It's the end of the school year and graduates need to be celebrated, right? So why not spoil them with something over the top? Since many of them feel so invincible after earning their degrees or diplomas, why not treat them like the Gods and Goddesses they think they are, and honor them with a royal affair?

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You know the Parthenon in Greece was built to do just that, honor the Gods, so it makes for the perfect party backdrop. Hence, give your favorite grad the gift of a Pantheon Toga Party! It's easy if you follow my simple formula for throwing fun and memorable gatherings people will remember for a lifetime.

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Element #1 - Theme, Mood & Color: Carry Them Out in Everything You Do

When I talk about MOOD, I'm referring to the temporary state of mind, emotion or feeling I want to put my guests in - the experience I want to create for them. So that you get the idea and choose the best mood for your Pantheon Toga Graduation Party, here are some examples.

You can create a mood of "rest and relaxation" with gentle music, low lighting, candlelight and pale colors. Use flowing white fabrics and comfortable cushions and pillows for lounging. For fun, bring in a masseuse to do ten-minute neck messages for each of your guests, and laden your tables with a feast of fresh fruits and light, heavenly foods.

On the other hand, you can create an enlivened mood of "indulgence" using sensual and danceable music, colorful lighting and royal vivid colors. Bring in richer, more decadent foods. You can even promote hedonism by having your guests feed each other. Starting to see the difference?

Or, if an "Animal House" atmosphere is more your style, then keep your décor casual, more "college budget looking." Keep the lights on, play your favorite modern music, serve lots of finger foods, chips and munchies, and have a couple of kegs of beer on hand.

You have the power to create any mood you wish for your party. So what will it be -- an air of relaxation, indulgence, or carefree fun?

Element #2 - Invitations: Make Them Inviting

For your Pantheon Toga Party use a laurel headband for the base of your invitation. Simply attach a gold metallic card listing all the party specifics using a gold stretchy cord to adhere it to the laurel.

When creating your wording, lead in with something like, "It's time for (insert your graduate's name) to rest on his (or her) laurels! Join us as we honor him (or her) at his (or her) Pantheon Toga Graduation Party!" or "Calling all graduating Gods and Goddesses, you are cordially invited to a Pantheon Toga Party!" And then maybe you list your party details - date, time, and place - on the backside of the card.

Another really fun element to add to your toga party is to assign your guests God and Goddess names. These names can either be real or funny, made-up names like "Cornucopia" Goddess of Maze, or "Sportacus" God of Athletics, or "Porsche" the Goddess of Transportation. Whichever way you go, be sure to include this in your invitation so that people can "dress" the part if they want to.

Which reminds me...you may want to mention something on the invite about this being a costume party and encourage guests to wear their laurels...a little gift to get the party started.

Element #3 - Decor & Ambiance: Remember Set and Setting Are Everything

Creating a backdrop for your Pantheon Toga Party may seem daunting, but it really isn't.

First, look around your home for everything you can find that is gold, white and/or Roman or Grecian-like. Things like columns and pillars, busts, statues, pedestals, white fabrics, sheets, sheers, curtains, ivy vines and plants, candles and candle holders, gold marbles and pebbles, clear glass containers and vases, gold sparkling flora, even tassels and ribbon. Walk room to room; pulling items and collect them all on your dining room table. When in doubt, spray it gold! It's a great motto for this party. Oh, and don't forget to raid your holiday decorations because you never know what you might find that's gold and sparkly.

Then, go online and order any missing pieces. Include things like Roman shields, and armor and be sure to pick up a gross of blue balloons with white clouds imprinted on them, which when filled with helium and allowed to float to the ceiling will represent the sky.

I would recommend renting a few larger columns from a party rental company to place around the parameter of the room to create an authentic feeling. You can purchase columns instead of renting. They're usually made of corrugated paper and come in a variety of sizes, but I feel the heavier, rented ones are safer and will better withstand the wear and tear of live guests.

A major key to decorating for this party is to make your room as light-colored as possible. To do this simply remove any dark furniture pieces and add white fabric everywhere you can. You may want to cover your couch to lighten it up a bit and inexpensive white pillowcases are a great way to cover your throw pillows. I even used tension rods to put up temporary white curtains without hurting my door openings.

