Hello Fellow Parents,

Graduation is a huge milestone… truly something worth celebrating! Not just for your child, but for your entire family and everyone who loves them!

We understand how exciting and emotional this time can be, and how important it is to celebrate in a memorable way – but we also know senior year, whether high school or college, brings plenty of other expenses and stress

With over nine years in the event industry, and as a parent myself, I’ve gathered some practical, budget-friendly ideas to help you celebrate without unnecessary stress.

While most tips in this guide apply no matter where you live, I’ve highlighted some fantastic Lee’s Summit venues and services I personally know to help plan your Lee’s Summit grad party.

I’ve done my best to keep this guide organized and scannable, so you can quickly find the information you need and will continue adding ideas and tips as I discover more, including recommendations for other locations.

I hope this guide makes your planning a little easier and your celebration even more special!

Where To Have Your Party

House Party!

A well-planned at-home party allows maximum flexibility! Celebrate for a few hours, all day, or even multiple days!

You can easily manage guest flow, scheduling different times, for different groups, if needed.

Consider your graduate’s comfort as well—some kids prefer the familiarity of home, while others might enjoy an off-site celebration more. And don’t underestimate cleanup; careful preparation and delegation will make this easier

Planning Ahead & Safety

Home parties feel warm and personal and can save you a ton of money but planning early is crucial to avoid stress.

Given that graduation season weather can be unpredictable, you need to be ready to accommodate your entire guest list indoors if needed. Flexibility is key. Be prepared to temporarily rearrange or even temporarily replace furniture for extra space if necessary. This is where come and go style parties can be very helpful

Safety is easily overlooked, especially if you don’t plan ahead but it is absolutely your NUMBER ONE priority!

Secure any hazards such as loose extension cords; a simple roll of $15 gaffer’s tape or a well-placed rug can prevent accidents, especially if young children will attend.

Make sure your space does not become too crowded, your decks and other structures can accommodate large groups, and that you repair any potentially dangerous maintenance issues.

VERY IMPORTANT:
Do not forget that if you are hosting a party where alcohol is being served, you must ensure no one is driving after they have been drinking. Have as many people as you can helping with this if you think it will be a concern… or rent a venue and remove the liability entirely!

Don’t forget your pets!
Prepare a quiet space for pets who might feel overwhelmed, and consider hiring or appointing a designated pet sitter for the event. Which brings us to…

Delegation!

Early delegation is critical as well!

Start talking early to anyone you are sure will be at the party. See what they might be comfortable helping out with. Can one person help make sure that all guests are welcomed and offered a drink, shown the bathroom, or given a quick tour.

You will not be able to do it all and you will wind up feeling like you let someone down if you don’t ask for help!

Could one person help keep things picked up and tend to trash, while maybe another makes sure beverages or snacks stay stocked and AT SAFE TEMPERATURE. Which reminds me of ice! More on that later!

Anything you can delegate ahead of time that will free you up on that day to be present and celebrate with your loved ones will be worth it!

Lee’s Summit Grad Party Venues

Booking a venue can significantly reduce your workload, but it also requires careful and early planning and more flexible budgeting.

How To Get A Great Deal On A Graduation Venue

Don’t forget, during graduation season you’re also competing with weddings. 

For Kansas City event venues and vendors, it is by far one of the busiest times of the year. Early reservations are essential to secure your top choice and the best rates.

You might also seriously consider slower dates and times like a Thursday evening or Sunday morning.  You can save a ton on everything from venues to caterers and Ubers to photo booth rentals!  Not always, but a lot of the time, this can really help trim your event budget.

Local Graduation Party Venues

Minsky’s:

A Kansas City pizza staple with great catering and delivery options. The Lee’s Summit location has a space available for up to 100 guests that can be divided into two.

General Admission’s Stadium Club:

Head towards Greenwood for a great spot to celebrate your grad. With food options, a full bar, and a separate event space for 50 with monitors throughout, this close-to-home, family-friendly sports bar is a great choice!

Unity Village:

Offers versatile spaces of all sizes and convenient lodging for out-of-town guests, with beautiful scenery and outdoor activities.

The Exit Room:

Provides an engaging experience ideal for grads who love puzzles, games, and unique adventures.  This unique experience is also a close walk to several of the venues mentioned here including, Arcade Alley, The Stanley, Bridge Space, and tons of great DTLS dining and shopping options.

Legacy Grill:

Beautiful waterside venue with a full restaurant, multiple bars and a private downstairs event space with it’s own private patio and suite of restrooms, dj equipment… just about anything you need to have a great time! 

**This building is actually where my own Baby Shower was held!  That was quite a while ago but I hear the new owners have cooked up an exciting new menu worth checking out!

Lee’s Summit Masonic Lodge:

Affordable venue just over 2 miles south of DTLS Downtown Lee’s Summit accommodating up to 190 guests for only around $500 last time we checked. Great for larger gatherings on a budget!

Bridge Space:

Professional and modern event and coworking space conveniently located in downtown Lee’s Summit. With plenty of space and a full kitchen, this is a great place to throw a party in the heart of DTLS.

Lakeshore Plaza Event Space:

Charming venue near Lake Lotawana offering picturesque surroundings and a unique stone gathering area.

Lee’s Summit Parks & Rec Rental Spaces:

Versatile and budget-friendly, excellent for casual outdoor events with some availability for indoor events. 

More coming soon!

How To Feed A Crowd

We’ve got some tips for whether you’re planning to feed a crowd on a tight budget or planning a meal to impress with no effort! Whether you are hosting a grad party at home with catering or on a tight budget, planning a picnic meal or unique location, renting a venue, or gathering at a restaurant, here are some tips for making sense of it all.

