Unique High School Graduation Party Ideas

Graduation season is right around the corner, so it’s time to start planning graduation parties! If you have a high school senior in your house, the senioritis is probably intense right about now. They’re ready to say goodbye to high school and hello to their future, so you should throw them a send-off that celebrates this monumental moment!

After spending a majority of their high school career in virtual school, this class of high school students deserves an amazing shindig with all of their friends. Keep reading for our unique high school graduation party ideas!

Graduation Photo Booth

As the parent and event planner, you’ve got a lot to do on the day of the party. Leave the photography to the pros by renting a luxury photo booth for the whole day. Not only will you get amazing photos, but it also adds an activity that your party guests will love. 

Our selfie station is the perfect option for an Austin, Texas area graduation party. The printed photos are great keepsakes that your graduate and their friends can take to college with them! 

At Oh Happy Day Booth, we offer custom luxury backdrops and photo templates so that you can personalize your booth. For example, we can create a custom “Class of 2022” photo template. When it comes to unique high school graduation party ideas, the options are endless with a photo booth!

Honoree Trivia Game With Prizes

How well do your guests know your graduate? Test their knowledge with a trivia game, and make it more enticing with some sweet prizes. Since most of your guests will be your child’s classmates, center the trivia questions around their high school career.

Here are some ideas:

• What was their favorite class?

• Who was their favorite teacher?

• What was their least favorite class?

• Which elective did they really love?

• Did they prefer exams or essays?

• What was their least favorite cafeteria food?

For the prizes, gift cards are always a crowd-pleaser. What could make a Texas high schooler happier than a Whataburger gift card?

“Adulting Survival Kit” Party Favors

While your child is the guest of honor, they won’t be the only soon-to-be high school graduate at the party. Send their friends off with an “adulting survival kit” party favor to celebrate their accomplishment too. 

Whether they are heading to college, taking a gap year, or going straight into a job, these items will make them laugh:

• Tide To Go stain stick

• Protein bars

• Candy

• Earplugs

• Hand sanitizer

• Starbucks gift card

• Mini first aid kit

• Chapstick

• Lint roller

Think of these party favors as a blend between a gag gift and an actual practical gift for new grads. They’ll love them!

Make Your Own Dessert Bar

Take your graduate’s favorite dessert and turn it into a dessert bar at their graduation party! Your guests will love making their own delicious creations. For a summertime party, a build your own ice cream sundae is always a huge hit. You could also rent a slushie machine and let guests customize their flavor. If the party is in the evening, a DIY s’mores bar is a great activity!

The way to make unique high school graduation party ideas like this more fun is to customize them around your graduate. For example, incorporate as many of their favorite candies and sweet treats as you can. You can also tie in their high school colors to theme it up.

2022 Cupcake Table

Since we’re on the topic of desserts, another cute idea is to arrange cupcakes in the shape of “2022” on a big dessert table. This is a super easy unique idea that makes a memorable impact on your guests! 

Base the Party on the Graduate’s Favorite TV Show or Pop Culture Moment

Graduation parties don’t technically need a theme, but having one can make the party more fun and guide your party planning choice. Plus, this is probably the last time you can throw a themed party for your soon-to-be adult kid!

The key to creating a theme that teenagers will love is to not go overboard with corny decor or phrases. Instead, revolve the theme around something they love, like their favorite TV show or pop culture moment.

Here are some ideas:

• Friends theme - “The One Where They Graduate”

• Harry Potter theme - graduating from Hogwarts

• Olivia Rodrigo - “Sour” theme

• Marvel superhero theme

Whether you’re throwing a huge shindig or a casual backyard barbeque, adding a theme to a graduation party is a nice touch!

Personalized “Class of 2022”  Decor

Incorporate some fun “Class of 2022” decor into your party. We love these handmade cups from Etsy! Any extras can be kept as a keepsake. You can also find graduation-themed napkins, straws, cake toppers, and more. Several Etsy shops will customize the items with your graduate’s name, which adds a nice personal element.

Another great Etsy find is this class photo banner. Your guests will love walking down memory lane and seeing a photo of the graduate from each year of school!

