Help with Wording for a Graduation Cookout

jnorth90

I am graduating on May 7th, however I am only allowed 8 tickets, which is mainly my immediate family and 2 of my best friends. However, that afternoon I am having a large cookout of which everyone that I am sending announcements (24) to, can attend. How to nicely and festively word, You can't attend the graduation (because I don't have enough tickets), eventhough I doubt many would want to come to a 10am ceremony but I would love to have you at the cookout.

I was thinking something like:

While admission to the graduation ceremony is limited to 8 tickets, the graduation cookout isn't limited. Please join us for fellowship with the graduate at her home on May 7th at 4:30pm. Looking forward to seeing you there. It will be a cookout filled with food, fun, friends and family. Address and contact information is listed below, please RSVP by April 30th via telephone or email.

 Okay, my creativity is limited, please help!

TIA

 

6fsn

I don't think you really need to mention the ceremony.  It's very common for graduation parties to only be the party with no real mention of the ceremony.  It's not like a wedding.

SBS0628

Don't mention the ceremony.

The same was true for me at all of my graduations (high school, college, grad school) -- limited tickets for immediate family, big party later.

I always used some variation of this wording:

To celebrate that [NAME] is a candidate for the degree of [INSERT DEGREE HERE] from [INSERT SCHOOL HERE], please join us for a Graduation [INSERT TYPE OF PARTY HERE]

And then follow it up with time/date/location/etc.

jnorth90

Okay, I just didn't want people showing up at the graduation and then they can't get it. However, the annoucement does state, that the graduation is admission by ticket only.

 Thanks so much

Shozzies

I don't think you need to mention it.  Every graduation I've been to had a limited number of seats and required tickets to get in.  Just because I was invited to the party would not make me think I was invited to the actual ceremony.  Most people have a large party with extended family and only a few close friends or family members invited to the actual ceremony.