Personalized Gifts

I’ve always been entriqued by the proper etiquette of gift giving and parties, etc.  When I got married I had this huge book on wedding etiquette and I wish I would have kept it.  I used it, then got married and said what the heck do I need with this again, I only plan to get married once.  Right now it would be a great book to have in my “library” of books as a resource to share with others.  I guess that’s something else I need to add to my list of some day…LOL

Since I don’t have any books myself about gift giving etiquette I did a search online and found a great website to help me help you in the mean time.  It’s the Emily Post Institute and can be found at www.emilypost.com.  You can visit there when you have a unique etiquette challenge and need an answer right away.  I’m going to be taking gift etiquette holiday by holiday starting with graduation since this is the season of the Graduations and celebrating our fine graduates.  Now when we think graduations I think most of us first and automatically think high school because that is the most celebrated and the most triumphant, or it was for me.  There’s nothing like the feeling of getting through highschool and never going back to the campus as a student.  It’s bitter sweet because you do tend to lose touch with friend, although the Facebook era has brought us back together!  I can honestly say that there are times in my life I’d like to rewind to and have a redo…highschool is NOT one of them

I digress, back to what I was saying.  So we think highschool graduation when we hear the word graduation but there are many graduating or being promoted so a graduation can be celebrated from preschool to college.  I have a 5yr old that will be promoted from kindergarten to first grade.  Now do I think there should be a cap and gown?  No, I disagree with cap and gowns for a promotion from kindergarten through 11th grade but certainly recognize the achievement and celebrate.  Kids love getting litte gifts of achievement and it doesn’t take much to make a 5 or 6 year old happy.  So for my sons class I plan to make them some little graduation style gifts using mechanical pencils and mintbooks.

Graduation Etiquette

Should you send a gift?

If you were invited to the ceremony or a grad party, yes you should send or take a gift. 

If you only received an announcement of the graduation that does not warrant a gift however most of us usually send one.

What is an appropriate gift?

Money or gift cards are probably the No.1 gift to give graduates of highschool and college and that’s usually what they prefer.  Another traditional gift, from a parent, is a car or a computer especially for those that will be away from home in college.  Flowers are a thoughtful choice such as a bouquet for after the ceremony to give to the girls or a corsage before and a boutonnière for the guys.  If you can’t be there send a beautiful arrangement such as a personalized chocolate bouquet from Sweet Expressions…wink wink.  I’m not sure you can really go wrong with a gift and some more idea are a digital camera, books, jewelry, and watches.

When do you give the gift?

This will depend on your situation but either at the graduation ceremony/party or send it near the date but certainly before the graduation date.

We are only given so many graduation ceremony tickets how do we tell family members or friends they can’t go to the ceremony?

This is simple, just explain to family and friends that you must have a ticket to enter and each graduating family is only alloted  let’s say 6 and these are reserved for parents, siblings, and perhaps a significant other.  If you still have all sets of grandparents that are willing and able to go but not enough tickets for everyone remember you don’t have to use all the tickets you received so remember to be fair.  The best solution here is to offer a celebration party after the ceremony so that everyone can see the graduate on thier graduating day and no one gets left out.

Do I need to send thank you notes?

Absolutely!  This is actually something the graduate should be doing not the parent (when we are talking about highschool and college).  Make sure it’s handwritten note, not a text, not an email, not a voicemail.  To make it easier on your teen provide them with the tools they need to send out thank yous such as the thank you cards, a pen, the envelopes, and stamps.  Even help them if that will get them to sit down and write them.

If you have one graduating or being promoted don’t forget to recognize their hardwork for the year.  They’ve all accomplished so much and deserve a little something to commemorate the occasion!

For more graduate gift ideas visit this page!  Graduate Must Haves

Keeping it Unique,

Kristal