Custom Balloon Garland

Nothing says celebrate like a custom balloon garland! They’re perfect for high school graduation parties because you can use your child’s high school colors or the colors of the college they’re heading to in the fall. A balloon garland also makes a great photo opportunity and party entrance.

For customized balloon garlands for Austin, Texas area graduation parties, check out our sister company, Pop & Drop! Balloon garlands can even be paired with our photo booth backdrops for an amazing photo op!

Unique High School Graduation Party Ideas Wrap Up

As a parent, your child graduating from high school and taking the next step in their lives in an emotional time. You can show them how proud you are of them with a personalized party that fits their personality. 

Capture the day with a customized photo booth that your graduate and their friends will love. Contact us today to book a booth for your party.

Gold Shimmer Photo Booth for Erin and Alan’s Springdale Station Wedding Reception in Austin, Texas

Can a wedding have too much greenery? We think the answer is no, and we’re so glad that Erin and Alan agree. Their beautiful Springdale Station wedding was dripping in greenery, from the heart-shaped alter to the hanging greenery and rose chandeliers. It was breathtaking!

Lovelily Flowers killed it with the amazing florals for this wedding! Check out the gorgeous wreaths that the bridesmaids held as they walked down the aisle. They are such a unique touch, and we love that they reused them as decor for the reception.

We added to the night with our gold shimmer photo booth, which perfectly matched the couple’s color scheme. The photo booth was a great place for guests to escape when they needed a break from the dance floor but still wanted to have fun. Plus, the booth gives the bride and groom a moment alone together during the business of the day.

You can even spot the booth shimmering in the background of some of the dancing photos. We’ve said it all along: our luxury backdrops make your event look better! 

From the amazing photos from Nikk Nguyen Photo, you can tell that Erin and Alan’s guests had a great time. They danced the night away, played cornhole, and enjoyed some delicious gin and tonics.

Best wishes to the bride and groom! Looking for a custom photo booth for your next Austin area event? Let’s chat!

Vendor List:

Venue Springdale Station manager@springdalestation.com

Planning & Design Event Julep rachel@eventjulep.com

Catering & Bar La Pera Catering hola@laperaaustin.com

Florals Lovelily Flowers hello@lovelilyflowers.com

Photography Nikk Nguyen Photo nikknguyenphoto@gmail.com

Videography Carhart Photography carhartphotography@gmail.com

Rentals Monarch Event Rentals info@monarcheventrentals.com

Guest Transportation Uptown Valet reservations@uptownvalet.com

Bridal Party Shuttle 4 Leaf Limo laura@4leaflimo.com

Hair & Makeup Silk and Glow silkglowbeauty@gmail.com

Cake Iced Cakes elana@icedcakesatx.com

DJ The Music Coordinator themusiccoordinator@gmail.com

Accommodations JW Marriott

Ceremony Dress Modern Trousseau

Reception Dress Made with Love Bridal

Photobooth Oh Happy Day hello@ohhappydaybooth.com

Bridesmaid Dresses Jenny Yoo

Groom & Groomsmen The Black Tux

Signage Ivelisse Designs Steph.ivelisse@gmail.com

Roaming Photography For Rachel and Garrison’s Wedding at Horseshoe Bay Resort Near Austin, Texas

Did you know that we offer roaming photography? That’s right, we can take our photo booth on the move! 

With roaming photography, one of our attendants captures photos of your guests throughout your event. Instead of your guests going to the photo booth, the photo booth goes to them. After our attendant snaps a photo, your guests can instantly email it from the tablet to their phones and post it to social media! 

Roaming photography is great for corporate events to increase guest engagement and brand visibility. However, Rachel and Garrison’s big day at Horseshoe Bay Resort near Austin, Texas shows how well it works for weddings too!

At weddings, we’ve found that guests love the ease of roaming photography, and they’re always excited to smile for a photo. Plus, you get amazing photos that show off your venue and your guests enjoying your wedding. 