DIY Food Bars

DIY food bars are extremely popular right now! Easy to customize, visually appealing, and great for graduations. Some popular options include:

Potato Bar:

Budget-friendly baked potatoes kept warm in the oven or a sturdy cooler. Offer toppings like cheese, bacon, sour cream, green onions, chili, pulled-pork.

Taco/Nacho Bar:

Ground beef, chicken, beans, cheese, salsa, guacamole, chips, tortillas. To keep this super affordable, stick with the essentials.  You can make your beans and rice from scratch and use off brand velveeta with white american cheese and diced tomatos/peppers for an incredibly cheap and filling meal that is great for come and go parties and buffets!


Slider Sandwich Bar:

Mini sandwiches made with off-brand Hawaiian rolls can save you a ton and are  agreat option for mobility, come and go events, or buffets.  Much cheaper homemade than store-bought trays!  But will add significant time to preparation so here is another great opportunity to ask for help and plan ahead!
No shade at store-bought sandwich trays! Time and labor have significant value too but if your goal is budget-friendly deliciousness, homemade sliders are hard to beat! Especially combined with a Macaroni bar!


Quick DIY Slider Cost Breakdown (Budget Hack!)

12-pack off-brand Hawaiian rolls (Walmart): ~$2.50–$3
Lunch meat on sale (Hy-Vee): ~$6.99/lb (freeze ahead!)
Cheese slices (on sale/freezable): ~$3–4/lb
You can get these done for around 1$/sandwich!

DIY Mac and Cheese Bar:

Affordable,Trendy & Portable

I recently had this challenge for my Daughter’s 15th Birthday Party…feeding hungry teenagers without overspending!

Here’s exactly what I did and it saved a ton!

Budget-Friendly Ingredients:

2 pounds off-brand processed cheese (like Velveeta) for about $5.30
2 pounds of dry pasta shells (any pasta works) for $2
Handful of shredded cheddar and mozzarella (optional but adds richness) Maybe $4
A few slices of super cheap white American cheese for extra creaminess Maybe $1
Flavor enhancements: bouillon cubes (while boiling pasta), black pepper, garlic. $1

At the time of writing this article, that’s $13 dollars for enough macaroni and cheese to feed an army!  

I’ve been here the last four years!   With inflation, you cannot beat that price!  That’s about what a dozen eggs has been costing lately!

Easy Preparation:

Cook pasta, mix all ingredients into a crockpot, and set it to warm.
You can add toppings if you want or go potluck style: diced ham, bacon, little smokies, meatballs, crushed spicy Cheetos, green onions, Korean barbecue sauce, buffalo sauce—whatever your family loves!

This simple setup creates an engaging, trendy DIY Mac and Cheese bar perfect for your grad party… and nobody will guess how budget-friendly it is!

Catering

Check back soon for more but to get started, here are some great catering options for a Grad Party in Lee’s Summit and Kansas City!

Jazzy B’s:

Delicious BBQ catering perfect for graduation parties of all sizes, adding authentic KC flavor to your event. Locally owned in Lee’s Summit and highly recommended whether dining in, renting out the restaurant, or catering.

Costa Vida:

Yep! I had to give them a shout-out because I have eaten at the restaurant many times. I don’t know what they are doing here but it is always excellent! The staff is friendly and it actually seems like they want to be feeding you! The food is delicious and a great value on-site so I am guessing the catering would work out well!

Brancatos Catering:

A Kansas City staple! The selection and convenience here is incredible! With orders starting at $300, you can get anything from breakfast to snacks and desserts or boxed meals and buffets.

HyVee:

Consistent, reliable, and super easy to work with! Shockingly good cakes too!

Restaurants

Firebirds:

A great choice at The Streets of West Prior with great appetizers and a private dining menu, and room, to accommodate up to 24 of your closest friends and family.

Smoke:

A premium location in DTLS for those who may want to keep the party going afterward! With a private dining space for up to 50 seated or 70 for drinks and appetizers, as well as catering options, it’s an excellent option.

Marina 27 Steak & Seafood (Lake Lotawana):

Great for smaller groups or family dinners celebrating grads—beautiful views and upscale dining experience.

Legends of Asia (Blue Springs):

Offers Missouri’s largest Chinese buffet with an affordable private room rental option. Enjoy a vast array of unlimited dishes and leave the cleanup behind!

Budget Hacks

Costco:

I did a little digging before adding Costco to this article and I’m glad I did!

I was going to tell you this would work whether or not you had a membership but that is not true! I guess that is a popular myth now as they discontinued allowing non-members to purchase concessions in 2024… or at least started enforcing an existing policy

That being said, if you do have a membership, or have considered getting one, this could be a great option.

This is another great chance to ask for help if you know anyone who is coming to your graduation party who has a Costco membership. Maybe they could pick the food up for you if you pay them in advance. It’s not a perfect option because something could go wrong but it’s incredible how affordable it can be! You need to call ahead and early during busy times like dinner and weekends. You might even call a day or to before if you need a lot of pizzas.

If you’ve ever seen the size of one of their pizzas, you know what I’m talking about! These things are massive and they do not hold back on the toppings! One pizza would probably feed 4-5 people a full meal by itself and they are only $10 each!

While you’re there, you can likely find some great deals on easy sides to go with it. As of the writing of this article, you can get about 80 to 100 mozzarella sticks for $20 in the freezer section and they have several great pre-made salad options to choose from.

TLDR:
This option is a little risky and does involve some day of luck and coordination but can feed a ton of people for a very small amount of money! I had Chat GPT do the math, you could actually feed people for $2.50 a person if you did nothing but Costco Pizza!

That’s insane!