subject: Hosting Fabulous High School Class Reunions [print this page] Though planning high school class reunions usually falls to the school itself, most enlist assistance from class members to make the event special. There are often committees formed to handle venue, entertainment, and food selection, as well as the choice of theme and dcor. Committee members tend to find the project daunting, particularly when they think of how many are relying on them to create a memorable night. However, with a few simple steps, it is possible to put together wonderful high school class reunions without incurring huge amounts of stress. There are very real rewards to bringing former classmates together, as well as reacquainting the group with their teachers and mentors from their high school days. Believe it or not, more than one fabulous love story has come from reconnecting with old flames at high school class reunions.
Enlist Help
Though getting projects done through committee can add to the complexity of the task, the fact is that more heads mean more ideas. In addition, sharing the workload keeps individuals safe from becoming burdened with all of the things that have to be done to make high school class reunions happen. Get volunteers to seek out former classmates who never updated their contact information and are hard to find. Use committee members connections to secure a venue that meets both space and budget requirements. With more planners, it is more likely that affordable, quality entertainment can be found, and choosing a theme is easier when there are several people contributing ideas. Decorating is much more fun with a group, and it is finished more quickly when many help with the details.
Location Matters
Choosing locations for high school class reunions is surprisingly complex, as this decision impacts how many will be able to attend. Some former class members might have moved out of town, making it important that the venue is convenient to travelers. How many the facility can hold is important, but more critical is the tricky question of how many will come. RSVPs are usually not due until long after the location has been secured, which means an educated guess on the number of attendees is the only option. Event planners usually go by the rule that they plan for 60% of invitees to join the festivities. A facility that can adjust numbers up or down last minute makes the whole process far easier for planners.
Dont Procrastinate
A surprising amount of work goes into coordinating high school class reunions, so the earlier the committee begins preparation, the better. Some groups start years in advance, and while that is not necessary, allotting as much time for preparation as is recommended for weddings is usually a good idea. A year or so gives plenty of time for finding classmates that have fallen out of touch, and it ensures that the date is available once the perfect location has been identified. With early bookings, there are no disappointments when it comes to services like food and entertainment.
Use Social Networking
One of the best tools for planning high school class reunions is the use of social networking sites to generate interest, connect with attendees, and gather RSVPs. Often individuals that cannot be found through other means are connected with someone who can direct them to the social network page. This is a fun way to get the graduates excited for the event, particularly with creative techniques like posting photographs and updates on the progress of the planning.
Planning high school class reunions is rewarding, but only if it is done right. Never rush the planning process. Instead, high school class reunions need to be planned out with precision, patience and of course, creativity.