We love how candid roaming photography feels at weddings! It reminds us of when couples used to leave disposable cameras on tables so that guests could capture the wedding from their eyes. Seeing your wedding from your guest's perspective adds a really fresh element to event photography. Plus, you can see the photos instantly and relive the whole experience!

Rachel and Garrison’s wedding was perfect for roaming photography because the venue already offered a gorgeous backdrop for photos. We’re obsessed with all the floral details, like the hanging greenery and initial wreath. 

Congrats to the happy couple! Want to book roaming photography for your next event? Contact us today.

Creative Green Screen Photo Booth Ideas

The best part of being in the photo booth biz is channeling our creativity to design amazing experiences for our clients. With our green screen photo booth backgrounds, the creative options are endless! You can basically make any vision come to life when you have a green screen. 

Plus, green screen backdrops work with the portrait booth and the selfie station, so they fit with any event! Looking for inspiration for your upcoming event? Keep reading for our best creative green screen photo booth ideas. 

Floating Heads

This idea is perfect for a murder mystery or Halloween party. We made this green screen setup by using loose green screen cloths that guests put on to create a floating heads illusion. We love the spooky bookcase background, but with a green screen photo booth backdrop, you can use this idea with any backdrop you want! 

You could also use this idea to create a haunted cemetery green screen photo booth. The options are endless!

Party On the Moon

It seems like everyone is going to space these days, so why not join them? Use our green screen photo booth to create the perfect moon landing for your party. We love this idea for a kid's birthday party. You could make it alien-themed with some fun props and costumes!

Here are some alien prop ideas:

• Glasses shaped like alien eyes

• Alien masks

• Alien antenna headbands

• Laser pointers

Travel to a Distant Land…Without Going Anywhere

Are you dreaming of a post-Covid European vacation? With a green screen photo booth, you can go wherever you want! This idea is great for location-themed events, like a Paris-inspired prom night. 

You could also use this idea for a going-away party! If you have a friend moving far away, set up a green screen photo booth of their new home so that all of their friends can take pictures there.

Mugshot Backdrop

This was a fun green screen backdrop we got to create for the Rough Night movie premiere! When you choose a green screen backdrop, your photo booth can perfectly match your event. Plus, incorporating a green screen is more cost-effective than creating a custom fabric backdrop.

Throw a Red Carpet Party

Do you want to party like the stars? Make your own virtual red carpet with the green screen photo booth! You can go glitzy and make it old-school Hollywood-themed, or make it modern and throw in some paparazzi. 

This idea is fun for an employee or volunteer appreciation event. Make your team members feel like stars by giving them the complete red carpet treatment. Don’t forget to ask them who they’re wearing!

Santa’s Winter Wonderland

We know the holidays just passed, so this is an idea to tuck in your back pocket for when they roll around again. If you’re planning to host a Christmas event that includes photos with Santa Claus, consider using a green screen photo booth instead of constructing a whole set! With a green screen backdrop, you can set up a Winter Wonderland without hauling in tons of fake Christmas trees. 

Not only will you save time and money, but you’ll also give your guests a great photo booth experience. Instead of taking photos on their phones, they’ll have high-quality printed and digital photos as a keepsake from your party.

You could even have a rotation of green screen images that your guests (aka the kids) can choose from. For example, you could have Santa’s toy shop and Santa’s Sleigh. Some clever positioning can make it look like your kids are flying the sleigh with Santa and Rudolph!

Jump Into Your Favorite Cartoon or Superhero Story

Have you ever wanted to swing through New York with Spider-Man or be in an episode of The Simpsons? With a green screen photo booth, you can! With the right backdrop image and a couple of pieces of furniture, you can create some super fun setups. For example, you could have coffee with Marge or watch TV with Homer. 

We love this idea for a themed-up birthday or watch party of your favorite show. Plus, it’s another great option for a child’s birthday party. What kid wouldn’t love to take their picture with Elsa at her ice castle?

Customize the Green Screen Photo Booth for Your Company

Having a corporate party? You can use the green screen photo booth to project your company’s logo. The customization options are endless, and we’re happy to use your designs for the green screen backdrop!

