graduation can surprise you in no time. With making post-grad plans, throwing a prom, and making sure you pass all your final exams, the details tend to get forgotten. And when it comes to your graduation planning experience, you may be asking yourself questions like “when should I send out my graduation announcements?” or, “Who should I send my ads to?” or even, “what is the proper wording for a graduation announcement?” we are here to help. Last-minute planning can lead to announcements being sent out late, leaving recipients with little or no time to prepare for the celebration. Not to mention, planning ahead will save you the stress and last minute rush of preparing your personalized graduation announcements with inspirational graduation quotes, academic achievements, and all the details of the big day. so if you’re wondering when to send graduation announcements, check out our answers below.
jump to:
- when are graduation announcements sent?
- how to send graduation announcements
- who to send graduation announcements to
when do you send graduation announcements?
Graduation announcements must be sent out at least two weeks before the event. If they don’t include an invitation, you can send them up to six weeks after the event. You may also consider sending a save-the-date email three months before the ceremony to ensure your loved ones can attend.
Some high school and college graduation ceremonies only award students a certain number of tickets. reserve these for immediate family and grandparents and you can include your graduation ticket and ceremony invitation with your personalized announcement.
when to send other graduation details
Although not everyone may be able to attend the ceremony, nothing prevents guests from attending the graduation party. If you’re hosting a post-graduation party, consider inserting the party invitation with your announcement. including a postage reply card is also a great way to get quick responses.
You should also consider the distance your ads need to travel when determining when to send them. Reserve more time for out-of-town friends and family who have to travel for the ceremony. after all, June is a busy time for everyone. for those you see daily, you can be a bit more lenient on the ship date.
how to send graduation announcements
Making sure your graduation announcements and invitations are properly addressed helps ensure they arrive in the mail of your loved ones on time. If you’re worried about making sure you write everything on the envelopes correctly, be sure to check out our resource on how to approach graduation invitations. then check the boxes on how to submit graduation announcements below:
- order your graduation announcements well in advance: order your graduation announcements at least a month in advance to receive them on time. and if you want a prom photo shoot to get new photos in the ads, plan ahead.
- Build a mailing list: It’s important to make sure all of your loved ones know about your achievement. If you need help building a mailing list, see the section below.
- Check for correct titles: Make sure you’re using the correct titles for each recipient. for example, you’ll want to choose the correct “mrs.” WHO”. to avoid accidental false pauses.
- double check addresses and spelling: the best way to make sure your letters get where they are going is to use the correct address and spelling on the envelope.
- verify the postage is correct: If you are using square envelopes or your letter is heavier than average, you may need additional postage.
- Send in plenty of time for each recipient: As mentioned above, you should send most letters at least two weeks in advance, and even sooner for long-distance friends and family.
who to send graduation announcements to
Once you’ve determined when to send your ads, it’s time to decide who should receive one. Building a mailing list and compiling addresses well in advance will also help keep things organized and in a timely manner. When it comes to this step, think about the people who have had a significant impact on your young student’s life. Another good rule of thumb is to send an announcement to anyone your family would send a Christmas or holiday card to. We’ve compiled a short list as a guide for you to follow when determining who to send your graduation announcements to:
- family and close friends: these people are essential! They probably already know most of the details for the big day, but of course they’d love to display a fancy ad on the fridge. no one likes to brag about their accomplishments more than their friends and family.
- acquaintances: those you’d send a holiday or holiday card to should probably get a graduation announcement too . if you can find their address somewhere around the house, that’s also a great indicator that you should send them an invite.
- tutors, teachers, classmates: don’t forget to the ones who stood by the graduate’s side throughout their educational journey. Anyone involved in the graduate’s high school or college career should be considered.
- Ask the graduate: Get a list from the graduate that includes who they would like to post an announcement to . this way you can be sure you haven’t missed anyone.
resources related to when to send graduation announcements
When it comes to sending your announcements, keep in mind the date of the event, don’t forget the distance from the recipient, and be sure to include those special recipients for the graduate on the guest list. For more tips and tricks, visit our graduation announcement etiquette page.