Class Reunion Ideas

Class reunions are a great way to get everyone together, catch up with the cheerleader, the geek and the cute jock of course! But they can also be a lot of work. To make it easy for you we have outlined some no fail ideas for class reunion invitations, decorations and party supplies, favors, and even special ways to make your reunion as unique as your class is!
 
class Reunion invitations and communications
Organizing an event for many people, spread out over many cities and involving hundreds (okay, maybe your class is smaller, but trust me, some of these reunions are big!), requires a great deal of communication.

This is why the internet is so great, you can find many of your old school buddies on Facebook, or other networking sites. After you collect the addresses and pick a date and location it's time to send out invitations.
 
It's a special event and we suggest a special personalized reunion invitation from Party411. Party411 also has other creative invitations like a ticket invitation, a boarding pass invitation or a passport invitation for the families that love travel or are from all over world. Whether you use a caricature of the class clown, a class motto, or a picture of the old school building you can send an invitation that's unforgettable and that promises a truly special event. Be sure to include a old class picture!
 
It's a good idea to include a RSVP. It will save you time chasing down responses later. Include a space on the RSVP to collect email addresses.

Have a central e-mail address for all questions and comments. Include the e-mail address (and a phone number for that rare person that doesn't have e-mail) in the invite and encourage everyone to contact you with any question they may have.

Create an agenda. This is a good idea for a weekend event. You can send this out by email before the event but have a printed version for the event itself. It's really helpful for out of town guests and everyone benefits from knowing when to be where.

class Reunion Decorations and Party Supplies
Class reunions are a great time to do it big! My high school reunion does a whole weekend event at a yacht club, or fancy hotel, while my grade school reunion does one night at a bar or restaurant. Both are a great time! Contact your old school, sometimes they allow reunions to take place in the old gym.  What a great way to bring back memories!
 
One thing you should always have is a welcoming table. Have a central location where people can sign in. Have them fill out a registration form to gather information for a class directory (or the next reunion). If it's a one-day event like a picnic, just set up a table. If you are spending a weekend at a resort or a hotel the concierge will be glad to help you. We like to give out name tags (or even school photo name tags) for everyone and a party favor like a lei, personalized candy wrapper, or mint tin, or something else to remember the occasion with. My kids are always amazed at how cute I was just 25 years ago.
 
You can also decide to theme your reunion. This is always fun and makes decorating a snap! A few themes that work really well for reunions are:
And here are a couple blast from the past themes:
 
Reunion menu and table decorations
If your class is like mine the best times were around the lunch table!
  1. Go to a restaurant. This is the easiest way to go, and if the reunion is going to last more than one day you should go out to eat at least once. Formal or informal depends on the group and the budget. Make sure to pick a restaurant that is used to handling large parties. Having your own party room is always the best way to go but not always economically feasible. With your own room and your own bartender you can have an open bar which will avoid arguments about who drank how much and why should I pay for it. You might want to limit your menu choices to 2 or 3 for the same reason. Make sure the kitchen is aware of any special dietary needs.
  2. Potluck. A real common way to feed the masses is having everyone bring something. This is great for smaller class reunions. We suggest letting people know what type of food they are responsible for (appetizer, main course, dessert) and giving them carte blanche from there. You don’t want 14 desserts and no main course. Remember that it is very difficult for out-of-towners to bring food.
  3. Cater the event. There are some great caterers around that specialize in reunion events and do a fabulous job. You know, pans of chicken or pasta and racks of ribs. They’ll have all the equipment you need so you don’t have to transport grills, pans or serving utensils. Makes life much easier for all involved.
While the food is important, it’s not a time to experiment. If your class loves burgers and dogs…great! Burgers and dogs it is. Make sure a few people don’t have to do all the work. Cooking for 16 families can be overwhelming for a couple of people. Spread the labor and you spread the fun!
 
class reunion games and activities
Class reunions are great, but sometimes you need a conversation starter!  Grab an old yearbook and try blowing up some old class photos from dances, lunch, parties or whenever. Have your classmates send in baby pictures ahead of time, then at the reunion play guess the baby!  Raffles and contests are also fun for reunions.
 
Check out our School Reunion Party Games page for more ideas.
 
class reunion party favors
Don't forget to decorate the people.  These fun party kits make favors easy!  For some blast from the past gear, check these out:
Personalized favors are a perfect way to remember such a great event! Personalized Class Reunion Candy Bar Wrappers are always a hit. Party411 also has photo cookies, personalized mint tins, and personalized lollipops!  Have a design in mind? Contact us!