Put On Your Invisibility Cloak

Harry Potter parties are always fun, and you can make it even with a green screen backdrop! Simply choose a Hogwarts-themed image for the green screen backgrounds, and let your guests play with our green screen cloths to make themselves invisible. They can wrap it around themselves to hide everything but their heads and creep through Hogwarts. Throw in some wands and you’ve got the easiest on-theme photo booth ever! 

Let Your Guests Take Their Pick

The best thing about using a green screen photo booth for your event is that your options are virtually endless. You can load up a ton of images that your guests can choose from for their photos.

Not only will the green screen booth provide a fun activity at your event, but it’ll make a big impact on your guests! They’ll always remember how fun it was, and the fact that they got to choose their own backdrops will make you a super cool host in their minds. 

Book Our Green Screen Photo Booth Today

We could go on and on with green screen photo booth ideas because the options really are endless. No matter what your vision is, we can create it with a green screen. Photo booths make every party more fun, and adding the green screen element will make it even more memorable for your guests.

Ready to talk about green screens? Contact us today to plan the perfect photo booth experience for your next event!

Jaron and Amber’s Timeless and Intimate Wedding at Prospect House in Dripping Springs, Texas

We love an elegant affair, and that’s exactly how Jaron and Amber’s wedding at Prospect House in Dripping Springs, Texas felt. From the champagne flute seating chart to the natural wood tableware, this wedding had a timelessness that never goes out of style.

With long light-wood tables decorated with naturalistic elements like greenery and neutral chiffon runners, the reception felt like an intimate family dinner. The family style pizza dinner by Fire and Slice added a cozy touch, and you can tell from the gorgeous photos by Nikk Nguyen that Jaron and Amber’s guests were immediately at ease and having fun. 

For the photo booth, the couple opted to skip a backdrop and use the clean white shiplap wall instead. We personally love this choice because all of the photos match the aesthetic of the reception venue perfectly. 

Offering flexible and customizable options is one of the things we do best at Oh Happy Day Booth. If your venue already has a great spot for a photo booth without a backdrop, we say go for it! We think it was the perfect choice for Jaron and Amber’s timeless wedding.

However, just because a wedding is timeless and elegant doesn’t mean it’s not a party. Thanks to DJ Byrne Rock, the happy couple and their guests ruled the dance floor for hours.

We wish Jaron and Amber all the best! To customize a perfect photo booth for your wedding, party, or corporate event, get in touch today!

Complete Vendor List:

Wedding Planner: @bbfaustin

Venue: @prospecthousetx

Officiant: Cole Hilton

Photographer: @nikknguyenphoto

Florist: @thebloombartx

Caterer: @fireandsliceaustin

Bar Service: @aetreventstx

Transportation: Cynthia's Limo

DJ | Lighting: @djbyrnerock

Hair | Makeup: @luxbeautyandbridal

Photo booth: @ohhappydaybooth

Disco-Glam Styled Shoot With Hawthorne and Poppy Events

At the end of 2020, we got together with some amazing Austin vendors to create a styled shoot to celebrate the launch of Hawthorne and Poppy Events! Amy, the founder and visionary behind the shoot, wanted to blend modern design with an iridescent flare.

This collaborative shoot was the dose of creativity and sparkle that we all needed at the end of a hard year. We love how Amy described the look on her Instagram: “Magical design that isn’t stuffy or boring. A little Audrey Hepburn mixed with Marilyn Monroe. Nicole Kidman with Taylor Swift. Classic yet modern.”

Flash forward a year, and it’s completely obvious to us why Hawthorne and Poppy have been so successful on the Austin event planning scene. 

This disco-glam inspired styled shoot, captured by Eryn Chandler Photography at the South Congress Hotel, is giving us major New Year’s Eve wedding inspiration. We created two setups with our luxury backdrops, and we love how the model popped in front of both of them in her gorgeous Unbridaled gown.

The two different looks are a great example of what you can do with photo booth backdrops. You can dress them up, like Amy did with the disco balls and florals for the feathery white backdrop, or leave them as is, like the sequin blush backdrop. Either way, our backdrops can perfectly match your look and achieve your vision. 

Want us to create a custom photo booth for your next event or styled shoot? Contact us today. 

