Looking for graduation announcement ideas? You’re not alone; this year, more than 6 million students will graduate high school or college. Of course, you want to showcase your student’s uniqueness, so follow these wording, design and printing tips to print graduation announcements you’ll be proud to send to friends and family.
Graduation announcement wording tips and etiquette
Many people aren’t sure what to put on graduation announcements. Start by determining whether your graduation announcements will be formal or casual.
Formal announcements tend to “stick to the script.” They list the most important information and little else. Times and dates are often written in long-form (One-Thirty in the Afternoon on June Eleventh, Two Thousand and Nineteen). Casual announcements typically display times and dates in short-form (1:30 p.m. on June 11, 2019) and might feature additional information such as headlines or even humor.
Whether formal or casual, your graduation announcement wording should include:
- The graduate’s name
- Graduation class year
- School name
- Ceremony date, time and location (if guests are invited to the ceremony)
- Graduation party date, time and location
- RSVP instructions
- Special instructions (dress code, gift/donation instructions, bring-your-own-chair, BYOB, etc.)
Optionally, your graduation announcements can include:
- Host names
- Graduate honors (valedictorian, salutatorian, graduating with honors, sports honors)
- Degree or major
- Inspirational quotes about graduation
- A headline (Graduation 2019, I’m Finally Free!)
- The graduate’s future plans
- A thank-you for recipient/guest support
Though traditional graduation announcement wording etiquette often applies, you’re free to word your graduation announcements however you’d like. Find inspiration in these graduation announcement wording examples.
Graduation announcement design tips
Want to make your own graduation announcements? Your theme should align with your wording (formal or casual).
Formal graduation announcements often feature:
- Centered text, written in long-form
- Script fonts
- Foil stamped text, especially for graduation year and the graduate’s name
- School colors
Casual graduation announcements often feature:
- Short-form text
- Non-script fonts
- Large pictures
- School colors
Of course, you can deviate from the “standard” and craft unique graduation announcements in any style you’d like. Graduation card picture ideas include:
- A single, large graduation photo
- A montage of photos
- Before-and-after pictures of the graduate now and as a young child
- A series of pictures that depict the graduate through the years
- A photo of the graduate engaging in a favorite hobby, such as playing an instrument
- Fun illustrations, such as a map that shows where high school graduates will be traveling for college
You can make your own graduation announcements quickly and easily with PsPrint’s free graduation card templates and online design tool. Simply select your favorite template, choose your colors, upload your photos and add your custom text. When you’re done designing, you can download a printable PDF to proof your design before approving it for printing.
If you want to create your custom graduation card design with your favorite graphic design software, download a free graduation announcement layout template to ensure the perfect sizing and placement.
Graduation announcement printing tips
Once you’ve created your design, all that’s left to do is print and mail your graduation announcements. You can choose between postcard-style flat graduation invitation cards and greeting card-style folded graduation cards (it’s best to know this before you begin your design).
Print graduation announcements on premium paper stocks that feel as amazing as they look. For a high-gloss look, go with a 16-point or 14-point CS2 paper stock. For an elegant look and feel, try 15-point velvet paper stock with soft-touch finish. If you’re looking for an eco-friendly option, opt for a 13-point 100 percent recycled matte cover stock.
Consider making your graduation cards stand out with print finishing options. Foil stamps add a bright sheen of color to borders, text and outlines. Die-cut graduation cards can be printed in any shape to add a fun and festive touch to your design.
Don’t forget to print matching envelopes that will help your graduation announcements stand out in the mailbox, and consider adding save-the-date magnets to help guests remember your graduation ceremony and party. You can also insert an RSVP card and return mailing envelope to make it easy to reply.
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