School reunion planning, start to finish.
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Planning Timeline
Find your people
- Form a small committee, two to five people is plenty
- Build the class list from yearbooks, social media and word of mouth
- Poll the group on dates and price tolerance before booking anything
- Send save the dates the moment the date is locked
Lock the essentials
- Book a venue that handles a flexible headcount, function rooms beat sit down dinners
- Set ticket pricing to cover venue, food and a buffer, reunions should not lose money
- Send the real invitations with an RSVP deadline
- Start a photo collection thread for a slideshow or memory wall
Build the night
- Chase RSVPs hard, turnout anxiety is the number one reunion killer
- Order name tags with yearbook photos, they break the ice instantly
- Plan two or three light structured moments, a welcome toast, awards, a class photo
- Confirm final numbers with the venue and caterer
The reunion itself
- Send the final details message with parking and timing
- Set up a welcome table with name tags and a memory display
- Assign one committee member as the venue contact for the night
- Take the class photo early, before anyone slips away
Expert Planning Tips
Turnout follows visibility
People decide to come when they see names they remember on the guest list. Share who has RSVPd in every reminder and watch the maybes convert.
Price for the venue, not the frills
Classmates pay for the room and the people, not for centrepieces. Keep tickets lean and spend on the space, the slideshow and one good surprise.
Casual beats formal
Cocktail style events with roaming food outperform seated dinners at reunions. People came to move around the room, not to be trapped next to one conversation.
Capture the night
Hire a photographer for the first two hours or brief two volunteers. The photos become the marketing for the next reunion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to plan a school reunion?
Most Australian class reunions run $40 to $90 per ticket, which covers a function room, canapes or a buffet and basic styling. A 100 person reunion typically has a total budget of $5,000 to $9,000 funded by ticket sales. Keep a 10 percent buffer for no shows and last minute costs, and aim to break even rather than profit.
How far in advance should you plan a class reunion?
Start four to six months out for a milestone reunion. The long lead is not for the venue, it is for finding people. Tracking down a scattered class list and letting interstate classmates arrange travel takes far longer than booking a room.
How do you find missing classmates?
Start with the classmates you have and work outward, every found person knows two more. School alumni offices, yearbook lists, and social media groups for your school or suburb close most of the gaps. Post the reunion publicly so lost classmates searching the school name can find you.
What makes a school reunion successful?
Turnout, name tags and unstructured time. People come to talk, so resist the urge to over program. One welcome speech, a class photo and a slideshow is structure enough, the rest of the night belongs to conversation.
Should partners be invited to a school reunion?
For 10 and 20 year reunions, most committees make partners optional and price them as standard tickets. Announce the policy clearly on the invitation either way, it is the question every classmate asks first.
Who should organise a school reunion?
A volunteer committee of two to five classmates works best, ideally including one person still local to the school area and one natural organiser. Split the jobs: finding people, money and venue, and communications.