Get ready for graduation day with tips from St Mary’s graduate Ayla, from booking graduation tickets and gowns to what to expect at the ceremony.
Having graduated from St Mary’s in 2026, I know how much preparation goes into such an exciting day. I wanted to be as prepared as possible so I could relax and celebrate properly. With such a big milestone coming up, it’s only natural to feel a little stressed, so here’s my list of dos and don’ts to help your graduation day run smoothly.
Early graduation preparations
The first essential step to a successful graduation day is keeping an eye on your student email. You'll receive key information throughout the year, so you're up to date on when the ceremony is happening, how to get tickets, and other essentials.
Alongside this, keeping in contact with your classmates and lecturers about what the day will look like can be really reassuring. Just talking to people in the same boat as you can be a good stress reliever. Your lecturers are also there to help. They have experienced graduation day many times before and will definitely have some helpful advice.
I received the information on when my graduation was going to happen in November 2025, eight months before the actual ceremony. This was very helpful because, being originally from the US, my family had to plan their trip months in advance. Letting them know my graduation date as soon as I found out helped them plan their travels early.
Top tips:
- Keep an eye on your student email: that’s where you’ll receive relevant info
- Stay in contact with staff and classmates
- Share the dates with your family as soon as possible
Booking graduation tickets and other logistics
At the end of March 2026, I was sent an email that helped guide me through how to book tickets, rent a graduation gown, and book professional graduation pictures. This email was key to planning out the day in advance, and was really helpful when navigating this new process. I highly recommend flagging this email, plus any others holding important information regarding graduation, so you don't lose any important details.
As soon as my family booked their trip, I bought their tickets to attend the ceremony and celebratory drinks afterwards. As a graduate, your ticket is free, and you can bring up to three guests with the purchase of tickets. I also booked my gown rental with Ede & Ravenscroft, which was super easy to navigate. I opted to take my own photos, but professional photography could also be booked through the gown rental platform.
It's important not to delay buying your tickets, or booking your gowns and photography. There will be a deadline. It's so easy to get caught up in the excitement of the academic year and forget the most important parts, so it’s definitely best to take care of everything as soon as possible.
Top tips:
- Flag the information emails related to graduation
- Book your tickets early
- Book your gown and photography asap
Preparing for graduation day
Deciding what to wear
This is a special occasion, so don’t be afraid to dress up in celebration of your accomplishments. Formal dress is required, so embrace it and wear something you truly love. After all, it is your day. Wearing a suit and tie, or a beautiful dress, really accentuates how you feel on the day. It makes you realise how much you’ve achieved.
It was great seeing all of my classmates dress their best to celebrate the big day. It really made the occasion feel like a celebration. I found it helpful to keep safety pins and hair grips on hand to help me secure my gown and hat if need be. I also enlisted the help of my friends and family to tell me if something was off that I wasn’t noticing.
Top tips:
- Pick an outfit that feels right to celebrate your achievements
- Keep hair grips/safety pins on hand on the day
Keeping comfortable
While it's important to look smart, you should also be comfortable as it's a long day. I made the mistake of wearing extremely high heels, something that my ankles regretted almost instantly. I highly recommend picking footwear that is both comfortable and formal, since you will likely be doing quite a bit of walking on the day.
Alongside this, it was very hot on my graduation day, so it's important to think about the weather when deciding what to wear. Breathable clothes will make all the difference under your gown.
I also recommend bringing a handheld fan (not a noisy one), so that you can keep cool throughout the day. The University did hand out fans at the ceremony, but in case there aren’t enough to go round, bringing one will help you stay cool. You can never be too careful when it comes to staying cool in extreme heat, so I recommend making sure your friends and family bring a small water bottle to help stay hydrated too.
Top tips:
- Think about how much you'll be walking and standing on the day before deciding on footwear
- Think about the weather on the day when picking your outfit
- Plan for the weather: fans, water bottles, or umbrellas
Pre-ceremony coordination
Before the big day, it's helpful to get prepared. Since you may not be staying close to campus, ensuring smooth travel to the event is a must. As I was staying with my family in central London, I made sure to give myself plenty of time to get back to my house in Teddington to get ready. The University recommend you arrive 90 minutes to an hour before your ceremony begins to allow time to get your gown and any other materials.
Ensuring plenty of travel time is a huge help, as you never know when there might be delays. I personally have the worst luck when it comes to transport, so I aim to get places at least 20 minutes earlier, just in case. Looking up the route you need to take before the day helps to mentally prepare you as well. Make sure your phone is fully charged before you leave too, then it's ready for directions, photos, and keeping in touch with your guests.
Top tips:
- Plan travel and route in advance
- You need to arrive at least 40 mins before the ceremony begins
- Make sure your phone is fully charged before you leave on the day
What to expect on graduation day
Once you arrive on campus, the first thing you need to do is collect your tickets. You'll need the code that was emailed, which is why flagging essential emails is so important!
There's plenty of signage directing you to ticket collection, and staff will then tell you where to collect your gown. You'll then be helped into your gown, and you're free to take pictures at the photo op places the university has set up.
Top tips:
- Collect your ticket and name card from the registration desk. You'll need your booking code for this
- Get gowned up as soon as you arrive and take photos before the ceremony
The ceremony
Once you're called into the Chapel, you'll be asked to take off your hat. You won't need to put it back on until after the ceremony. It's extremely important to hold on to your ticket listing your name and its pronunciation, since this is what they will use to announce you on stage.
The ceremony lasts 45 minutes to an hour and you’ll be given a graduation programme with all the names of the day's graduates.
Remember, this is a time to celebrate, so cheer for your classmates! My friends and I made sure to cheer super loudly for everyone, even if we didn’t know them, as we were all celebrating the same monumental event in our lives.
Top tips:
- Take your mortarboard (hat) off before walking into the Chapel
- Bring your name card with you when walking to the stage
- Cheer for your classmates as they walk up the steps
Celebrating after the ceremony
After the ceremony, there's a celebration where you can enjoy a free drink and snacks with friends and family. My family and I enjoyed the refreshments, then went to Strawberry Hill House to take some photos.
I highly recommend going to Strawberry Hill House for photos as it's a beautiful backdrop. We left the celebration a bit early, helping us beat the crowds.
Above all, don't forget to enjoy the moment. Time flies so quickly, so take it all in while you can. My family from the US took me out for a fantastic dinner and drinks after the ceremony. For me, it was the perfect way to celebrate. Celebrate in whatever way feels right for you; it’s your day, so it should feel like it.
Top tips:
- Take photos in front of Strawberry Hill House
- Enjoy the day! It goes by quickly
Your graduation day mini checklist
While it's helpful to hear about what to expect on the day, sometimes it helps to keep yourself on track with a list. I personally love a list, so I’ve included one below to help you remember the most important details:
- Inform special guests of the date/time of your ceremony
- Book your tickets and gown rental
- Flag the email including your ticket QR code
- Pick out an outfit that makes you feel special
- Make plans to celebrate post-graduation
- Look up your route to campus
- Arrive on campus early
- Grab your tickets
- Get fitted into your gown
- Take photos
- Enjoy the ceremony, and CELEBRATE!
Get ready for your graduation day at St Mary’s
Graduation day is the pinnacle of your university journey, and we're here to ensure you enjoy the day – you’ve earned it. For more information and tips about what to expect on graduation day, visit our graduation page.