Frequently Asked Questions

These are some of the questions we often get asked, together with answers, of course!

General

What Is Your Graduation?

Your Graduation is a system designed to make the administration of a graduation ceremony as easy as possible.

My student details are not recognised or are missing.

Your institution provides us with the list of graduates including student ID and ceremony date and times to allow you to book on our website. If you are getting an error and your details are not recognised, please email info@yourgraduation.co.uk and confirm in your message your full name, student ID, name of the institution and date and time you are trying to book for and our Customer Care team can assist you further.

How do I log back into my order so that I can amend it

To log back into your order, please visit www.yourgraduation.co.uk, click on “Your Order” and login using your YG order number and password. Your password is included in your order confirmation. If you do not have it, you are able to reset this by selecting the “Forgotten Password” option.

Am I able to change the date and time of my ceremony?

Your institution provides us with the list of graduates including student ID and ceremony date and times. We are not able to amend the information provided on this list without their approval therefore we are not able to allow you to book for a different ceremony date and time unless confirmed to us by your institution.

I have missed the deadline, can I still book?

The deadline is set by your institution, and we are not able to make further adjustments once this has passed. If the waiting list option is open on our website, please fill in your details, this information will be passed to your institution, and you will be contacted with further details if successful. If this facility is not available on our website, please contact your institution directly with regards to this.

Gowns

Should I Hire or Buy my gown?

While most hire, it is possible to buy your academic dress. If the buy option is not listed on this page please complete your hire order, then email us with your order number and we will be able to advise.

Size Guide Help

We require your full height, chest and head measurements to provide you with the correct sized gown and hat. We always carry spares on the day if you are unsure and all hats are fitted by our staff.

Where do I collect my gown on the day?

An email will be sent ahead of your ceremony with the gowning collection location. This will also be clearly signposted for you on the day.

How do I return my gown on the day?

Gowns are to be returned on the day, the location will be clearly sign posted if different from the collection point. All gowns are tagged with your name, and this is used as proof of return; all hired items must be returned and are chargeable at retail price if lost or damaged.

What Colour is my Gown/Hood/Hat?

Gown, hood and hat colours differ depending on your award, it is best to do an online search for your award and validating institution to find out.

What is Extended Hire?

Keep your gown for an extra week to have photographs with family and friends who couldn’t attend the ceremony. We provide you with a pre-paid returns bag so all you need to do is post it back to us after 1 week.

What Should You Wear Under The Gown?

Traditionally most graduands wear dark clothes with light or white shirts or blouses. As this is a formal occasion smart attire should be worn.  More about this

Can I book gown hire on the day?

If you do not pre-order, we should have spares available to hire on the day, please note a £10 surcharge applies to orders made on the day; we cannot guarantee we will have the full and correct items available but will always do our best to help. To ensure that you have the correct sized gown, please pre-order this item prior to your ceremony.

Can I change my gown on the day if it does not fit?

We will have a team available to help you dress on the day. If your gown/hat doesn’t fit, please speak to the gowning team and they may be able to provide you with an alternative size.

Can I do extended hire on the day?

You are able to opt for extended gown hire on the day if you have not pre-ordered for this option. Please speak to the team when you collect your gown, a £30 fee will be applicable, and you will be provided with a pre-paid returns bag and label, and you can return the gown after one week. Please note this service is not available for all institutions.

Do I need to hire a gown?

Academic gowns are usually compulsory to graduate, you may not be permitted to go on stage to receive your award if you do not have the correct attire.

How do I return my gown if I opt for the extended hire?

If you have opted for the extended gown hire, you will be issued with a returns bag with a pre-paid returns label. Please return your gown hire one week after your ceremony. Please also ensure that you obtain a certificate of posting from Royal Mail as you will incur the full cost of the gown if this is lost in transit, and you do not have proof of return. If you are not provided with a returns label at the time of collection, please visit Contact Us and confirm in your message your YG order number and our Customer Care team can advise you further.

How soon to the event can I place an order for gown hire?

You are able to place an order for your gown hire up 7 workings days prior to the first day of the ceremonies for your institution. i.e., if your ceremony is on Wednesday and the first ceremony for your institution is on Monday, we need to receive your request a minimum of 5 working days prior to Monday.

Can I have a refund for my gown if I do not attend?

We require 5 working days’ notice from the start of the first ceremony to action a refund on gown hires i.e., if your ceremony is on Wednesday and the first ceremony for your institution is on Monday, we need to receive your request a minimum of 5 working days prior to Monday.

Unfortunately, we are not able to process refunds for gowns after this time as the gowns are prepared in advance of the event with the student’s information and are shipped to the ceremony location ready for collection.

What material is the gown made of?

Our gowns are made from polyester. As of 2023, all new black robes will be made from 100% recycled fabrics to minimise our environmental impact.

I did not return my gown on the day, what do I do and how much will it

If you have kept your gown and not opted for extended gown hire, please contact us and confirm in your message your order number. If you keep the gown for less than one week, the returns fee will be at your own cost.

If this is kept for longer than a week, a £30 fee will be applicable for every week the gown is kept. We will provide you with a returns label. Please also ensure that you obtain a certificate of posting from Royal Mail as you will incur the full cost of the gown if this is lost in transit, and you do not have proof of return.

Photography

Where/When Are Photos Taken?

Photography usually takes place before and after the Ceremony in our studio area, this is clearly signposted on the day of your event!

How can I order Photographs

You have 3 opportunities to order:

1. On your original order (e.g. at the same time as ordering your Gown and/or Tickets [if applicable])

2. Logging back into your account prior to the deadline, this is usually 5 days prior to your Ceremony day

3. If you would rather decide later, a £15 studio fee is charged; this fee is to have all your photographs taken, and order placed will be in addition.

What is the Studio Session fee and is it refundable?

If you do not want to order in advance or on the day, we charge a £15 Studio fee - this is to have as many images taken, of poses of your choice; all images will go into an online album for you to view and order after the event if you wish. This charge is non-refundable and is not a credit.

How do I view my images?

After the event you will receive an email link to view and complete/pay for your order, this should be received within 5 days of your event but please check junk/spam folders! If you have not received a link within 5 days please email enquiries@marstonevents.com stating your name, email and event you attended, requesting the link to be resent.

When should I receive my Photography Order?

Once you have completed your order, it should be received within 28 working days, we will keep you updated on the progress of your order via email including the tracking information once dispatched! 

Tickets

How many tickets am I allowed to book?

The number of guest tickets you are able to purchase is set by your institution, this is dependant on the size of the venue. You are able to register your interest for extra guest tickets at the time of ordering.

Extra Ticket Requests

Should you require extra tickets you can request them, however this is not guaranteed.

When can I purchase extra tickets?

Once the initial booking closes, we will be able to evaluate the extra guest tickets requests. You may be contacted via email should extra tickets become available.

Can children attend?

If child tickets are not available for purchase, please check this information with your institution as there may be restrictions set for your ceremony.

I did not request extra tickets on my original order how can I change

We are able to amend your order request prior to the deadline. Please Contact Us and confirm in your message your order YG order number and the number of tickets you would like to request. Please note that we are not able to register your interest for extra guest tickets once the booking closes.

Can I have a refund for tickets?

The refund policy for tickets is set by your institution and can vary.

How can I get a carer ticket?

If you require a carer ticket, please contact your institution directly for further information.

How do I receive my tickets?

You will be notified by your institution, they may be collected on the day, posted out in advance, or emailed. Wherever possibly we try to provide this information at the point of booking.