Tips For Planning a Class Reunion
* Who came the farthest distance to attend?
- Choose activities for all that attend. Try to get everyone involved, but remember, people change over time. Remember that you may not get the same results as you did 5, 10, 15+ years ago with that same person! (Keep any games or requirements safe & simple). Here are a few ideas to use when planning:
* Who has been married the longest (to same person)?
* Who has been married the most times?
* Who has the most children?
* Who is the most changed individual?
* Who is the least changed?
* Who was voted most likely to succeed... did they make it?
- Play a mixture of music to match the types of people at the party. The first 60 to 90 minutes will be socializing & mingling. This will be when you want to play music popular from the graduation years involved. Don't restrict yourself to this era only. Adults down through the college crowd like some of the current top hits from rock, dance and country. But, some music is time tested and these songs are usually a hit with the crowd, like "Old Time Rock and Roll" or "Brown Eyed Girl". At the 90 minute mark, have someone or maybe a few people say something to the crowd (thank them for coming, etc.), then award your attendees with "trophies" for the above mentioned activities.
- Food: remember to keep it simple! Finger foods still work best, but that will all depend on your budget. Chicken fingers, small meatballs, cheese cubes, crackers, celery / carrots with dips are at the top of the list, but other favorites include hamburgers, hot dogs, sub sandwiches, sliced meats, chips & salads.
- Don't forget to have plenty of ice cold drinks on hand, as everyone is going to be hot! Keep the drinks in a cooler or a big tub with ice. If serving drinks, you might want to use plastic cups for safety. A healthy alternative to sodas is to provide fresh fruit drinks, such as punch. If serving frozen drinks, remember to offer non-alcoholic versions as well for those who don't drink. Diet & caffeine free versions of drinks are often overlooked also.
- Have a Register Book as guests arrive. The guests can register in & fill out information that will help organize the next reunion, but also allow others to communicate AFTER the reunion ends.
- Use name tags with photos. Try to use photos from the yearbook on the name tags. People change (sometimes drastically). This will help spark discussions amongst old friends who have lost touch.
- Decorations can add to the atmosphere of the party. Try to find items from the graduation years (clothing, music (album covers), crazes (ie: Rubiks Cube), etc. and place them around the room for visual effect & to use with photos. Make a few yearbooks available for people to browse through & get conversations started.
- Contact the really fun people from your class, and involve them in planning the event. Organize a committee & or hire a reunion planner to track down classmates. Try using www.classmates.com or www.reunion.com or www.anywho.com while online. These can be of great help! A few other suggestions when planning: mention music /DJ, planned activities & FUN, and foods / beverages to be offered. Invitations should be sent out 6-8 months before the event for best turnout. Then about three months out, send a sheet asking for personal information (career, spouse's name, how many children, etc).
- Find a Guest of Honor. If possible, locate a former teacher, custodian, coach, or even the principal (someone who was enjoyed by most everyone) to attend as a guest of honor.
- If this is an outdoor event, have a backup plan in the event of bad weather! If rain threatens, either plan to move the party to an inside location, like a clubhouse or home. A rain out date for a class reunion is not likely, as several people may come great distances to attend.
Return to the Main Page Have a Great Class Reunion!!!
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