What to Put on a Graduation Invitation 

2/19/2026

Graduation invitations cover a lot of ground — a school printing formal ceremony invites to distribute to graduates, a family planning a backyard party, a venue hosting a senior banquet. The details that need to go on the invitation vary a little depending on the event, but the things people might overlook are consistent.

Adding the occasion, date, times, and address are obvious. It’s everything else — dress code, parking, whether an RSVP is expected — that can get lost in translation. Getting it right upfront saves a round of follow-up calls and confusion on the day.

Here’s everything a graduation invitation needs, plus the details that most often get missed.

The Must-Haves

Every custom invite needs to answer five basic questions: who, what, when, where, and how do I respond?

The graduate’s full name. For parties and personal celebrations, be specific — use the full name, and for formal dinners, the name as it’ll appear in any printed program.

The event type. Are guests coming to a party, an open house, a seated dinner, or the ceremony itself? These carry very different expectations about how long to stay, what to wear, and whether to bring a gift. Name it clearly.

Date and time. Include the day of the week alongside the date — “Saturday, June 7th” is easier to process than just “June 7th.” If the event has a set end time, include that too.

Location. The venue name and full address. Don’t count on guests to look it up.

RSVP details. A phone number, email, or link, plus a deadline. Even if it’s a casual party, knowing your headcount matters.

The Easy-to-Forget Details

These don’t always make it onto the invitation, and they’re exactly the things guests end up texting you about.

Dress code. A backyard cookout and a formal dinner feel very different to someone staring at their closet. You don’t need a lengthy explanation — “casual,” “cocktail attire,” or “business casual” covers it. If there’s no dress code, skip it.

Parking. If parking is limited, costs money, or requires a specific lot or structure, note it on the invitation. For school-organized events where parking is managed, custom parking hang tags are a practical addition to the parent package — they make it easy for lot staff to identify guests and save families the hassle of tracking down a pass.

Ceremony vs. party. If you’re inviting some guests to the graduation ceremony and others only to a celebration afterward, be explicit. “Please join us for a celebration following the ceremony” is clear. “Graduation party” alone leaves room for confusion about whether guests are expected to attend the ceremony too.

Whether kids or plus-ones are included. If your event has a guest limit or you’re keeping it adults-only, it’s much easier to say so on the invitation than to handle it one conversation at a time.

Accessibility needs. If the venue has any limitations — stairs, limited wheelchair access, distant parking — a quick note helps guests plan ahead.

Wording It Right

The way you phrase a graduation invitation should match the tone of the event. A casual backyard cookout and a formal dinner reception aren’t written the same way.

For a relaxed graduation party, something like: “Please join us as we celebrate ’s graduation! at , . Light food and drinks provided. RSVP by to .”

For a more formal dinner: “You are cordially invited to celebrate the graduation of . , at , , . Dinner will be served. Kindly RSVP by .”

For a high school graduation open house (more on those below): “Stop by anytime between and to celebrate ’s graduation from ! . No RSVP needed — we’d love to see you.”

Keep wording direct and complete. Clever phrasing is fine, but not at the expense of clarity.

High School vs. College Invitations: Is There a Difference?

Not really — the same core information applies. The one thing college graduates may want to add is their degree and major, especially if the party is themed around their field of study or if extended family would appreciate knowing what they’ve accomplished. “Celebrating ’s graduation from with a degree in ” adds a nice personal touch without being necessary.

Graduation Open House Invitations: What’s Different

Open houses are one of the most common formats for high school graduation celebrations, and they have a few quirks worth knowing.

Unlike a party with a set start time, an open house runs for a window of time — typically two to four hours — and guests drop in whenever works for them. Your invitation should reflect this: give the full window (“Open House from 1 PM to 4 PM”), not just a start time.

Because guests come and go, RSVPs are usually skipped. Just make sure to plan food and seating for a rolling crowd rather than everyone arriving at once.

If there’s a part of the event where all guests are expected to be present — like a toast or a slide show — either note the time on the invitation or let guests know when they RSVP.

From Info to Invitation

Once you have your information together, the actual invitation comes together quickly. Our graduation invitation templates let you plug in your details and see a proof right away, and you can order as few as 50.

If you need matching materials — graduation flyers for school bulletin boards or community spaces, or event programs for the ceremony itself, we can help with that, too. Our templates are represented across all our print products so you can keep everything consistent.