Throwing A Graduation Party?

Graduation parties are a staple of any summer. With the countless numbers of high school and college seniors moving their tassels, it's hard to make a graduate's party stand out from all the others, but a themed party can do just that.

Having been through college, many graduates are surely familiar with themed parties - the Rubix cube party, the toga party, the CEOs party, the golf pros party, etc. Some of those, however, are played-out or might not be okay to show dear old mom and dad. New themes to try out include Mardi Gras, a graduation luau and Cinco de Mayo parties.

Regardless of the theme, there are some good ideas that can work at any grad's special party. One idea is a guestbook for friends to sign and write memories in as they arrive. The guestbook can be tweaked to fit any party theme, and putting a fun graphic on the front showing the party's theme would be a great addition.

Another idea would be to have friends bring favorite photos from college for a photo album that you can cherish forever and didn't have to do any real work to create. As with the guestbook, photo albums too can be tailor fit to any party theme.

For any of the theme parties below, it is always a good idea to let guests know about the theme in advance so they can prepare appropriately.

Mardi Gra(d)s Party

Bring some of the French Quarter's most famous block party to your graduation!

For invitations, use colored construction paper in bright, bold colors like purple, green and yellow and make sure people know that the party has a theme so they can dress accordingly.

For decorations, try painting large sheets of poster board to resemble the wrought-iron balconies and townhouses that give Bourbon Street its signature look. If painting is not possible, those large sheets of poster board can be used to put up pictures of the Bourbon Street parade floats. Balloons in bright, colorful shades can help give your party a Mardi Gras feel.

When it comes to favors, none is better known than the Mardi Gras beads. Get a big bag and give them to visitors as they come into the party.

As for food, try out some traditional New Orleans fare with your guests by serving red beans and rice, crawfish and gumbo.

Graduation Luau

While not everyone has the opportunity to go to Hawaii right after graduation, Hawaii can come to you with a graduation luau.

Encourage your guests to show up in beachy or luau attire like leis and grass skirts.

The word "luau" in Hawaiian means "feast," and in keeping with the meaning, there should be plenty of food. Authentic Hawaiian fruits like papaya, pineapple and macadamia nuts make good snacks for guests. As for drinks, iced tea is a good beachy non-alcoholic choice while others may enjoy Blue Hawaiis and Mai-Tais.

When it comes to favors, there are plenty of options, including leis. Leis can be purchased at most local party good stores and can be handed to guests at the door. At the table, try putting out dashboard hula dancers for favors or centerpieces.

When decorating for the party, try using native Hawaiian flowers like orchids or things like grass skirts and coconuts to take the theme one step further.

Cinco de Mayo

Graduation may be May 6, but don't let that stop a Cinco de Mayo themed "fiesta" in its tracks; a fiesta is a solid party theme for any time of year.

As for food, certain Mexican dishes like fajitas allow guests to design their own meal by putting whatever foods they like inside the tortilla. Other staples to try might be chili con queso or nacho chips and salsa. Guests might also enjoy Mexican beers such as Corona or Dos Equis.

Bring back your childhood with a piñata, maybe one shaped like a mortar board or something tied to the fiesta theme like a bull or sombrero.

Can't afford mariachis? Download some Mexican music to play in the background.

For favors, miniature sombreros work very well at each guest's plate and maracas could serve as a great centerpiece for a table.

When it comes to the rest of the decorations, balloons in the colors of the Mexican flag -- red, white and green - would compliment the scene very nicely.