Every year, millions of students reach a milestone they've been waiting for since the day they started kindergarten--graduation. Whether it's a high school or college graduation, it's customary to send out announcements to loved ones sharing the good news. Because most high schools and colleges limit the number of visitors a student may invite to commencement due to seating limitations, it is important to send announcements to include close family and friends at other festivities such as parties and luncheons. It is also important to remember to send announcements to friends and family who are too far away to join in the fun, so they can also share the good news of your accomplishment and celebration.

Traditionally, high school and college student graduates purchase their graduation supplies through their institution, and these supplies are often provided by a company the school agreed to partner with. Since these generic announcements can get lost in a sea of other announcements and invitations, why not send commencement announcements that are unique and stand out above all the others?

Online stationary leaders like Naptime Productions offers the highest quality custom made merchandise featuring bright colors, fresh designs and even photos. Once you've been given a written release by the photographer, you can even use your student's senior portrait. Candid snapshots that showcase the real personality of your graduate also work well. Another option with one-of-a-kind invitations and announcements is the opportunity to list an open house or party for the graduate. The customized invitations allow for much greater flexibility, especially if the party has a theme. This is virtually impossible to do with school-issued stationary. The possibilities are endless!

Another obvious disadvantage of sending generic announcements from a school-contracted source is the price. Without a viable source of competition, the price for graduation invitations through an educational institution is usually high. Graduation invitations do not have to be expensive. When you create your own custom announcements, or compare several products for price and value, you can choose how much or how little you spend.

Remember, it will take time for an invitation to be produced and delivered to your home. Whatever the estimated delivery time, it is important to order graduation invitation sets well in advance. Set your graduation party date as soon as possible, and place your custom invitation order at least 3-4 weeks prior to when you want to mail the graduation invitations. This will ensure that the invitations arrive on time and that everything is printed just as you envisioned.

Author Dawn Rowlett notes, "Knowing when to send the announcement is an important issue. The graduation announcements should be sent 1 to 2 weeks before the graduation date. This will allow time for people and family members to make plans to attend. It will also give people plenty of time to call and congratulate or send a card."

Mark your child's milestone with an unforgettable announcement--some memories can't be duplicated and deserve to be as notable as the graduate themselves.

Unique Graduation Announcements and Invitations