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GRADUATION 101
GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT ETIQUETTE & WORDING
What to say and whom to send them to—we break down everything
you need to know about graduation announcement wording.
Graduation Invitation: Written Out
Exams were aced, essays were written, credits were earned—now there’s just one more thing: how to word your graduation announcements. No matter which unique design you choose, you’ll need to know what information to include on them. Below, we’ve made it easy to word the perfect graduation announcement.
ANATOMY OF AN ANNOUNCEMENT
YOUR GRAD’S NAME
Display your grad’s name somewhere prominent—it’s their time to shine! Use first, middle, and last name for a formal announcement, or go with a nickname for an informal design.
YOUR GRAD’S PHOTO
For a personal touch, include your graduate’s senior portrait or a shot of them in their cap and gown at graduation.
PARENTS’ NAMES
Though not always necessary, including the parents’ names is a way to show their pride. If married, display as Mr. and Mrs. [last name], otherwise separate full names do the trick.
SCHOOL NAME
Include the full name of the school that your grad is graduating from. For the high school graduate, it’s also a good idea to include the name of the university they’re attending next.
MAJOR
For the college graduate, highlight their area of study and the degree they’ve earned.
GRADUATION YEAR
Numerals work well for most styles, but you may wish to spell it out for a formal design.
BACK OF CARD
Opt for a design that features a backer, where there’s space to include your grad’s accomplishments. Here you can mention their passions, sports teams, or special honors. It’s also a great place to include a personal thank you to all those who helped your grad along the way.
SAMPLE GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
CLASSIC HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT WORDING
Mr. and Mrs. Banks are Proud to Announce the Graduation of
James Ellis Aster
Montrose High School
Class of 2019
CASUAL HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT WORDING
College Bound!
Sarah Wood
Octavia High School
Class of 2019
FORMAL COLLEGE GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT WORDING
Announcing the Graduation of
Phoebe Eleanor Banks
The University of Texas at Austin
McCombs School of Business
Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing
Class of 2019
BACK OF CARD WORDING
After four years of hard work, Friday night football games, dances, and amazing friendships, we are thrilled to announce the graduation of our daughter Riley Elizabeth from Patrick Henry High School.
With love,
the Clark family
GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENT ETIQUETTE
WHEN TO SEND
Unlike a graduation invitation that includes an event date, the graduation announcement can be sent within a wide time frame; we suggest about two weeks before the ceremony (when you’re sure all the requirements have been met!) to six weeks afterwards, in case you prefer to include a photo of your grad in full regalia.
WHOM TO SEND THEM TO
Family members, both immediate and extended, will of course be thrilled to receive a graduation announcement. While it’s not necessary to send to friends in the same year of your grad, it’s a good idea to send to childhood friends who have stayed in touch. And don’t forget anyone who may have helped your grad along the way, from piano teachers, soccer coaches, or even favorite teachers from elementary school.