Custom Bobblehead Dolls Are the Hot Graduation Gift Trend

The Popularity of Bobblehead Graduation Gifts

Graduation is an exciting milestone that calls for a memorable gift. In recent years, bobblehead dolls made to look like the graduate have become an increasingly popular gift choice. Personalized bobbleheads featuring the graduate's face, cap and gown are a fun way to commemorate their achievement.

Bobbleheads make for lighthearted gifts that capture the playful spirit of graduation. The bobbling head adds an element of fun and whimsy to the traditional graduation figurine. Bobbleheads are an especially fitting gift for high school and college graduations, when graduates are entering young adulthood.

Reasons Bobbleheads Make Great Graduation Gifts

There are many reasons why bobblehead graduation gifts have become so popular:

• They are personalized with the graduate's face, making them unique and meaningful.
• The bobbling head adds a playful touch that appeals to young graduates.
• They are affordable and budget-friendly graduation gifts.
• Bobbleheads are unique nontraditional gifts that stand out from typical cards and flowers.
• They are decorative items that will get displayed and provide lasting memories.
• Bobbleheads represent a milestone and commemorate the graduate's achievement.
• They are great gifts for photo ops, capturing the grad with their mini-me.
• Bobbleheads come in endless varieties featuring diverse figures and poses.
• They lighten the serious tone of graduation with their whimsical style.

Graduates appreciate gifts that are personal, expressive, and bring some fun to graduation festivities. Bobbleheads check all these boxes, making them highly giftable for graduates.

Different Types of Graduate Bobbleheads

Bobblehead companies offer many styles of graduate dolls to capture the right look, personality and activity for any grad. Some popular types include:

• Traditional cap and gown bobbleheads - Featuring the graduate in their commencement robes and mortarboard cap holding a diploma.
• Formal portrait bobbleheads - Graduates dressed in their cap and gown seated or standing pose for a classy portrait style doll.
• Funny bobbleheads - Graduates displayed in comical poses like holding stacks of cash, popping champagne, or doing headstands in their cap and gown.
• Casual bobbleheads - Graduates dressed in casual jeans, tees and sneakers to match their real laidback style.
• Field of study bobbleheads - Holding books, lab tools, art supplies or other items related to their college major and future career.
• School spirit bobbleheads - Decked out in college or high school team colors and logo apparel.

With so many design options, it's easy to find a bobblehead that reflects the graduate's interests, personality, goals and style. Customizing the doll's features makes the gift even more meaningful.

Customizing Bobbleheads

To make bobbleheads truly special, most companies allow buyers to customize the doll's physical features. Options include:

• Face - Upload a photo of the graduate's face to have their facial features replicated on the doll.
• Hair - Select hair style and color to match the graduate's look.
• Skin tone - Choose the right skin tone to depict the grad.
• Clothing - Pick outfits like cap and gowns, casual wear or athletic gear.
• Props - Add relevant books, flowers, athletic equipment, instruments or whatever item best represents the graduate.
• Base - Select from different base shapes and colors for posing the doll.

Adding custom captions like the grad's name, school, and year of graduation can make the keepsake even more personal. Customizing every aspect ensures bobbleheads look just like the special student being honored.

Bobblehead Trends

Some current trends seen with graduation bobbleheads include:

• Funny/goofy poses - Graduates are depicted jumping for joy, surfing, wearing silly costumes, or doing other playful antics.
• Pop culture - Bobbleheads inspired by popular movie and TV characters like Hermione Granger, Captain America or The Big Bang Theory.
• Sports - Bobblehead athletes wearing grad caps and gowns over their uniform.
• Diversity - More variety in skin tones, facial features, clothing, and props to represent diverse grads.
• Interest/hobbies - Graduates holding musical instruments, cheerleading pom-poms, science beakers, or other items related to their interests.
• Group bobbleheads - Featuring multiple mini-graduates from a family or friend group.

While traditional cap and gown bobbles remain popular, companies offer far more options today. The wide selection reflects how bobbleheads have evolved into a trendy gift that celebrates graduates' interests and personalities.

Bobblehead Graduation Photo Ops

Part of the appeal of bobblehead gifts is using them for hilarious graduation photos. Some creative picture ideas include:

• Posing the grad with their bobblehead mini-me
• Group photos with all the graduates' bobblehead dolls
• Tossing the bobbleheads in the air like grad caps
• Lining them up on a "graduation stage"
• Grouping them together for a class photo
• Having the bobbleheads hold diplomas or pose with grad props like flowers and champagne
• Creatively posing the bobbleheads around the school or home

Capturing the graduate's milestone with both standard and bobblehead grad photos makes for a memorable, multi-dimensional collection of mementos. The mini graduate dolls lend themselves to all kinds of creative, funny photo memories.

Buying Bobblehead Graduation Gifts

Finding high quality personalized bobbleheads for grads takes a bit of shopping savvy. Here are some tips for buying terrific bobbleheads:

Order Early

Be sure to order graduation bobbleheads well in advance, as production times are typically 4-6 weeks. Popular gift-giving seasons for graduation like May and June tend to get backed up as demand increases. Ordering in late winter or early spring will ensure timely arrival.

Select Reputable Company

To get top quality bobbleheads, select an established company with many positive customer reviews. They will employ artisans to hand-sculpt and hand-paint the figurines for a realistic, customized likeness. Avoid companies selling cheap knock-offs that won't endure being a keepsake.

Allow Adequate Customization

Look for a company that gives you sufficient options to customize features, clothing, items, base and text/captions. Having ample ways to personalize the doll to the graduate's interests and personality makes for a gift with special meaning.

Compare Pricing

Graduate bobbleheads range in price based on size, features and customization options. Expect to pay $60-$150+ for a customized doll from a reputable maker. Compare companies, factoring in things like quality of materials, level of personalization and service.

Review Photos Before Approving

Leading bobblehead companies will send you initial renderings or prototypes of the doll for approval before mass production. Review all details thoroughly before giving the go ahead to ensure the likeness and features are exactly as you want them.

Consider Group Discounts

If buying multiple graduation bobbleheads for a family, large friend group or party favors, ask companies about volume discounts. Buying 5-10+ bobbleheads may make the keepsakes more budget-friendly.

Finding unique graduation gifts like bobbleheads takes forethought. But the effort pays off through gifts that provide lasting memories of an incredible milestone. With their ability to capture graduates' personalities through customization, bobbleheads are primed to remain popular graduation gifts for years to come.

FAQs

How much do graduation bobbleheads cost?

Graduation bobbleheads range from $60-$150+ depending on size, level of customization, and quality. More customization options and higher quality materials will increase the price.

Where can I buy a graduation bobblehead?

Many online stores offer customized graduation bobbleheads. Look for reputable companies with plenty of positive reviews and customization options. Give yourself 4-6 weeks for production time.

What are popular graduation bobblehead ideas?

Most feature graduates in cap and gown. Other fun ideas are casual clothing, funny poses, pop culture themes, holding diplomas or grad items like flowers, and featuring school logos.

Do graduation bobbleheads make good gifts?

Yes, bobbleheads are very giftable for graduates. They are personalized, commemorative keepsakes that add a playful element to graduation through the bobbling head.

How can I personalize a graduation bobblehead?

Most bobblehead companies allow you to customize the face, hair, skin tone, outfits, props, base, and text. Upload a photo of your grad's face for the most personalized doll.