Pinning and Graduation

NurseBrittney · Apr 17, 2008

My pinning is a day before graduation. I am inviting everyone I know to both! Nursing school is HARD, and I want everyone in the world to know I'm gonna be done!

Dawn, RN · Apr 17, 2008

My pinning is on Friday night and graduation is Saturday afternoon. I put both on my invitations so people could pick which one they want to come to (hopefully some will come to both). That allows them more options to fit their schedule. We are doing a big cook-out Saturday before graduation that I sent invitations out for also.

I know what you mean about eating out though. With pinning at 7:00 on Friday, there will be people planning to come and stay over for graduation on Saturday. I don't know how to get everyone out to eat that evening without picking up the tab since we are already doing the cookout on Saturday. I'm not sure about the proper wording for it so everyone knows.

Hopefully someone can offer advice here!

Congratulations on graduation!

justme1972 · Apr 17, 2008

I don't think it's appropriate to invite someone to dinner unless you are going to pay for the meal. No way around it.

I would cut the "guest list" to those that are the closest to you, and wouldn't break the bank by eating somewhere.

futurecnm · Apr 17, 2008

I am graduating in a couple weeks which I am excited about. The pinning is at 3pm and the graduation is at 730 the same day. They leave us enough time for dinner in between. However, I am wondering if I should invite people to both of them? I realize that it would make a really long day for some of my guests. Also, is there a polite way to say that someone can join us for dinner but they have to pay for themselves? My dad is taking me out to dinner between the two ceremonies but is only paying for me.

I would just invite immediate family to both. And pay for their dinner. For friends/other family I would invite to one or the other and not mention dinner. It is not fair to ask them to spend 3pm-9pm at ceremonies. As excited as you are to graduate, trust me, they can be boring for others!! I personally think pinning will be more personal and important (to me at least, I am not even walking in graduation). I am only inviting my immediate family to it just because it is not something that I think anyone else would want to sit through! And I agree, if you invite to dinner I think you need to pick up the tab.

LeavingTeaching4RN · Apr 18, 2008

I may be alone in my opinion, but if I were invited to a graduation dinner, I would not expect a free meal. If fact, I would come with a gift and be prepared to pay for the graduate's meal. I've had to quit my job to attend nursing school. I'm also expecting a pay cut when I finish school. I think my family and friends would understand my financial situation. I'm getting free meals now just b/c I'm unemployed. So, I don't think you should feel obigated to pay. This may not be proper etiquette but if they really want to celebrate with you, they shouldn't mind. I don't think you should go to $30 a plate restaurant. Make it affordable.

MB37 · Apr 19, 2008

LeavingTeaching4RN - you are a fabulous guest. I would never let the guest of honor pick up the tab either. However, if you're asking people to spend an entire day watching YOU graduate, you can't really also ask them all to buy you dinner. She's asking these folks to go to two events that surround the dinner hour but doesn't want to feed them - there just isn't a polite way to do that. They might not have any spare cash to eat out with either, but then feel too guilty to say no. If you can't afford to spring for dinner, ask people to come to one ceremony or the other. Now if they offer to pay for themselves or to take you out, that's an entirely different story.

kaylee_2003 · Apr 19, 2008

I was asking the guests to come to both of them. I was asking what i should do about it. I care more about the pining ceremony and that is the one i want people to come to. However, I am going to the graduation and people are more than welcome to stay if they want to. I was just wondering wht to do about it. And if they stay for both of them, there is an hour an a half gap between the two ceremony to go get dinner.

~FutureNurse~ · Apr 19, 2008

I am the same as a few people. I wouldn't expect my mean to be free, and I would come bearing girfts for the new Grad! I would have said something like, "My Dad is taking me out for dinner inbetween the events, and everyone is welcome to come if they like"...

I don't think these people should expect free meals.

TAB_RN · Apr 19, 2008

When I was pinned in December, my entire family came (22 people). It was at 5:00pm and we all had dinner after the ceremony at an italian restaurant. My husband wanted to have a celebration, and we picked up the tab. I do not think it is appropriate to ask family and friends to come to dinner and have them all pay for their own dinners. It was nice and a wonderful nite I will always remember. It was worth the money to graduate from nursing school! LOL!!!!

NurseBrittney · Apr 19, 2008

If I were to invite my family to dinner, it is understood that everyone pays their own way, unless someone specifically volunteers to foot the bill.

TAB_RN · Apr 20, 2008

If I were to invite my family to dinner, it is understood that everyone pays their own way, unless someone specifically volunteers to foot the bill.

I understand - and on a day to day basis, that is the same for my family. But this is a celebration... like other celebrations (i.e., birthday parties, graduation parties, anniversary parties, etc.). They (invitees) will most likely bring you a small gift or token for your achievement.

I don't know... call me old fashioned. If I invite anyone to dinner, I pick up the tab. :)