Graduation ceremony
Graduation ceremony: The celesta marks the moment that stays with us.
The graduation ceremony marks the end of several years’ hard work. This moment deserves more than just a group photograph. Celesta designs and produces the grand finale of your ceremony: fireworks display, drone light flight, stage effects and video mapping, from prestigious colleges to universities, both in France and internationally.
- 500 performances staged
- DGAC-approved
- Operating in 15 countries
- We’ll get back to you within 48 hours
The sequence of events
How does it work? a graduation ceremony.
A graduation ceremony consists of four parts. Your institution handles the first two; Celesta takes care of the last two – the ones that will leave a lasting impression on the graduates.
17 h 30
Support for families
Cloakroom, collection of graduation gowns, seating in the lecture theatre or under the marquee. Families are arriving; the graduating class is gathering.
18 h 00
The speeches
A few words from the Director, the patron of the graduating class and a graduate representative. The formal part of the ceremony – the part the institution has already got down to a fine art.
18 h 45
Roll call
Each graduate takes to the stage. Cold sparks, a light show and a soundtrack synchronised to the timecode add drama to the roll call without ever drowning out the presenter’s voice. Celesta’s first speech.
20 h 30
The finale
The one moment when the graduating class, their families and the school come together. Whether it’s a fireworks display, a drone display forming the school’s coat of arms or the names projected onto the façade: this is where memories are made.
The timings are provided for guidance only: the arrangements will be tailored to your schedule, venue and the number of graduates being called up.
The two moments
Everything has been arranged for the ceremony. Apart from what we take away from it.
Guides on organising a graduation ceremony all cover the same points, and rightly so: without them, the ceremony cannot take place. But none of them mention how it ends. Celesta focuses solely on these two moments.
- Gowns and headdresses
- Invitations
- Speech
- Photographer
- Sideboard
- Playlist
- Seating plan
- Printed certificates
On stage
Roll call
Cold sparks, a light show and a soundtrack synchronised to the timecode set the pace for the graduates’ roll call. Designed for use both indoors and outdoors, these stage effects never drown out the presenter’s voice.
In the sky
The finale
A fireworks display synchronised to music, or a swarm of drones forming the school’s coat of arms and the year of the graduating class. The whole assembly looks up at the same moment.
After the ceremony
Images from the promotion
The photographs from the graduation ceremony provide material for your communications, your new academic year brochure and the alumni network. A successful ceremony benefits the institution long after the evening itself is over.
Three disciplines
Fireworks displays, drone light shows, scenography: a single service provider.
Depending on the venue for your event, its capacity and your specific requirements, Celesta can combine or separate these three disciplines. They are designed, produced and subject to in-house production control: your organisation will have just one point of contact and a single contract.
I
Fireworks displays
Celesta organises fireworks displays synchronised to your music – ranging from an intimate display lasting just a few minutes to a grand spectacle in front of several thousand spectators – to give your graduation ceremony the grandeur it deserves.
II
Ballets of light drones
Flying in swarms of between ten and several hundred, our drones carve out the night sky to form your institution’s coat of arms, the graduating year or a personalised message. A silent, low-impact display, particularly well-suited to urban campuses and sites where noise is a concern.
III
Multimedia scenography
Architectural mapping, lighting effects, sound design, cold sparks, lasers and live performers come together to create a unique narrative. An immersive experience designed to etch this moment into the memories of the graduates and their families.
Formats
A feature for every highlight of your ceremony.
Promotional event, return performance, finale under the stars, closing gala: we tailor the programme to the venue, its capacity and the ethos of your organisation.
Leading engineering and business schools
A pyrotechnic display or a drone ballet to bring your school’s graduation ceremony to a close. Celesta creates an event that lives up to your institution’s reputation, from your campus in the Île-de-France region to your branches across the country and abroad. The school’s colours, the graduating year and the logo appear in the sky, accompanied by music.
Universities and faculties
For a ceremony involving an entire faculty or campus, our teams design set-ups tailored to large audiences. Stage effects, large-scale projections, a closing fireworks display, and a drone light show: the format is tailored to your budget and venue.
On-stage graduation ceremony
The moment each graduate takes to the stage is brought to life with cold sparks, a light show and a soundtrack synchronised to the timecode. These stage effects, designed for both indoor and outdoor use, punctuate the reading out of the graduates’ names without ever drowning out the voice of the ceremony’s presenter.
Display of year group names
Video mapping displays the names of the graduates on the façade of a lecture theatre, a castle or a building on campus. Each graduating class has its name projected in large format, providing the ideal backdrop for souvenir photographs and social media posts.
Gala and school-leavers’ ball
Following the official graduation ceremony, the gala keeps the celebrations going. Fireworks synchronised to the music, a drone display, lasers and confetti lend the graduation evening an intensity that the graduates will talk about for a long time to come. Celesta orchestrates the whole event, from the opening to the grand finale.
International ceremonies
Do your overseas campuses organise their own ceremonies? Our teams can travel to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The licensed storage facility in Aigremont gives our logistics team a rare degree of autonomy to organise your ceremony outside France.