Austin Photo Booth Rental: Is the Portrait Booth or Selfie Station Right For My Event?

Whether you’re throwing a wedding, corporate event, Greek sorority or fraternity party, baby shower, or any other type of affair, a photo booth will elevate the entire experience. Photo booths capture memories, provide your guests with a fun keepsake, and give them something engaging to do during the event.

Deciding to rent a photo booth is the easy part of putting your event together. Now you need to figure out which type of photo booth is right for your shin-dig. At Oh Happy Day Booth, we offer several flexible options to fit your needs, but our most popular is the Portrait Booth and Selfie Station.

In this guide, we’re going to break down the differences between the two types of booths so you can decide which Austin photo booth rental is right for your upcoming event. At the end of the day, it’s your call, but we’re here to guide you to the one that makes the most sense for your event. Let’s get started.

Portrait Booth vs Selfie Station: Factors to Consider

The option that’s right for you depends on what type of event you’re having, what you want to get out of the Austin photo booth rental, your venue, and your guests. Ask yourself the following questions about your event:

• Do you want your guests to have a printed photo to take home?

• Do you want to add on a printed photo book as a keepsake?

• Will your guests flock to the photo booth on their own, or do you want an attendant to encourage them to participate? 

• Do you want to use a backdrop, or let the venue be the background?

Let’s break these factors down one by one. 

Consider the Photo Delivery

First, think about the experience you want your guests to have. Do you want them to go home with a printed photo on a template that matches your decor or branding? If so, go with the Portrait Booth, which offers both printed and digital photo delivery. 

The Portrait Booth also includes a photo guest book and hardcover memory book add ons, which is why it’s such a popular choice for weddings. Our couples love having the tangible keepsake from their wedding, and it’s a great way to remember everyone who showed up to celebrate.  Both booth types include a digital gallery of all the photos so that you can download them after the event.

If you aren’t as concerned about the sentimental value of the photos and your main goal is for your guests to participate in a fun activity, the Selfie Station offers everything you need. With instant digital delivery and custom template options that match your branding, it’s a great way to promote your event online.

Plus, the Selfie Station includes GIFs, boomerangs, and photos, so it automatically encourages social media sharing. If you’re throwing a corporate event, going with the Selfie Station is a great way to spread the word about your company online.

Consider Your Guests

Next, think about your guests. If your event caters to a younger crowd, rest assured that they will find the selfie station all on their own and most likely know exactly how to work it. A younger crowd will also love the do-it-yourself GIF and boomerang features that the Selfie Station offers, while an older group may prefer a tangible photo to take home

If your guests are less tech-inclined, you may want to go with the Portrait Booth. It comes with an attendant that will encourage your guests to take photos and guide them through how to use the booth. However, keep in mind that adding on an attendant to the Selfie Station is an option.

Consider the Look

What kind of look do you want for your photo booth? The Portrait Booth includes a backdrop, and we offer 30 gorgeous options for you to choose from. If one of our options doesn’t fit your event, we can create a custom backdrop for you.

The Selfie Station doesn’t include a backdrop, but you can add it on. However, if your venue already has a great background, like a bright white wall or a reclaimed wood accent wall, you can use that instead. You can also use your party as the background and face the Selfie Station towards the dance floor. If you’re having a beautiful rooftop event with a view of the Austin skyline, the city can be your backdrop.

Consider the Add-Ons

Both photo booth options include fun add ons to take the experience up a notch. We already mentioned the photo book add-on that comes with the Portrait Booth, and the backdrop and attendant add ons that come with the Selfie Station.

If you want your guests to have fun with props, both of our Austin photo booth rental options include a prop package add-on. For corporate events, we also offer an email capture add-on so that you can add all of your attendees to your email list. If you go with the Portrait Booth for your corporate event, we can add on custom branded photo covers.

The Portrait Booth also includes a custom thank you card add-on for weddings that matches your decor. The add-on options don’t stop there, so make sure you consider everything you need before deciding on which photo booth you want to book.

