It's almost that time of year again where friends and family come together to celebrate a major milestone in almost everyone's life- graduating from high school. While it is a happy moment, it can also be a bittersweet moment for parents, as they come to terms with their child's transition to adulthood. And while the graduate is outwardly thrilled, they can also frequently be inwardly anxious about what the future holds.

Holding a fabulous graduation party for your child not only recognizes their major accomplishment, it gives extended family and friends the opportunity to socialize before he or she heads off to college and becomes busy building their life. Here are three tips to help you make the most of this big day, with the least amount of stress possible.

Set Your Budget First

Before you do anything, you need to know how much you can afford to spend for the big event. Your budget will determine every other decision you make. While this may seem common sense, many people make the mistake of deciding who is on their invite list first and working backwards. Once your budget is set, draw up your initial guest list, and have your graduate do the same. Compare notes for a head count, and once you have that,perform a simple calculation to determine what your budget would allow per person. If you're like most people, you will likely have to make some readjustments to the guest list to allow for budget constraints.

Plan The Menu

Your graduation party will likely include many of your child's classmates, who typically won't have refined palates. Don't plan for expensive or fancy hors d'oeuvres. Assorted dips and the usual accompaniments of fresh vegetables and chips are inexpensive and popular with all age groups. Most people order a graduation cake from their local bakery. But that leaves the question of what to serve for the main event. While you could go the familiar burgers and hot dogs route, it still requires someone manning the grill, which leaves less time for the chef to relax and enjoy the party.

If your budget allows, it is simplest to hire a caterer to take care of the cooking for you. A summer BBQ is one of the most popular menus. Pulled pork, smoked briskets, and all of the usual sides, like potato salad, baked beans, and coleslaw, are not only popular but also relatively inexpensive. Some BBQ catering companies even offer whole pig roasts, which is quite impressive. Call around and get some ideas for the different menus and prices they offer. Most companies take care of the setup and teardown for you, which means all you have to do is relax.

Decide The Decor And Entertainment

Party planning stores have no shortage of graduation party supplies, like decorative paper plates, napkins, and streamers. Depending on your budget, you may decide to hire a band, or you might just create a digital set list. Either way, a party isn't a party without some good music. Don't forget to offer games, like lawn darts or three-legged relay races.

Contact a business like Grumpy's Bar B Que Roadhouse for more help.