Graduation parties gather everyone who helped a student reach the finish line: parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, coaches, and friends. Whether it is a backyard open house or a sit-down dinner at a restaurant, place cards make the celebration feel special and keep the family table organised. This design has a clever detail: a navy mortarboard sits right on the fold of the card, so when the card stands, the cap rests on top of it, and its gold tassel hangs down over the front. Beside it, a round photo slot holds the graduate’s picture.
A Cap on the Fold
The card is 3.5 x 4 inches flat and folds to 3.5 x 2 inches. The front is white. On the left, a navy mortarboard straddles the fold: the flat board above the fold line, the skull cap just below it, with a gold button on top. A gold cord runs from the button across the board and drops down the front, ending in a gold tassel. On the right, a round photo slot with a thick gold ring is ready for the graduate’s photo. The text on the left reads Congrats, Class of 2027 in gold capitals, the guest’s name Aunt Maria in bold navy Montserrat, and celebrating Ethan’s graduation in soft blue-grey italic. The back is navy with darker diagonal stripes and the logo in gold.
Adding the Graduate’s Photo
The circle on the right is a photo slot. Click it and choose Replace Image to upload a photo of the graduate, ideally in cap and gown or a favourite senior portrait. The picture is cropped into the circle and keeps its gold ring. Use the same photo on every card so the graduate appears at every place, or use a different photo on each table, from kindergarten to graduation day, for a fun then-and-now theme.
The Stripes on the Back Are a Texture
The diagonal stripes on the back use the editor’s built-in Diagonal Stripes background texture, in a slightly lighter navy than the page. Open Backgrounds and choose Pattern to change it: use your school’s second colour for the stripes, make them wider or narrower, or remove them. The white front covers the texture, so it only shows on the back.
Updating Names and Wording
- Click the navy name and type the guest’s name; family titles like Aunt Maria or Grandpa Joe feel warm.
- Change the class year if needed.
- Edit the italic line with the graduate’s name.
- Upload the graduate’s photo once and keep it for every card.
- Download each finished card.
School Colours
| School colours | Cap and back | Tassel and accents |
|---|---|---|
| Navy and gold (as designed) | Navy | Gold |
| Maroon and white | Maroon | White or silver |
| Green and gold | Forest green | Gold |
| Black and orange | Black | Orange |
| Royal blue and white | Royal blue | White |
The cap is a small group, and the tassel cord and tassel are separate shapes, so each can be recoloured to match.
Graduation Phrases for the Class Line
- Congrats, Class of 2027
- The tassel was worth the hassle
- Oh, the places you’ll go
- Proud of you, Ethan
- Graduate and proud
High School, College or Beyond
The same card works for high school graduations, college commencements, master’s and PhD celebrations, nursing pinning ceremonies, law school and medical school graduations, and even kindergarten graduations. Change the class line to MBA Class of 2027, Doctor of Medicine, or Kindergarten Grad as needed.
Printing School Colours at Home
Print on bright white matte cardstock of about 100 lb cover. The navy back uses more ink, so choose a cardstock setting at normal or high quality and print a test card. The gold tassel prints as a warm yellow on home printers; a print shop can foil it for extra shine.
Folding So the Cap Sits on Top
Trim to 3.5 x 4 inches. Score exactly along the fold line, which runs through the mortarboard where the flat board meets the skull cap, and fold with the white front facing out. The cap now appears to rest on the top edge of the card, with its tassel falling down the front.
Graduation Party Table Ideas
Use tablecloths in school colours, centrepieces of diplomas tied with ribbon, photo collages of the graduate’s school years, and small bowls of candy in school colours. Mini diploma scrolls tied with ribbon make simple favours to set beside each card.
Memory Cards for the Graduate
Put a blank card beside each place setting, asking guests to write advice or a wish for the graduate’s next chapter. Collect them in a decorated box and give it to the graduate at the end of the party; it becomes a keepsake they will read for years.
Open House or Seated Dinner?
Many graduation parties are open houses, where guests drop in over several hours, and nobody has a set seat. In that case, use place cards only for the family table and guests of honour, such as grandparents, favourite teachers and coaches, and let everyone else mingle. For a seated dinner at a restaurant or at home, give every guest a card. Either way, the graduate’s photo on each card reminds everyone why they came.
Thanking the People Behind the Graduate
Graduation parties are a chance to thank the teachers, mentors, coaches, and relatives who helped along the way. Give these guests seats of honour near the graduate and add a small personal line to their cards, such as Thank you, Coach Rivera or Best tutor ever. It takes seconds to type and often becomes the detail people remember most.
Graduation Card Questions
Can I remove the photo?
Yes. Delete the photo slot and move the text to the centre.
Does the cap really sit on the fold?
Yes. The board is above the fold line and the cap below, so it looks perched on top of the standing card.
What size is the folded card?
3.5 inches wide by 2 inches tall.
Can the tassel be our school colour?
Yes. Select the cord and tassel and change their colour to match the graduate’s real tassel.
