
I wanted all of our little graduates had to leave the party with a sweet memento of their preschool class. A few weeks before the party I gave Sawyer’s teachers a stack of these “autograph certificates” for all of the kids to sign. I just love how they turned out! Much like a yearbook, all of the children signed them…and you never know…some of these autographs might be worth a lot of money in the future! These kids are going places! haha!
Along with the autograph certificates, all of our little graduates also chose a pair of fun glasses and a mortar board, graduation hat. These hats were so perfect! I would definitely recommend them! They fit every child’s head and stayed on pretty well too.
I hope you enjoyed our little Our Future Is So Bright We’re Gonna Need Shades preschool graduation party! If you would like to recreate this celebration for the little graduates in your life, all of the printables are available in my Etsy shop here, here, and here. I’ve also listed links to many specific items in the party below. If you have any questions, feel free to post it in the comments and I’ll get right back to you. If you create this celebration, I’d love to see it! Please tag me @justaddconfetti on Instagram and use the #justaddconfettiprintables hashtag.
SHOP THIS PARTY:
I’d love to help you make recreating this party a breeze. The links below will get you on your way to your own Our Future Is So Bright We’re Gonna Need Shades preschool graduation party in no time!
*Some links below are affiliate links.
Invitation printable
Backdrop printable, bottle wraps, food signs, autograph certificate
Favor tags printable
Sunglasses Cookies by Amber’s Cake Creations
Meri Meri Sun Plates*
Meri Meri Cloud Napkins*
Sunglasses-wearing summer food balloons by Soiree Love
Mortar board graduation hats*
Mortar board graduation hat lollipops*
Sunglasses picks for fruit*
Blue sky and cloud glossamer*
Crazy sunglasses from Target and Dollar Tree
PIN FOR LATER:
I’m in love!! My youngest won’t graduate preschool for another year but I’ve bookmarked this page to come back to when he does! What an adorable idea!!!
Awesome! Thank you so much Kaci!! We did this party for my oldest son last year. He and his preschool buddies had such a blast!! It was such a fun kick-off to summer!!
xoxo!
Alison
Where did you purchase all the awesome sunglasses?!
Hi Lia,
Thanks so much for your message! The shutter shades are from Amazon (*affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2UNGkUt
All of the other sunglasses are from Target and Dollar Tree! I hope this helps.
Thanks again! Have a great day!
Alison
Thanks so much! Also for the sign, I know it’s a printable but would it be possible if you made it and then shipped it to me?
Where did you get the ABC card banner?
Hi Elizabeth,
Thanks so much for your message! The alphabet cards are from Target. I just punched holes in them and strung them together to make a banner.
Thanks again! Have a great evening!
Alison
Where did you purchase the streamers for the backdrop? They are so cute!!
Hi Erica,
Thanks so much for your message! I ordered the streamers from Amazon. You can find them here (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/2WyM6ua
Thanks again!
Alison
Hi Alison~ We are having a 8th grade promotion swim party for my daughter and everything is flamingos, pineapples and summer themed so I liked your future is bright. Do you sell your work? I like it but maybe without the sunglasses portion just because she is older but I do like the sun. Thank you Michelle
Hi Michelle,
Thanks so much for your message and kind words. Yes, I do sell the printables from this party theme in my Etsy shop. You can find them here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/JustAddConfetti
Thanks again so very much!
Alison
Hi Alison,
Just a couple of additional questions. How did you secure the sunglasses that you used on the backdrop? Also, for the 24 x 36 printable, what type of paper did you have it printed on? It looks like you secured it to the backdrop with string? We are hoping to print it on cardstock or something similar and using it on a small easel in front of a podium. I want something sturdy without breaking the bank.
Thank you!
Hi Erica,
Thanks so much for your message! To attach the sunglasses to the backdrop, first I threaded the shutter shades through green ribbon. I applied a small piece of tape to the back of each pair of sunglasses as well. Then I pinned the ribbons (with glasses attached) vertically to the backdrop. For the sign, I printed in on cardstock and then glued it to white foam board from Dollar Tree. Then with an xacto blade, I cut out the entire shape of the sun and rectangle. Next, I taped a cord to the back and draped it over the top of my backdrop, pinning it from the back.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I’m happy to help!
Thanks so much!
Alison