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Original poster

How Did You Make Your DC Graduation Special

58 replies

Lbet · 27/07/2025 07:47

My sons graduation is next week and I am so looking forward to it.

What did you all do on your DC day to make it special?

OP posts:
BlessicaBlimpson · 27/07/2025 07:55

Took him for a nice lunch.

Didn't go on about my graduation or made the day all about me.

Didn't talk about him getting a job or future plans.

Was polite to his friends and didn't embarrass him.

That's it Wink

StrangledHowl · 27/07/2025 08:04

Nice lunch. Don’t fall down drunk or wear a bin bag to the ceremony, or heckle. Be nice to friends, academic supervisors etc. That’s about it.

RatherTardy · 27/07/2025 08:05

I took 2 bottles of fizz and picnic wine glasses for the photos

StrangledHowl · 27/07/2025 08:06

Oh, and don’t, as DH’s granddad did, bring plastic bags to the post-ceremony reception, and fill them with finger food for your ferrets.

BlessicaBlimpson · 27/07/2025 09:15

Also didn't try to control the schedule - drove / walked wherever without any complaint, didn't stress that we might be late / needed to collect gown / do official photo. And took 100s of photos

TianasBayou · 27/07/2025 09:38

As above. Acted as PA and photographer. Whooped and cheered (the VC encouraged it at her ceremony).
Did not insist on staying dressed up for dinner, and had a lovely relaxed evening as a result.

A few had flowers at the ceremony but not many.

Flyswats · 27/07/2025 09:50

These are all excellent pointers and some very funny answers. I'm going to keep a copy of them for when my kids graduate in a few years (let's hope they do).

Radioundermypillow · 27/07/2025 09:51

BlessicaBlimpson · 27/07/2025 07:55

Took him for a nice lunch.

Didn't go on about my graduation or made the day all about me.

Didn't talk about him getting a job or future plans.

Was polite to his friends and didn't embarrass him.

That's it Wink

This. 100%

My dd wanted a small bunch of flowers and some nice photos. It was a lovely day.

Radioundermypillow · 27/07/2025 09:52

StrangledHowl · 27/07/2025 08:06

Oh, and don’t, as DH’s granddad did, bring plastic bags to the post-ceremony reception, and fill them with finger food for your ferrets.

Amazing

Willowskyblue · 27/07/2025 09:54

Had flowers delivered the day before to save DD having to carry them around. Ordered a personalised graduation card from Etsy. Took loads of photos, had lunch together beforehand, went to fun photo booth place for best photos of the day, and a lovely dinner with family and DD’s best friend in the evening. Fabulous day!

StrangledHowl · 27/07/2025 09:56

Radioundermypillow · 27/07/2025 09:52

Amazing

Show quote history

He just saw it as a waste. I mean, no idea whether ferrets like vol-au-vents and finger sandwiches.

BellissimoGecko · 27/07/2025 09:56

StrangledHowl · 27/07/2025 08:06

Oh, and don’t, as DH’s granddad did, bring plastic bags to the post-ceremony reception, and fill them with finger food for your ferrets.

😮😮

BellissimoGecko · 27/07/2025 09:58

DD’s graduation is tomorrow! Great tips here ☺️

We have bought her a gift to show how proud we are of her, and booked a nice restaurant for dinner. Plan to take a million photos and buy the official video for family who can’t be there.

Cynic17 · 27/07/2025 10:07

Be guided by your adult child. They may think it's all a massive pain in the backside, and not want it to be "special". So don't embarrass them or gush over them, and don't take lots of photos.
Don't overdress - it's not a wedding. Smart and discreet is fine.
If they are happy with an element of fuss, ask them to pick a restaurant and you pay for a decent lunch!

Toomanywaterbottles · 27/07/2025 10:12

We attended the ceremony and went for a pizza afterwards. No photos, apart from the ones we took, and no flowers. We later - another day - went for high tea at a posh hotel.

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 27/07/2025 10:14

I've had four graduate and I've never really tried to 'make it special'. I took them for a nice lunch before the ceremony but that was all. They'd all got their own lives by then, as graduation was a while after Uni finished, so they'd found somewhere to live and jobs and were more interested in meeting up with their friends again than mum making the day particularly fluffy for them.

We still all managed to have a great time.

Flyswats · 27/07/2025 10:29

Vroomfondleswaistcoat · 27/07/2025 10:14

I've had four graduate and I've never really tried to 'make it special'. I took them for a nice lunch before the ceremony but that was all. They'd all got their own lives by then, as graduation was a while after Uni finished, so they'd found somewhere to live and jobs and were more interested in meeting up with their friends again than mum making the day particularly fluffy for them.

We still all managed to have a great time.

Were you actively trying to patronize the OP or is that just what you do normally?

Dogsrbrill · 27/07/2025 10:37

do t be surprised when the new graduate , peels off from the family celebrations to go round their old haunts It's a reunion of friends as well. Mine went clubbing

Dogsrbrill · 27/07/2025 10:39

We went back to our hotel after a long day and they went clubbing with friends

StrangledHowl · 27/07/2025 10:41

Flyswats · 27/07/2025 10:29

Were you actively trying to patronize the OP or is that just what you do normally?

Show quote history

I think it’s a fair enough comment. Some of the avoidable conflicts on graduation day are between parents who see it as a huge deal and graduands who’ve moved on in their heads and would have preferred to graduate in absentia. Best to find some kind of common ground in advance.

PhantomThread · 27/07/2025 10:43

Had a fabulous day.
The ceremony was great. Her boyfriend arrived afterwards with flowers which I took home. They went off with friends and we met up later that evening for cocktails and dinner. Her godparents and their partners joined us as did Ds and his partner.
A lovely memorable event.

Catstare · 27/07/2025 10:44

Had flowers delivered to her house the day before graduation

Smiled and chatted and congratulated all her fellow graduates I met and whoever she brought over to introduce

followed her plans - if she disappeared off for a bit for photos with friends / supervisor etc .. just messaged her where we were .

Went for ( and paid for ) meal on evening - her choice of place

it was very well organised by uni- just had to rock up and be ready to be told what to do to have a lovely day basically

CaptainMyCaptain · 27/07/2025 10:46

StrangledHowl · 27/07/2025 08:06

Oh, and don’t, as DH’s granddad did, bring plastic bags to the post-ceremony reception, and fill them with finger food for your ferrets.

🤣

herbalteabag · 27/07/2025 10:47

We had a lovely evening meal. However, the graduation was at 9 am and 5 hours from home, so we had the entire day to fill! It was a lovely day, took loads of photos and drank champagne in the marquee, and got a proper photo.
Since there was so much time to spare we got ditched in the middle in favour of friends, but we just liked seeing him happy and having a nice day. We didn't really do anything special apart from the meal and a small gift, but the day was very special anyway.

tripleginandtonic · 27/07/2025 10:48

Lbet · 27/07/2025 07:47

My sons graduation is next week and I am so looking forward to it.

What did you all do on your DC day to make it special?

The event itself is special enough, no need to do more than turn up and take them for a celebratory meal later ime.