Class Reunions

It’s important to get the ball rolling as soon as possible. When you’ve narrowed down who will be on your class reunion planning committee, get together at the earliest opportunity to set a date. That way you have a concrete time frame in which to get everything done. This will help immensely when you start laying out your reunion’s timeline.

Once you have your activities planned you’ll be able to estimate how much money you’ll need. The venue rentals, catering, production services (videographers, DJs, and photographers), outside activities, and any service related fees vary tremendously, so do some footwork in order to get the best price/value combination. And it’s always a good idea to overestimate so you don’t run into problems as the date approaches.

Choose the best ticketing platform to sell tickets to your class reunion, taking into consideration:

• how easy the platform is to use?
• is there a fee for organizers to use the platform?
• can the platform service fee be passed on to the buyer? is there a discounted ticketing fee for class reunions?
• can you connect to a Stripe or PayPal payment processor account? This will allow you to collect funds after every sale versus waiting until after your event to get paid.
• are there registration and promotional tools to help save time?

Ticketstripe checks all the above boxes and more. Our platform is free for organizers to use and we offer a discounted nonprofit ticket pricing that can be passed on to the buyer. This brings the costs down for your guests and enables you to collect the full value of your ticket price. Additionally, when you connect to a Stripe payment processor account, you can pass on the merchant fees, ensuring maximum cash flow for your class reunion expenses.

The point of having a reunion is to get people who haven’t seen each other in years together, but then what? Chances are things will be quite boring (picture crickets chirping) if you don’t have some sort of structured activities for the guests to engage in.

Ideally you should have some sort of ice breaker game to get tongues wagging right off the bat. You should also have a video or slide show – something that helps you all reminisce about the way things were – which will probably earn some laughs and go a long way toward getting people to interact.

Quiet time is also highly recommended, or set aside a given area so people can catch up on their own terms without feeling like they’re holding the group back. Whether your reunion is a one-night affair or takes place over a long weekend, pacing is important. Giving people a little breather between events allows them to de-stress and refresh.

The biggest ticket item you’ll have to foot the bill for is your venue. However, you may not need a fancy ballroom that holds three hundred people. Some of the best reunions are laid back affairs in intimate settings. Once you have an estimated attendance number and a budget, contact possible venues immediately.

To avoid SNAFUs with double-bookings, rate discrepancies, and “lost” reservations, book early and get everything in writing. (Also, call to confirm a month or so in advance).

Sell tickets to your class reunion with Ticketstripe – the ticketing platform trusted by thousands of school reunion organizers!  Our platform is incredibly easy to use, management & promotional tools are free  – and the best part – fast direct deposits. Sign up for a free account today and start selling tickets to your class reunion in minutes.

If possible, begin planning your reunion two years from the date. However, 12 months is generally enough time to plan a successful reunion. Keep in mind allotting that much time can ease the planning process and help minimize the effect planning the event has on your personal life.

This depends on your class as a whole. Whether you’re planning an elegant and refined event or a backyard barbecue, it’s important to take into account the attitudes and demeanor of your former classmates. Some may enjoy a more relaxed event – which are generally more “fun” and allow people to really catch-up – while others are looking for something a little more refined. In the end, it boils down to personal taste.

That depends on the number of people you’re inviting and the estimated cost of your event. One of the biggest costs will be venue rentals. The next highest will probably be catering, followed by entertainers (if any) and reserving hotel space for travelers. Once you have a ballpark idea about those costs – which depend on the type and length of class reunion you’re planning – you can then narrow down a budget.

Gifts are something that your guests can take away and remember the reunion by. You may choose to have small remembrances for each guest (photos, tickets to a homecoming game) or bigger “prizes” you can use for “awards ceremonies” or as incentive for participation in ice breaking games.

These can range from floral arrangements to spa day gift certificates or even weekend getaways (ask the venue for special rates). It all depends on your budget, your guests, and how much time and effort you want to put in.

You can go extravagant and plan spa days, golf games, a full-on concert with a local band – based on your budget of course – but there are a few things that every class reunion should have:

• Ice breaker games to get people talking
• Some sort of walk down memory lane (slideshow, video, yearbook presentation)
• A memorial for classmates who have passed away
• “Quiet time” so small groups of classmates can catch-up at their own speed
• Presentation of “awards” (the most changed, the most similar, etc.)
• Recognition of individuals and their achievements (Somebody raised two children? Published a best-seller? Started their own company?)
• Giveaways or gifts (anything from flowers from a local florist to full weekend getaways and anything in between)

That comes down to good old fashioned footwork. Research what sort of venues are available in your area. Then, contact those venues and ask questions until you’re blue in the face. How many guests can you have? What’s the best price? Are there any discounts? Next, visit the venue in person to see if it suits your needs.

That depends on the type of event and the number of guests. While many reunions are held at conference centers or even dedicated events centers, some reunions are held on campus (especially college reunions). And, if simple is the name of your game, one of your classmate’s backyards or camps may be the ideal place. Wherever you choose to hold your event, securing the venues should be one of your first priorities as these places tend to be very busy – especially during certain times of the year.

Start early and double-check arrangements often. Don’t wait until a week before the event to call the venue and confirm. Also, get everything in writing and pay deposits. Putting money down will make service providers and venue rental staff less likely to “forget” or “misplace” your reservations.