When Should I send Graduation Announcements

With the start of a new year, comes the last quarter of the school year, which means graduation is right around the corner! Where friends, family, and loved ones are excited to celebrate the new journey your graduate about to embark on.

At Kincannon Photography, one of the most common questions we get after photographing Seniors and Graduates is, “When Should I send Graduation Announcements”. Since we offer graduation announcements along with senior portrait sessions we thought we’d off a timeline of when to send out graduation announcements.

When Should I Send My Graduation Announcements

We recommend that graduation announcements be sent at least four weeks before the event as most high schools and colleges only give an allotted amount of tickets for the graduates to hand out. So, getting an RSVP right away is crucial. If you’re handing out graduation announcements with the expectation of your loved ones not coming to the graduation we recommend sending out your graduation announcements at least two weeks in advance.

Once you’ve solidified your session for your senior pictures to add to your graduation announcements, your photographer should have a variety of cards to choose from. From there, you’ll want to have a list of everyone you’d like to send a card to. This way you’ve ordered enough. Most commonly, graduation announcement cards are sent to anyone you’d send a Christmas or holiday card to.

What to do when you receive a graduation announcement?

When you receive a graduation announcement or invitation, it’s best to respond right away as often times there’s limited number of tickets that can be handed out during graduation. Also, if you receive a graduation invitation, more often than not, people plan to send a small gift or cash to the new graduate, if you can’t attend the event. If you are attending the event/celebration, most people bring a small gift or cash with them. Although it’s often not required to send a gift, it’s a courtesy.

One of the most common gifts for graduations is cash. If you’re budget at this time doesn’t allow for a graduation gift, a heartfelt congratulations card is another great option.

Portrait by: www.KincannonPhotography.com

4 Reasons to Send Graduation Announcements

Why do people send graduation announcements?

1. People want to know.  Everyone wants to feel included, and people who love you, want to know when milestones happen in your life. Graduations being the huge milestone that they are, definitely deserve an announcement card. While those closest to you may already know the details of the graduation, often times those people who you send Christmas cards to every year, may not know. So, a graduation card helps to make everyone feel included more than just once a year at Christmas.
2. Tradition. Just as life events such as moving, birthdays, births and other milestones, it’s customary to share the news and excitement with those close to you. Prior to the internet, graduation announcements were the best way to communicate the excitement of the milestone. Digital communication just can’t compare to being sent a personal graduation announcement.
3. It’s a keepsake. With everything being on ever-changing technology, there’s no way a graduation announcement should solely be on social media. Who’s to know if it will be around in another 50 years? Even if it is, you don’t want to sift back decades, just to find your graduation announcement from way back when. Having tangible graduation cards sent our ensures that your memory will be relived as you hold and view your card throughout the decades. Often times, seniors and graduates keep the cards in their memory books and albums.
4. Grad announcements are the perfect thank you. Often times, those closest to us help support us through the years leading up to graduation. Whether it be in ways of helping with homework, financially, or some other way. Those people deserve a graduation announcement as a thank you for their loyalty and support through the years.

Where do I get graduation announcements?

At Kincannon Photography we offer graduation announcements with each senior/graduate session. We have hundreds of variety and are happy to help customize your cards to your needs.