Graduation parties need to be planned well in advance, it has been claimed.

According to invitation firm Custom Creations by Leslie, the mistake many students and proud parents make is that they leave their party ideas far too late.

Leslie Ciriaco of the firm explained: "Picking a date for your graduation party first is crucial.

"As soon as you know the date, send graduation invitations to out-of-town family and friends so they can plan a trip."

However, caterers, DJs and venues need to be booked even earlier in advance to ensure all those carefully considered party ideas go to plan, the expert added.

A graduation picture is a special addition to any family photo album and therefore the time of day the celebrations are held is an important thing to take into account, as a daytime event could produce some brighter, more aesthetically pleasing snaps.

The expert also advised checking the date against the school calendar to ensure it does not coincide with any end-of-school functions.

Maestrocard has revealed that the average student spends a total of £350 on their graduation, with £45 of that spent on the pictures for the photo album and special frames.