If you have a graduating senior, it feels like you just finished the holiday season—but in the world of high school graduation, the finish line is already here.

Between cap and gown orders, final exams, and party planning, many parents get caught off guard by the Graduation Photo Window. If you want those professional portraits on your mantle and beautiful invitations in your mailbox, the time to act is now.

🗓️ The Graduation Planning Timeline

To help you stay ahead of the stress, here is the breakdown of when things actually need to happen:

February – Early March: The Booking Phase

Most popular local photographers fill up their spring weekends months in advance. If you haven’t secured a date for senior portraits yet, do it this week. You want your session scheduled for no later than mid-April.

March – April: The Photo Window

This is the "Sweet Spot." Shooting in March or April ensures you have comfortable weather and, more importantly, gives your photographer time to edit your gallery so you can choose your favorite shots for announcements.

Mid-April: The Invitation Deadline

Standard etiquette is to mail graduation announcements 4 to 6 weeks before the ceremony. To meet this deadline, you need your photos finished and your cards ordered by the first week of April.

🧵 The "Handmade" Factor: Why Early Ordering Matters

One of the most common mistakes we see is waiting until May to order graduation accessories. While the ceremony isn't until late May or June, your student needs their gear for their photo shoot.

Because our Graduation Leis are meticulously handmade and customized to your specific school or college colors, they take time to craft.

• For the Photos: A lei adds a stunning pop of color to a plain graduation gown or a "college reveal" outfit.
• The Lead Time: To ensure your custom lei is delivered in time for your photographer’s appointment, we recommend ordering at least 14–21 days in advance.

✅ Your 3-Step Checklist for This Week:

1. Check your calendar: When is your senior's photo session?
2. Confirm your colors: Are you doing high school colors, or a "Next Chapter" lei in their future college colors?
3. Secure your spot: If you don’t see a lei in the color that you need, click here to email us and get on our production queue for your spring photo date.

Don't let the "graduation rush" catch you by default. A little planning now means a lot less stress in May!