At a glance: Graduation party catering should match your party format and guest count.
Catering By Design offers customizable grad party menus starting at $10.95 per person, with delivery, buffet, and full-service catering options across Raleigh, Cary, Durham, and Chapel Hill.
Planning catering for a graduation party gets easier when you handle five decisions up front.
The right grad party menu depends on your time of day, guest count, and the vibe you want. These six catering options work for high school, middle school, and college graduation parties across the Triangle.
A barbecue buffet is the classic option for a graduation party in May or June. Classic graduation BBQ spreads include pulled pork, brisket, smoked chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, and potato salad with house-made barbecue sauce, which cover the bases for a large group. The Southern menu at Catering By Design starts at $13.95 per person and works for drop-off delivery, buffet-style setup, or full-service catering, with Memphis Style Bone-in Chicken available as an upgraded entrée.
A taco bar is a crowd pleaser across all age groups. Guests build their own plates with options like proteins, beans, rice, fresh salsas, and toppings, which makes for a fast-moving line and plenty of delicious food without the formality of a sit-down meal. Catering By Design’s South of the Border menu runs $15.95 per person and includes vegetarian options, making it a favorite for backyard parties and family gatherings.
For open house grad parties where guests arrive in waves, sandwich platters and individual meal boxed lunches are simple and easy. Classic Boxed Lunches from Catering By Design start at $12.95, and Specialty Boxed Lunches run $15.95. Trays of wraps, sandwiches, fruit, and salad hold well across a 3 to 4 hour open house window with minimal staffing.
A morning graduation ceremony pairs naturally with brunch catering. The Deluxe Continental Breakfast menu from Catering By Design starts at $10.95 per person. Expand the spread with quiche, breakfast tacos, or a custom menu featuring hot entrées for a complete meal. Brunch keeps the day light and works well for high school graduation parties that need to wrap up by early afternoon.
College graduation receptions often skip the formal sit-down meal in favor of passed appetizers and stationary finger foods. Our After Hours menu includes mini meatballs, pinwheels, miniature crab cakes, spanikopita, and stuffed mushrooms. Pair the menu with licensed bartending services for adult-guest receptions.
No grad party feels complete without something sweet. A dessert bar with cookies, brownies, mini pies, and seasonal fruit lets guests pick their dessert favorite while leaving room for a celebratory cake on the main table. The social menu at Catering By Design is built specifically for celebrations, with themed party formats like the Backyard Picnic slider bar and Hors d’Oeuvres Buffet that pair naturally with a dessert bar and graduation cake.
Portion planning depends on your party format more than your total guest count:
The FDA’s buffet food safety guidance recommends holding hot food at 140°F or above and cold food at 40°F or below across the full service window, which matters for buffet-style setups that run 2 to 4 hours.
A few practical habits make grad party catering go smoother:
Catering By Design has catered Triangle graduation parties since 2000, serving families and graduates of UNC Chapel Hill, Duke, NC State, Wake Tech, Meredith, and NCCU, along with area high schools and middle schools.
Every Catering By Design client tastes their exact graduation event menu before the party, not a generic sample. Our team averages 15 or more years of tenure, which means the people answering your questions are the ones plating your food. We bring licensed bartenders, real china, and flatware on full-service packages, and the practiced execution of a team that runs up to 21 events a day during peak season.
We’re a Leading Caterers of America member and the 2026 Cary Magazine Maggy Award winner for Best Caterer. To check our availability for your grad party, contact us today, and our team will reach out, often the same day.
For a 50-guest open house, plan 25 to 75 servings of mains and sides, depending on whether most guests stop by briefly or stay to eat. For a sit-down meal, plan about 25 lbs of protein with matching quantities of sides. Add 200 to 300 appetizer pieces if you’re doing a cocktail-style reception, plus a celebratory cake or dessert bar with about 75 dessert servings.
Open house catering works best with menu items that hold well at buffet temperature over several hours. Sandwich platters, sliders, boxed lunches, taco bar setups, and BBQ buffets are all strong options. Add a fresh salad, a fruit tray, and a dessert station for a complete meal that feels generous without requiring on-site staff.
Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead during graduation season. Popular Triangle catering services often fill their calendar by April, so reserving by February or March gives you the most flexibility on dates, menu, and service style.
Drop-off catering in the Triangle typically runs $12 to $20 per person. Buffet-style catering with setup runs $15 to $25 per person. Full-service catering with staff starts around $30 per person. A delivery fee may apply based on distance and order size. Online ordering is often available for smaller drop-off orders, while larger catered events go through a custom menu consultation with your catering team.
Yes. We cater high school, middle school, and college graduation parties across the Triangle, including events for graduates of UNC Chapel Hill, Duke, NC State, and Wake Tech. Our team builds custom menus and brings licensed bartending services for college-aged guests when needed.
