What to Rent for a Graduation Party: The Checklist

Chairs are non-negotiable. The question is how many. For an open house style party — the most common format for Minnesota grad parties — plan for about 70% of your invited guest count to be present at peak.

• 50 guests invited: ~35 chairs
• 75 guests invited: ~55 chairs
• 100 guests invited: ~70 chairs

For a sit-down party where everyone arrives at once, rent one chair per guest plus a 10% buffer.

Popular chair options for graduation parties: white folding event chairs for a clean look, or standard folding chairs if budget is the priority. Garden chairs if you want something a step above without going full wedding aesthetic.

Tables

You need two types: seating tables for guests and utility tables for food, drinks, cake, and gifts.

Seating tables (6-foot banquet tables seat 6–8 guests):

• 50 guests open house → 6 seating tables
• 75 guests open house → 10 seating tables
• 100 guests open house → 12 seating tables

Utility tables — add these on top of your seating count:

• 1–2 tables for food and drinks
• 1 table for cake and desserts
• 1 table for gifts and cards

Don't underestimate the utility tables. A full graduation party spread needs more surface area than most families plan for.

Extra Tables for the Buffet Line

If you're doing a self-serve buffet, one table is almost never enough. Two 8-foot tables end to end gives guests room to move through the line without everyone piling up at the same spot.

A Signing Table

Many graduation parties include a signing board, memory book, or display of photos. That needs a dedicated table — not a corner of the gift table, its own space where guests will actually stop and use it.

If any part of your party is outdoors — and in Minnesota in May and June, it almost certainly is — a tent isn't optional, it's your insurance policy. Even a perfect forecast can turn in an hour.

Tent sizing by guest count:

• Up to 50 guests: 20×20 tent
• Up to 75 guests: 20×30 tent
• Up to 100 guests: 20×40 tent

Frame tents work on patios and hard surfaces. Pole tents require staking into grass and are a good option for open backyard setups.

Plan for at least two large garbage cans and one recycling bin inside the tent, plus one near the food table. For a 75–100 person party, have extras staged nearby. Garbage fills up faster than anyone expects.

A chill table filled with ice is the easiest way to keep drinks cold and accessible for a crowd without someone constantly restocking a cooler. Set it near the food area or at a dedicated drink station. For a 75–100 person party, one chill table handles the load comfortably. For larger open house parties where drinks are flowing for 3–4 hours, consider two.