Well, we have just arrived home and I have to tell you that at least 3 people commented on my dress and one woman I didn't even know came up just to comment on it and ask if I had bought it out of town. I hope you will find this amusing, but I decided at the last minute to buy a different dress. I actually purchased the dress I wore at 3pm today and we were at the event at 630! I will try to post a pic tomorrow. I just want to say such a huge thank you to everyone for getting involved and saving me from wearing something completely inappropriate. I know in the big scheme of things this was just a friviolity, but it meant a lot to us to go out and have fun with friends and I wouldn't have enjoyed myself nearly as much if I didn't feel like I fit in wardrobe-wise. Thanks again!

I hope Caitlin will have a job that can afford to send the amount of money she expects to everyone who sends her a graduation invite/announcement. Many would have to forego a mortgage payment if they sent a minimum of $100+ to all the graduates of friends and family, It's a gift not an obligation or entitlement. When I graduated, I never expected any gift. My parents threw a party to celebrate, it was just a reason to get together and have party. I was happy with cards, flowers, words of wisdom, I didn't expect anything and any monetary amount was greatly appreciated and thanked for personally with thank you notes. I don't care if it's a phone call. Email, text, in person, or card. Just acknowledge the giver - they are under no obligation to get you anything.

I think you are on the right track, Lynn.. and with much great guidance! College graduation was much less about a big party for me and more about my personal achievements. My parents did much what you're planning-- a nice dinner with a few of my closest college friends (a few days before graduation in my case.. we had a week between the end of finals and graduation) None of my nieces or nephews had big college graduation parties either-- nothing like their HS graduations. However, the two who moved away had "launch parties" which ended up being more send offs to their grown up lives. I was the only one to go on to grad school right after college.. and honestly, I'd have LOVED a trip! The only college graduation party was my parents' party.. the "no more college tuition party!!" which was marked by my youngest sister's graduation.

I think $50.00 is good for high school, and one hundred for college. This reminds me of the time when our granddaughter graduated from high school and college. We gave her $500.00 for high school graduation, and bought her a used car of her choice, for college graduation we gave her $5,000. We neither got an acknowledgement of a thank you or a note that she liked what we did for her. It hurt badly. But when she got married we downsized the gift giving to her and only gave her a kitchenaid mixer and food processor. We still did not get a thank you! She told her brother that Mimi and Poppy were being stingy in the gift giving. Her brother Christian has always thanked us for EveryThing we have ever done for him. Why should I want a thank you? Maybe some of you ask. Because I know they liked what we gave them and it just feels good to know you pleased them.