Nimanto

Guide

Graduation invitation wording and examples

By Nimanto · · 6 min read

The short answer

A graduation invitation names the graduate, the school and the degree or class year, then says what you are inviting people to: the ceremony, a party, or an open house. Give the date, the time (a window for an open house), the address and a reply-by date. Keep it to a few lines, and let the photo and the school colours do the rest.

What should a graduation invitation say?

Six things: the graduate's full name, the school and the degree or class of year, the kind of event (ceremony, party, open house), the date and time, the address, and how to reply. Add who is hosting when the parents or grandparents are, and a line about gifts only if you need to.

  • The graduate's name as it will be read out, not a nickname, unless the party is casual.
  • The school, and the degree for college ("Bachelor of Science in Nursing") or the class year for high school ("Class of 2027").
  • One event per line if there are two: the ceremony at 10 am, the party at 2 pm.
  • A reply-by date about a week before the party, so you can plan the food.

Leave the party address off a ceremony-only announcement; a ceremony has limited tickets and most people will not be able to attend it.

Graduation party invitation wording

A party invitation is the most common graduation invitation, and the warmest in tone. Lead with the graduate, say it is a party, and give the time and the address. Mention food if you are serving a meal, and the end time if you want one.

Please join us for a graduation party honoring Maya Thompson. Class of 2027, Lincoln High School. Saturday, June 12, 2027, 2 to 6 pm. 48 Orchard Lane, Dayton. Food, cake and lawn games. Kindly reply by June 5.

She did it! Come celebrate Priya's graduation from Ohio State University, Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Sunday, May 16, 2027 at 1 pm. The Patel home, 12 Maple Court. RSVP by May 9.

Caps off to Daniel! Join us for burgers and a backyard party to celebrate his graduation. Saturday, June 19, 4 pm until late. 7 Ridge Road. Reply by June 12 so we know how many buns to buy.

Graduation open house invitation wording

An open house gives a window of time rather than a start, so guests drop in when they can. Say "open house" plainly, give the hours, and make clear that people can come for any part of it. Replies matter less; a rough head count is enough.

You're invited to a graduation open house for Ethan Walker, Class of 2027, Westfield High. Sunday, June 6, 2027, drop in any time between 1 and 5 pm. 30 Birch Street, Carmel. Light refreshments served. No need to reply, but let us know if you're coming so we can plan the cake.

  • If several families are hosting a joint open house, list each graduate with their school on its own line.

Graduation ceremony invitation wording

Ceremonies are formal and ticketed, so this wording is reserved for the few people who have a seat: close family, a godparent, a mentor. It uses full names and the school's own words for the degree, and it rarely needs a reply line because the tickets have already been counted.

The President and Faculty of Boston College announce the Commencement of the Class of 2027, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Chen are pleased to invite you to the ceremony at which their daughter, Olivia Grace Chen, will receive the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Saturday, the twenty-second of May at ten o'clock in the morning. Alumni Stadium.

Sofia Reyes will graduate from Northview High School on Thursday, May 27, 2027 at 6 pm, Northview Field. We have two tickets saved for you and would love you to be there. A family dinner follows at 8 pm at Luigi's on Main.

  • Write times in words on a formal ceremony invitation and in figures on a party one.

Graduation announcement wording (no party)

An announcement tells friends and relatives the news without inviting them anywhere, so it carries no address and no reply line. It is the right card for people far away. Many families add a line that says gifts are not expected, so the card is not read as a request for one.

With pride and joy, the Nguyen family announces the graduation of Anh Nguyen from the University of Washington, Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, June 2027.

Marcus Lee, Class of 2027, Riverside High School. Off to the University of Michigan this fall. Thank you for cheering him on.

Wording for a college, master's or PhD graduation

Use the degree's full name and the school's, and drop the class year, which matters less past high school. For a doctorate, say the field; the thesis title is for the programme, not the card. A graduate school party is usually hosted by the graduate or their partner, so write it in the first person.

We're celebrating Dr. Aisha Rahman. Join us as she marks her PhD in Chemistry from Stanford University. Saturday, June 26, 2027, 6 pm. Rooftop at The Bell, Palo Alto. Dinner and drinks. Please reply by June 15.

I finally did it. Come toast my MBA from Kellogg with me on Friday, June 11 at 7 pm, at our place, 220 Lakeview Apt 4B. Reply by June 4.

When should graduation invitations go out?

Send party invitations three to four weeks before the party, which lands in late April or May for most graduations. Ceremony invitations go out as soon as the school confirms tickets. Announcements can go out just before or just after the day; after is fine, with a photo from the ceremony.

  • Graduation season is crowded: a Saturday in June can hold four parties. Earlier is better.
  • Set the reply-by date a week before the party.
  • On Nimanto, the invitation is one link: send it by text, e-mail or WhatsApp, and replies land in one list. See sharing the link.

Should you mention gifts on a graduation invitation?

Only to say they are not expected. Asking for money or gifts on the invitation itself is read as a demand, even when the family means well. If people ask, tell them privately, or give the graduate a registry link on a details page rather than on the card.

Your presence is the only present we need.

No gifts, please. Come hungry.

  • On Nimanto, the registry sits on its own page of the invitation: see the gift registry.

Questions people ask

What do you write on a graduation invitation?

The graduate's name, the school and the degree or class year, the kind of event, the date and time, the address and a reply-by date. Say who is hosting if it is the parents. That is enough; a photo of the graduate and the school colours carry the rest of the card.

How far in advance should you send graduation party invitations?

Three to four weeks before the party. May and June weekends fill up with graduations, so earlier is better than later. Ceremony invitations go out as soon as the school confirms how many tickets you have, and announcements can follow the ceremony itself.

Do you invite people to the ceremony or the party?

Most guests are invited to the party only. Ceremonies are ticketed, often to four or six seats, so the ceremony invitation goes to close family. If someone is invited to both, give each event its own line with its own time and place.

How do you word an open house graduation party?

Say "open house" and give a window, such as 1 to 5 pm, with a line that guests can drop in at any time. Replies are optional for an open house, but a rough head count helps with food, so ask guests to let you know if they plan to come.

Is it rude to ask for money on a graduation invitation?

Yes, on the invitation itself. Say nothing about gifts, or say they are not expected. If relatives ask what the graduate would like, tell them in person. A registry or a fund can sit on a separate details page for those who look for it.