As graduation season nears, high school seniors across the country are giving a creative twist to a long-standing tradition.
Instead of only sending out graduation invitations to friends and family, many are mailing their invites to their favorite brands, restaurants, and big-name companies hoping to receive small gifts or a congratulatory message in return.
“I saw people on TikTok say they got gift cards or merch from places like Chick-fil-A, Tru-Fru, and Starbucks after sending them graduation announcements,” said Harley Wachter, a high school senior at OVS. “So a few of us decided to try it.”
Harley, along with her friends Chloe Ronning and Scout Mortenson, each sent out a handful of invites to companies they love, including EOS, LEGO, and Ulta Beauty. The only goal is to see which brands might respond with freebies, coupons, or just a kind note acknowledging their milestone.
“It’s kind of like a waiting game,” said Scout. “Even if we don’t get anything back, it’s fun to see what might happen. It’s like sending out letters to Santabut for graduation.”
The trend is quickly spreading across social media, especially on TikTok and Instagram, where students are posting videos of themselves decorating envelopes, adding cute stickers, and carefully addressing invites to corporate headquarters. Some even go the extra mile by writing heartfelt notes inside or tagging the companies in their posts.
While there’s no guarantee of a response, some companies in previous years have surprised graduates with thoughtful gestures anything from branded merchandise and hand-written cards to free food vouchers and discount codes.
“I’ve seen a bunch of cute videos on TikTok of seniors getting gifts after sending graduation invites. It’s not only about the gifts it was honestly fun to draw on all the cards. ,” said Chloe. “That’s kind of what inspired us. It’s just fun and wholesome.”
Many students say that even without a reply, the experience is still worth it.
“We’re not doing it just for free stuff,” Chloe emphasized. “It’s more about the experience and the memories. But getting something back would definitely be cool.”
Some brands are already catching wind of the trend. On Twitter and TikTok, companies like Dutch Bros, Raising Cane’s, and Crumbl Cookies have interacted with posts from grads, hinting that a response might be coming. For students, the anticipation is part of the charm.
“It gives us something to look forward to while we wait for graduation,” said Harley. “It’s like checking the mailbox every day suddenly became exciting again.”
Parents have also chimed in, supporting the idea as a creative and positive way to mark the end of senior year.
“It’s such a lighthearted way to celebrate,” said Maria Cuellar, an OVS senior’s mom. “They’re expressing gratitude, being playful, and maybe even making memories they’ll tell their own kids about someday.”
As more seniors jump on the trend, the variety of companies receiving invites continues to grow. From tech companies like Apple and Spotify to local coffee shops and niche skincare brands, students are hoping for some fun surprises along the way.
With graduation just around the corner and mailboxes being watched more closely than ever, these seniors are holding out hope that their favorite brands might surprise them one envelope at a time.
“We’ve worked hard to get here,” said Scout. “And if Ulta wants to send a lip gloss, I’m not going to say no.”