Graduation guest book ideas and what to write
A graduation guest book is anything guests sign at the party that the graduate keeps, like a signed copy of Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, a photo mat around the senior portrait or a jar of advice cards. Guests write a short wish or one piece of advice for what comes next, and the book doubles as your list for the thank-you notes.
Below are twelve ideas, 20 examples of what to write and a few tips for an open house where people come and go all afternoon.
Twelve ideas
A signed copy of Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
The classic. Wikipedia notes that the Dr. Seuss book, first published in 1990 and the last of his books to come out in his lifetime, is a popular gift for students graduating from kindergarten through college. Guests pick a page and sign it, and the graduate takes it to every new home.
A photo mat around the senior portrait
Frame a favorite photo with a wide white mat and a fine marker next to it. Guests sign around the picture, and it goes straight on a dorm wall.
An advice jar
Small cards that say “Advice for the graduate”, folded into a jar. They make good reading in the first lonely week of college or a new job.
Letters for later
Envelopes marked “Open on your first day”, “Open when you are homesick” or “Open after your first exam”. Guests pick one, write a note and seal it.
A spare graduation cap
Keep the ceremony cap clean and buy a second one for signing. Paint pens in white or gold show up best on black.
A pennant from the next school
Get a pennant or a flag from the college the graduate is heading to and let everyone sign it. It is decor for the first dorm room.
A map of where they are going
A big map with a pen. Guests sign near a place they recommend, or near where they live, which helps a graduate who is moving far away.
Prediction cards
“In ten years, I see you…” Seal them and open them at the ten-year reunion.
A signed ball or jersey
For the athlete: a game ball or a team jersey, signed by teammates, coaches and family.
A memory book with prompts
A blank book with a prompt at the top of each page, such as “My favorite memory of you” or “Do not forget to…”. Guests fill in one page each.
An instant photo guest book
A camera, an album and a pen. Our polaroid guest book guide shows how much film to buy for your guest count.
A QR code guest book
Relatives who cannot make the trip sign from their phones. Print the QR code on the invitation or on a card by the door. We make this one, free, so weigh it with that in mind.
Many of the wedding guest book ideas work for a graduation too, from puzzle pieces to a signed globe.
What guests can write
One wish or one piece of advice is plenty. The graduate will reread these at odd moments for years, so a specific line beats a general one.
Advice for what comes next
- “Go to office hours. Almost nobody does, and it works.”
- “Call your grandma on Sundays. She will tell everyone anyway.”
- “Say yes to the strange club. That is where your people are.”
- “Learn to cook three meals well. The rest can be takeout.”
- “Fail at something this year. It means you tried something hard.”
- “Keep a little money aside. Future you will say thanks.”
Wishes and congratulations
- “Congratulations, Sam. We are so proud of everything you worked for.”
- “Wishing you a first year full of new friends and good roommates.”
- “The world is lucky to have you. Go show them.”
- “To the next chapter, and every one after that.”
- “You did it. Now go do the next thing.”
From family
- “We watched you grow up in this house, and we cannot wait to see where you go. Love, Mom and Dad”
- “Proud of you, kiddo. Text your mother when you land.”
- “From your little brother: can I have your room now?”
- “Your grandparents are so proud. Write to us, real letters please.”
From teachers, coaches and friends
- “It was a joy to have you in class. Keep asking the hard questions. Ms. Ortiz”
- “You never quit once in four seasons. Do not start now. Coach Reed”
- “Four years of carpools and late study nights. Proud to be your friend.”
- “Remember us when you are famous. Mostly remember who bought the pizza.”
- “Keep in touch. You have my number, and now my handwriting.”
Setting it up for an open house
Graduation parties are often open houses, with guests dropping in over a few hours. Put the guest book right by the door, where everyone arrives, and ask a sibling or a friend to point people to it, because the graduate will be busy saying hello.
Put out the right pens: a fine marker for a photo mat, paint pens for a cap or a pennant, and an ordinary pen for cards. A small sign helps, and our guest book sign wording includes a line made for this party: “Congratulations, graduate! Leave your best advice for what comes next.”
Then use the book for the thank-you notes. Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman says the graduate should send a handwritten note to every person who gave a card, a present or money, mention the gift by name and send the notes within the first week after graduation. A thank-you in person, she adds, does not replace the note. Keep a box for cards next to the guest book, and the names are all in one place.
Quick answers
What do you write in a graduation guest book? A short congratulation plus one piece of advice or one wish for what comes next. Sign your name, and add how you know the graduate if they might not place it.
Is the Dr. Seuss book a good graduation guest book? Yes. It is a popular graduation gift, and its pages have plenty of white space for signatures. Ask guests to sign a page that fits their message.