Production
From the first conversation at the climax of the ceremony.
Allow six to twelve weeks between the first meeting and the evening of the ceremony; allow more time for a large-scale drone display that requires authorisation. As the academic calendar is known well in advance, planning can begin early.
01
Briefing and alignment
We review your academic calendar and budgetary requirements in order to define the purpose and running order you wish to give to this event.
02
Design and feasibility study
Development of the artistic concept and scenography. At the same time, our teams carry out on-site reconnaissance, calculate visitor flows and model safety perimeters.
03
Engineering and production
Bespoke technical preparation and supply of equipment from our own ICPE-licensed storage facility, ensuring complete logistical autonomy.
04
Orchestration and precision
Programming and timing of effects within your soundscape. We carry out simulations and make adjustments second by second.
05
Management of the production control department, D-Day
On the day of the ceremony, our technical management team will oversee the entire event in real time, liaising with your organising committee and the emergency services.
06
Debriefing and sustainability
Post-event analysis to build on the successes of this year’s event and lay the groundwork for the celebrations for the next cohort.
Compliance
A great finale is First and foremost, a solid finish.
Our in-house teams hold the required qualification certificate for Category F4 fireworks and theatrical pyrotechnic articles, in accordance with Decree No. 2010-455 of 4 May 2010. All our aerial operations comply with the specific category set out in European Regulation 2019/947, with authorisation from the DGAC. We take care of the official declarations, securing the perimeter and liaising with your campus security service. You focus on your graduates; we take operational responsibility.
- F4-certified pyrotechnicians
- Drones: DGAC authorisation
- ICPE-licensed storage facility
- Liaison with Campus Security
Why Celesta?
What your organisation he confides in Celesta.
Celesta designs, produces and handles its shows in-house. For your graduation ceremony, this means a single point of contact, a single party responsible for operations, and no chain of subcontractors.
A combination of creativity and technical rigour
With our expertise in both creative design and the strictest safety requirements, we guarantee a flawless event. Your message and the story of your graduating class are brought to life through impeccable technical execution.
Proven expertise gained in the field
Accustomed to organising events for crowds of several hundred thousand people as well as for smaller, more intimate gatherings, our teams handle complex situations with composure. This experience of major events ensures that crowd management and risk management are handled with expertise.
A unique project that reflects your values
We never use a standardised template. Because your school’s identity deserves the utmost respect, we take the time to design a bespoke solution, tailored to your graduates and adapted to the specific characteristics of your site.
Let’s talk about it
Ready to celebrate Your class?
Are you organising a graduation ceremony and looking for a grand finale that your students will remember? Let us know the venue, capacity and date. We’ll get back to you within 48 hours with a quote and an artistic concept, with no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What educational institutions ask first.
How do you organise a graduation ceremony?
The organisation is divided into two parts: what is the responsibility of the school and what is outsourced. The school sets the date, invites the families, orders the gowns, writes the speeches and finalises the order of the roll call. The staging is outsourced to a service provider: stage effects, sound system synchronised with the roll call, projections onto the façade, and the finale. Celesta is only involved in this second part.
What happens at a graduation ceremony?
Four stages, almost always in the same order: welcoming the families and handing out the gowns, speeches by the headteacher and the class patron, calling the graduates onto the stage, followed by the finale or gala. The duration depends mainly on the number of names called: allow about one minute per graduate on stage.
When is the best time of year to hold the ceremony?
The ceremonies are usually held between the end of the academic year and the autumn, once the examination boards have reached their decisions. This seasonal pattern is an advantage: as the academic calendar is known well in advance, the artistic planning can begin several months beforehand, whereas corporate events are often organised at short notice.
Is it allowed to set off a fireworks display on campus?
Yes, subject to certain conditions. Site surveys determine the filming area, the safety perimeter and the distance from buildings. On a densely built-up or listed campus, drone flights or special effects are often used instead: they require neither a fallout zone nor noise management.
Are drone displays replacing fireworks displays?
It either replaces or complements it, depending on your intention. Drones are suitable for urban campuses and noise-sensitive sites, as they fly silently, and they can display: the institution’s coat of arms, the year of the graduating class, or a message. Fire remains unbeatable when it comes to the raw emotion of a finale.
How long does it take to prepare for the finale?
Generally speaking, allow six to twelve weeks for a project to be completed; it will take longer for a large-scale drone flight requiring authorisation from the DGAC. The earlier the project is defined, the greater the scope for creativity.
Is it possible to organise a performance inside a lecture theatre?
Yes. Cold sparks, heavy fog, stage flames and confetti are designed for use in enclosed spaces, in accordance with fire safety regulations. Our teams carry out a site survey in advance with the venue manager.
Who manages access rights and security?
Our teams take care of it all: prefecture declarations, coordination with the emergency services, setting up a security perimeter, liaising with your campus security team and handling production control on the day. Your institution retains artistic control, whilst we ensure compliance with regulations.
Does Celesta operate outside France?
Yes. Our teams travel to Europe, the Middle East and Asia for ceremonies at our overseas campuses. The licensed storage facility in Aigremont enables them to manage their own logistics.