Naperville Graduation Party Photo Booth Ideas

Graduation season in Naperville means weekend after weekend of open houses. Your grad might hit six parties in a month. So how do you make theirs the one people remember? Give guests something to do besides eat and stand around.

A photo booth does that. Here are some ideas to make it work for a grad party.

Ideas that make grad photos better

Props are where grad photos get personal. Skip the generic mustaches and try a few of these:

• School color props. Pick up pom-poms, foam fingers or signs in your grad's high school colors.
• "Where I'm headed" signs. Make a sign with the college, trade school, job or gap year plan so friends can pose with it.
• Parent signs. "Proud Parent" and "Finally Finished" signs are always a hit with moms and dads.
• Old photos. Print a few baby or kindergarten pictures as props for a then-and-now shot.
• A mortarboard and a sash. Let everyone try on the cap, not just the grad.

Then put the grad's name, school and class year on the photo design so every picture is a keepsake.

Which booth to pick for a grad party

Grad parties are mostly teens and their families, and teens live on their phones. That's why the Digital Booth is our top pick here. Photos, GIFs and boomerangs go straight to phones by text or QR code, ready to post. It costs $228 for 2 hours, $278 for 3 or $348 for 4.

If grandparents are coming and you want prints for the scrapbook, you have two options:

1. Add unlimited printing to the Digital Booth for $240.
2. Book the Printer Booth, which includes unlimited prints: $298 for 2 hours, $348 for 3, $398 for 4.

For a bigger party with a lot of the grad's friends, the 360 Booth is the crowd magnet. Slow-motion spin videos start at $249 for 2 hours, and you can add your grad's favorite song to every video for $85.

Where Naperville families throw grad parties

Most grad parties in town happen at home: driveways, backyards and finished basements. A Digital Booth sets up in a corner of the garage or on the patio, as long as you have an outlet nearby and a little shade.

If the house is too small for the guest list, here are a few local options:

• Naperville Park District pavilions. The park district rents pavilions at spots like DuPage River Park, Seager Park and Knoch Knolls Park. You need a permit for groups over 25, and requests must be in at least 21 days ahead. Ask about power before you plan a booth there.
• Naper Settlement downtown rents both its historic Pre-Emption House Tavern and the modern Birck Family Innovation Gateway for private events.
• Meson Sabika on Aurora Avenue is a Spanish restaurant in a historic mansion with private rooms and a banquet space, a good fit when you want someone else to handle the food.
• Near the Riverwalk. Even if the party is at home, a stop at Moser Tower or Centennial Beach makes a nice spot for cap-and-gown photos before guests arrive.

Three ways to set it up

The backyard open house. Guests come and go over several hours, so a longer rental makes sense. Digital Booth for 4 hours ($348) plus a shimmery sequin backdrop ($100), picked up free. $448 before tax.

The family party with prints. Printer Booth for 3 hours ($348) plus the scrapbook ($240), where guests paste a print and write a note to the grad. With delivery and setup ($75), that's $663 before tax.

The friends-only blowout. 360 Booth for 3 hours ($299), one song choice ($85) and red carpet VIP with stanchions ($200). Picked up free, $584 before tax.

A 35% deposit holds your date. Pickup is free and you return the booth the day after your party. Delivery and setup is $75 if you'd rather not haul it.

Questions people ask

How long should a photo booth run at a grad open house?

Open houses stretch out, so 3 or 4 hours covers most of the flow of guests. For a party with a set start time, 2 hours during the busiest stretch is usually enough.

Can we put the school name and class year on the photos?

Yes. Every package includes a personalized design with your grad's name, school colors and year.

Can the booth go in the garage or on a patio?

Yes, as long as there's a flat spot, an outlet nearby and some cover from sun and rain.

What if we want prints and digital copies?

Add unlimited printing to the Digital Booth for $240, or choose the Printer Booth, which includes unlimited prints.

Planning another kind of party in DuPage County? See our Naperville photo booth rental page, or build your package to see your total.