The reunion planning checklist guides you from 12 months out to day-of with organized, checkable tasks for family and class reunions. Your progress is saved automatically.
How to Plan a Family or Class Reunion
Successful reunions require one person (or committee) to own the logistics. The main challenges are venue selection, tracking attendees, and collecting money in advance. Start with the venue — everything else schedules around it.
The venue is the critical path
Popular parks, lodges, vacation rentals, and event spaces book 6-12 months in advance for summer dates. Before you set a reunion date, check venue availability first, then announce the date to attendees. Doing it in reverse causes conflicts and disappointment.
Collect money early
Set a registration deadline 2-3 months before the event. People who haven't paid are often the ones who don't show up — this wastes food and space you paid for. Use PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle for easy collection. Be clear that payment confirms attendance and that refunds aren't available after a cut-off date.
FAQ
Is this reunion checklist free?
Yes, completely free. Your progress is saved in your browser automatically.
How far in advance should I start planning a reunion?
Family reunions typically need 9-12 months of planning. Class reunions (especially 10-year, 20-year milestones) need 12-18 months to track down alumni and secure popular venues. Smaller annual family gatherings can be planned in 4-6 months. The biggest lead-time items are venue booking and alumni tracking.
What is a realistic budget for a family reunion?
Day gathering (picnic/park): $15-30 per person. Weekend gathering with lodging: $100-300 per person. All-inclusive resort reunion: $500-2,000+ per person. For budget-conscious reunions, renting a park pavilion ($50-200) and doing a potluck dramatically reduces per-person costs. Vacation rental houses ($500-2,000/night) split among families can work well.
How do I find contact information for lost classmates?
For class reunions: LinkedIn is most effective for professional contacts. Facebook class reunion groups. Your school's alumni association (many maintain updated directories). Class yearbook editors sometimes maintain contact lists. Classmates.com and similar sites. Ask mutual friends for intros. Start collecting contact info as soon as you decide to hold a reunion.
What activities work best for large reunions?
Best reunion activities: guided tours of meaningful locations (school, hometown), photo slideshow/memory wall, team-based games (trivia, relay races), structured meal times with seating that rotates, and memory books. Avoid activities that exclude mobility-limited attendees. Capture contact updates during the reunion to make the next one easier to plan.