A walk down memory lane
A backyard gathering fit for 2 grads
Well, it's been a minute, and mostly because we've been celebrating all things graduations. The night before our twins walked the big walk, we threw them a backyard pizza fête. I hadn't really planned on throwing a grad party (they didn't seem interested), but once we realized our whole family would be in town, we decided we needed a special celebration. They asked to invite friends, and so it began. Similar to the story "If You Give a Moose a Muffin," this small pizza gathering turned into a full-blown, themed grad party…and I wouldn't have it any other way!
With temperatures for the night topping off only in the mid-50s, we brought in extra space heaters to spread around the yard. It felt a little like Father of the Bride when it snowed on their LA wedding day (remember the blowdrying of the flowers and the hot bath for the swans?!), but guests were advised to dress accordingly for the cooler temps. Spring in Chicago…
The first task for any party is to come up with a graphic. With the help of a good friend, she created this cute logo, which we had printed on napkins, cups, the bar menu, and even cookies!
Upon arrival, we displayed a sign on the front door directing guests to enter through the yard and had a giant 2025 balloon splash displayed, so there was no question where the entry point was. Upon entry into the party, guests took a literal walk down memory lane, with pictures of the twins throughout their years posted on stakes that we painted and bowed. Yes, a bit extra, but guests loved seeing their transformation on display!
Every grad party needs a number sign! We ordered these light-up numbers from Amazon and adorned them with a big balloon splash. A cup of patience not included with number assembly…
Our favorite wood-fired pizza spot has a mobile oven, so we hired them to feed us for the night. I ordered these custom pizza boxes on Etsy - a fun vessel to send leftovers home with guests!
The linens from Lola Valentina were my favorite detail of the entire bash - a nod to the red and maroon colors from both schools, with the check pattern as a tribute to a red and white pizzeria tablecloth and a coordinating stripe for the non-dining tables. In the spirit of an old-school Italian pizzeria, we found rafia-wrapped Chianti bottles, appropriately named a Fiasco, and used melted drip candles for the centerpieces. With the Bronx in our future, this 1970s pizzeria staple felt on brand!
For the bar, school pendants 'HNY' from the fringe-adorned bar. We displayed the drink selection - something I always appreciate at a party, so I'm not left guessing about the options. And, of course, every party needs a signature cocktail, so we came up with a "Senior Spritz,"" our own version of a Hugo Spritz. Finally, my go-to move is to serve any fun drink in my Margarita Fountain, so we revved her up and filled her with a big batch of Griffins Spicy Skinny Margarita (a local fave!)
I created what I called a tribute table, covered with senior pictures and a few old photos, along with their bedazzled college champagne bottles. My balloon friend at Sparkles and Twine made these fun bead garlands - 1 for each school.
While I grew up with an Italian sweets table at every big celebration, I didn't quite go there, but I did nod to the tradition with a few Italian pastries. Like a crazy woman, I drove all the way down to Taylor Street in Chicago's Little Italy to get a mini cannoli. They'll keep the shells empty and send you a tub of cream to fill them at the last minute for ultimate freshness (thank you, Nana Lana!) Bonus: She gave me a full-size cannoli for the ride home! They really are the gold standard! I also had these custom macarons on Etsy with the logo and a local baker-made custom cookies
But the main event for dessert was a gelato cart - I used Jesse's gelato, which was a great addition! If only it had been 10 degrees warmer…
I love a theme, so naturally, this was a fun party to plan. The colors - maroon for their high school graduation, maroon for Fordham, and red for Dayton - were the foundation for the decor. The most notable aspect of the party was having our backyard filled with so much love - from family, friends who have been a part of the twins' lives, and the twins' best friends, whom I know they will miss dearly when they leave for school.