Finally, take all your gold and white, Grecian/Roman items that you scavenged from around your home and place them about your party rooms, and you're done. A party backdrop fit for the Graduating Pantheon of Gods!

Element #4 - Food & Beverage: Never Stress About Food and Drinks

With everyone dressed in togas and your house fashioned after the Pantheon it seems only fitting that the Gods and Goddesses drink from a special cup. I love the idea of drinking from a bejeweled "Golden Challis." I think it's the perfect complement to the theme. You can usually order these by the dozen online. Then, name your featured beverage, whatever it is, "Nectar of the Gods." Fun eh?

Next, because this is such a special moment in your graduate's life, have white cocktail napkins personalized with his or her name and "Pantheon Graduation Toga Party" and the date imprinted in gold. You'll be creating a fancy and grown-up keepsake that it sure to delight him or her.

Finally, what graduation would be complete without a cake to celebrate? Here is a very clever idea. If you're a baker, simply make three sheet cakes that are different sizes. If you're like me, and would rather spend your time decorating or choosing a costume than bake, order three cakes from the bakery.

Then use a fun product I found from Wilton---Fillable Pillar Sets. They come in 4-inch and 6-inch heights and can be filled with whatever you like. I chose ribbon to match my décor, but you can use marbles, candy, and glitter, anything you can dream up. When combined with Wilton's square separator plates, you can easily create a customized graduation cake that's perfect as an offering to your Pantheon of Gods, at a fraction of the price.

Element #5 - Activities: Engage Your Guests in Something

I have two planned group activities for your Pantheon Toga Graduation Party to tell you about. The first is a photo op. In your decorating, create the perfect location for a group photo. Once all your guests arrive, take a group shot of everyone in costume while it's early and everyone is looking like the Gods and Goddess they are. You could also take individual shots with the Graduate and each of his or her guests to vary this idea. This photo is important because it will be part of your party favor that I'll finish telling you about in just a bit. But most importantly, this is a memorable moment in your graduate's life and you don't want to miss it!

The second activity is meant to provide a heartfelt moment to the evening. I call this a "Pocket Full of Wishes." I purchased a set of palm-sized stars online with inspirational words carved on them, and placed them in a golden-colored drawstring bag. Each guest, or couple, however you want to set it up, will take a star from the bag and use the word they pulled as the basis or starting point for their wish (or toast) to your graduate. The words on the stars I ordered are "achieve," "dream," "believe," "hope," "imagine," and "create," all encouraging words that will make for great congratulatory speeches.

When each guest has finished their wish, the stone simply goes back in the bag and the bag is passed to the next guest. Once all guests have gone, the bag is given to the graduate as a reminder of his or her lifelong wishes from all his or her favorite people. You may want to video the wishes, or have someone write them down to give to the graduate as an additional keepsake.

Element #6 - Special Touches: Set Your Party Apart; Give Them Something From Your Heart

In addition to the heartfelt Pocket Full of Wishes activity, you can also find "photo wall hangers" online easy enough that will provide added sentiment as well. If possible, try to find one that coordinates with your inspirational theme, because not only will it make for a lovely keepsake for the guest of honor, but it will also provide lots of giggles for your guests when it is filled with childhood photos.

Lastly, for a fun party favor you can make that won't cost you an arm and a leg, pick up wood frames for each of your guests. You'll also need some gold leaf paint and a sponge applicator brush. I like to work with this type of paint because it goes on so smooth and has a very unique look to it. It also dries pretty quickly. Paint each frame gold and allow it to dry. Then, simply toss the sponge applicator brush for easy clean up.

While you're out, you'll also want to choose some foam stamps that look Grecian or Roman, perhaps something with a laurel leaf, and pick up a few inspirational word stamps as well. Choose two colors of green craft paint that complement each other and you're set. Foam stamp the leaves in one color on the gold frame, and the inspirational words in another, and you've just crafted the perfect souvenir for that group photo you took earlier!

What's nice about this Pantheon Toga Graduation Party is that you can adjust it for any type of graduation -- high school, college, grad school, even a vocational degree. It's really ageless...just like the Gods and Goddesses. If you think about it, you can also adapt it for a birthday party, especially for the happy Roman or Gladiator in your life. Good party themes for men are hard to come by, but I think this one deserves a gold medal.

I'm Shelby Phillips, thanks for coming to my party!

A Graduation Party Fit For the Gods

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