You Can’t Go Wrong With Either Austin Photo Booth Rental

The good news is that whichever Oh Happy Day Booth you choose for your event, your guests will love it. Both the Portrait Booth and the Selfie Station match all event types, whether it’s an elegant black-tie affair or a fun-filled sorority rush party. With all of our add ons and customization options, we can create the perfect Austin photo booth rental experience for your event.

Check out all of our photo booth options and get in touch to request a quote for your custom Oh Happy Day Booth. 

Our response to covid-19 in the world of photo booths

PHOTO BY SMS PHOTOGRAPHY

Updated on 9/21/2021

A note from our owner, Kelsey Harrison:

As the impact of COVID-19 continues, I wanted you to hear directly from me about the mitigation efforts that Oh Happy Day Booth has enacted to reduce the risk of infection of our team members, our clients, and their guests. My focus remains on supporting our Oh Happy Day Booth team, while at the same time doing my part to preserve the health, safety, and well-being of all those with whom we come in contact.

I think it is extremely safe to assume that everyone has been significantly impacted by COVID-19 in one way or another. The entire photo booth industry relies on a healthy events industry, and the events industry relies on the ability for us to be able to come together as a community and celebrate special days. As we look toward the future and anticipate what it holds for us, we at Oh Happy Day Booth work every day to ensure the level of customer service our clients are accustomed to is not diminished.

We continue to closely monitor and assess this evolving situation, and any changes in company policies and procedures regarding COVID-19 precautions will be based on scientific studies and official reports, and any changes we make will be updated here. I can’t emphasize just how much I am itching to get back to celebrating in full swing, and I am making sure that we are able to get to that point as safely as possible by expanding and refining our safety policies. If you have any personal questions requirements or preferences, please email me at hello@ohhappydaybooth.com and we will do our best to accommodate within reason.

1. Masks // In addition to their usual all-black and white attire, our staff will be required to wear masks at all times while on the property for an event.

2. Portrait Booth and Glam Booth activations // For the foreseeable future, our team members will monitor the photo booth from afar, keeping an eye on the booth at all times, but limiting direct interactions with guests. Your point of contact will always know where our team member is located, and the team member will be there in a flash if something happens like the printer paper and ink need replenishing! We love our clients, and care about their guests, and want to be there to support them on their big day and by physically distancing our team members from the booth itself, we are able to make sure they are healthy for our couples the following weekend as well. To accommodate this distancing, we have changed and optimized our start screen graphics for these services so the photo booth process is seamless and straightforward to ensure guests are able to use the booths without the hands-on assistance of a team member.

3. Sanitized Selfie Stations // Our Selfie Station rentals will operate as usual, but our staff will sanitize everything before the event begins and at the end of the rental.

4. No props // We know this is a significant bummer, but there is no feasible way to properly sanitize every prop between guests, so we will be foregoing props for the foreseeable future. Clients who have this upgrade as part of their package are encouraged to choose another upgrade as an alternative!

5. Photo guest books // For clients who would like to stick with their photo guest book, guests can pick up a clean pen from one bin and put it into one labeled ‘used’ when they are done. Pens will be sanitized between events.

6. Sanitizing all equipment before and after events // All our equipment will be sanitized before and after events, and all our boxes and equipment will be sanitized inside our storage facility as well.

7. Increased pay // All of our team members providing services at events are doing so with the utmost caution to ensure your guests have a great time. During this season and for the foreseeable future, Oh Happy Day Booth has increased their hourly rate without raising client costs. If you feel so compelled, any and all tips given to the booth attendants during events will be retained by the team member working the event, and would be greatly appreciated.

What we are requesting from our clients:

1. Masks // Please encourage your guests to wear masks. This has been proven by the CDC to protect other people from getting sick if you are sick, even when asymptomatic. This is a really wonderful way to respect your hardworking vendors whose lives depend on being able to work events every weekend.

2. Set up location // If it is possible to put us away from the dance floor and other major foot traffic spots, that is ideal.

3. Following the CDC’s minimum standard health protocols // We know rules are no fun, but they’re here to protect us all. Please encourage your guests, planner, vendors, and venue to follow appropriate guidelines regarding large events.