She's One Smart Cookie: Graduation Party Idea

Can you believe how fast this school year has flown by? I know I can’t!  My oldest child is graduating this year and so of course we’re super busy attending all the graduation activities and planning her graduation party.

Because I’ve been focused on all things graduation, I thought I would share this fun “One Smart Cookie” grad party I styled for a client last year.  You’re going to love it!

When I met with the client she told me two things: the graduate wanted a cookie bar, and she wanted the party to have a rustic feel!  Because I’m such a fan of rustic design, I loved the idea and ran with it.

This party was set up indoors, specifically in her dinning area! She has a big window next to the dinning table with white blinds and for the rustic feel, I really needed to cover them, so I started by creating the backdrop using three vintage doors, that way I covered all the blinds. I then attached a hand-lettered chalkboard sign with our party’s theme “She’s One Smart Cookie!”

Chalkboard and hand-lettering was a theme we carried through the party.  We used it everywhere we could, from the signage, to the “Congrats” banner, to the welcome sign in the front yard.

To create the vintage look we were going for, I used lots of different rustic serving platters throughout the table. The galvanized metal just gave it the perfect farmhouse touch.  

I used baking supplies all through this cookie bar.  I felt like it was a natural extension of the cookie/bakery/rustic vibe.  It also helped add a pop of color!

I always love using things in unexpected ways.  For example, the food scales, not only do they give my table the beautiful full look I was going for, but also doubled up as serving platters!

We also mixed up some chocolate, strawberry and plain milk because you can’t have cookies without milk.  But, we didn’t want to have to worry about keeping it chilled, so we didn’t actually serve this. It was just for decoration.
We actually served tea and lemonade.  

The guests used vintage milk bottles and paper straws with glittery toppers!  How fun are they?

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Now let’s talk about all these fabulous cookies!

My client ordered so many delicious cookies for this party.  She got some local Texas favorites such as Barbara Bush’s Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies, and she even ordered some specialty cookies from out of state!  

Because the graduate was heading to the University of Georgia, Mom ordered some adorable Georgia Bulldog cookies too! So fun!

It was really a huge variety of tasty cookies and the guests just loved them!  The guests used the personalized cookie bags to create their perfect batch, you can find the cookie favor bags here.

Because it’s always nice to include a few personal touches, we included a few pictures of the guest of honor, our graduate, and her favorite flower - Sunflowers!  

I just loved this fun and rustic cookie bar grad party!  Who wants a cookie now, I know I do! Yum!

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Vendor Credits

Photography & Styling: Mint Event Design
Venue: Client’s Home
Cutouts for Straws and Milk Jar Decals: Sugar Parties LA

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