Feel like everyone else is getting older but you are staying the same? We all are on the age train and as time goes back, our class reunion gets closer. High School Reunion Ideas including class reunion décor, high school reunion theme ideas and even class reunion memorial ideas for those that have gone before. Happy planning!
High School Reunion Ideas
Reunited and it feels so good…
I dare you to try to not sing that when talking about a high school reunion! Impossible. The song was always in the subconscious of my mind as I was planning this post. Whether celebrating your 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or even 60th high school reunion, we have some of the best class reunion ideas to create a memorable night or weekend. High school reunion decorations, theme ideas, planning ideas, and even memorial ideas to remember those that have passed before.
We both are so excited ’cause we’re reunited, hey, hey!
What to do at a High School Reunion?
First, if you are wondering what to do at a high school reunion, it’s really nice to have ice breakers. You can use these Minute to Win it Games with directions and supply list or these Family Reunion games go well – because you know, we are like family!
More Class Reunion Games to Consider:
- Adult Party Games (includes drinking and non-drinking games for adults)
- Wine Party Drinking Games
- Beer Party Drinking Games
- Drinking Party Games
- Graduation Party Games
- Graduation Minute to Win it Games
Class Reunion Decorations
The reunion décor is everything. It is what brings the vent together, brings the initial visual excitement and bridges the gap of past to he present.
First, name sure you have a name tag for everyone. This High School Reunion Name Tag Template uses photos from the past so you can connect the look for X number of years ago to today! Comes in 10 to 60 years. These are great because the school photos allow you recognize the faces of your old friends – because some people never change… and honestly some people (just) do! Use the same faces for a slideshow.
Save money on décor by shopping at The Dollar Tree. The Magic of Ordinary Things purchased green floral foam and the shredded paper at the Dollar Tree. She got the IKEA pails for $0.79 each. (We found similar metal pails on Amazon.) All in all, for 20 custom centerpieces, she spent less than $40… less than $2 a piece! Customize with your own school colors.
Have a back in time display. For example, if your graduation year is 2000, have a back in 2000 and list the following…
- Popular Songs
- TV Shows
- Films That Were Released
- What Things Cost
- Events in History
- Winning Sports Teams
- Celebrities Who Were Born
You get also get a Back in the Year Digital Copy Flash Back here and turn it into a poster at a copy store like Staples.
Every high school reunion needs a photo booth! This is a very easy photo booth and prop to share class reunion photos to social media. Just add a hashtag with the graduation year. | Idea Source Cindy at Flickr
This Dry Erase Photo Frame can be personalized to your event.
Also look at these High School Class Reunion Photo Booth Props. Hire an event photographer who can add all the photos digitally to a folder for everyone to share. Chances are you might have a graduate or a spouse of the graduate the do this. In fact, the better the photographer knows the reunion guests, the better the photos are likely to come out.
Play a game – Guess the name of these celebrity year book photos… then again, if you are crafty you could probably make your own poster and play this class reunion game with your old classmates (careful for hurt feelings!)
Balloons can be really affordable, the expense comes when you outsource the task. Grab your craftiest graduates and have them follow this easy Balloon Wall tutorial with your class colors. This tried and true image comes from a Pinterest user and took about 2.5/3 hrs and 250 balloons.
This black, white and gold balloon garland has high ratings too. In includes Balloons garland strip to guide you on your balloon craft. I highly recommend getting 3M Command Brand hooks to hang your balloon garland.
High School Reunion Themes
It’s really easy to take your class reunion décor a certain direction if you have a reunion theme.
Make your high school reunion the theme for the decade you graduated or of your birthday. Great class reunion themes include an eighties party, nineties party or 21st century. Incorporate some of our Glow Theme Party Ideas or any of these fun Adult Drinking Games.
Your reunion might host many events on the schedule. How about incorporating an Adult Theme Prom for the evening. This is perfect those that wish to stay Forever Young! You could incorporate fun ideas like Prom Proposals. They could make a cute contest or fun photo props. | Source
Make your reunion, Holiday Theme. One of the best times of year to have a reunion is, ironically, not the end of the school year or over summer but rather over the holidays. People return home for the holidays to visit their parents and family. Incorporate some of these fun New Years Even Minute to Win it Games into your event. This keeps a cute new year theme if you are having a holiday class reunion.
If the idea of dressing up in theme is really annoying to your guests, have a theme that doesn’t require theme to purchase a themed outfit. A Casino Night allows people to dress up or down and gives people the perfect excuse to wear jeans or wear a tux like the 007 they think they are – wink. Casino Party Décor from Oriental Trading Company.
High School Reunion Planning
The planning is the hardest part! Some of these people you don’t remember, others cannot be motivated to help, because of their busy schedule (who isn’t busy?) Suggestions for class reunion planning might help you get others involved.
No one is going to hand write 1,000 invitations. Plus, do you have everyone’s email address? The best way to hand a class reunion is to create a high school reunion Facebook group. Once you do that, create a digital class reunion invitation.
- Black and Gold Digital High School Reunion Invite
- Banner Digital High School Reunion Invitation (personalize your colors)
- Mascot High School Reunion Digital Invite
A Facebook group. This is where you get others involved. Began the group at least a a year in advance and map out your requests. Have a specific date (months in advance) you ask for people to drop photos. Another date ask for classmates to share a memory. Another date, have people tag a friend. The more engagement you get in the group, the more likely it is to come forward to people’s Facebook news feeds.
Plan a Class Reunion Checklist
Have no idea where to start? This class reunion checklist is great for the high school reunion planning committee. Download it, save it, check it as you go.
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Eventbrite has a free class reunion software for your class reunion. Easily create a reunion website, manage registrations, and collect fees. In a survey, look at these results for reunion preferences voted on 2500 high school reunion attendees.
- 94% like a reunion that serves alcohol, 6% prefer booze-free
- 92% like to go big after the sun goes down, 9% prefer a day-time reunion
- 89% like to see throwback videos and photos, 11% prefer not to see photos from the past
- 84% prefer to keep it adults only, 16% want to make it kid-friendly
- 83% want a casual reunion, 17% want a formal reunion
- 75% want to open it up to former teachers, 22% want classmates only
- 73% like to keep it toast-free, 27% want to hear speeches
- 67% hope there’s a dance floor, 33% prefer the reunion to be dance free
Don’t forget to assign superlatives. These don’t have to be the same titles you gave in your high school yearbook. Biggest jock is no-longer cool. Try things like furthest traveled, most kids, married the longest, with their high school sweetheart, etc. You can even buy High School Reunion Trophies.
High School Reunion Awards
Possible class reunion superlatives include…
- Farthest Traveled
- Lives the Closest to the School (least distance traveled)
- Married the Longest
- Married High School Sweetheart (winner is the longest)
- Most Eligible Bachelor
- Most Eligible Bachelorette
- Most Kids
- Most Recent Baby
- Parent the Longest (oldest child)
- First Grandparents
- Most Accomplished or Most or Highest Degrees
- Never Left the School (became a teacher at the school!)
- Most Interesting Job
- Still the Same
- Most Changed
- Most Social Media Followers
- Most Famous
- First to Retire
- Deserves the Most Honor (military members)
- Hero Award
- Beat the Odds (overcame the most obstacles)
Some of these reunion awards might not be clear. You can vote on on some of these at the start of the special event and award them later in the evening.
If that is too much work, these School Class Reunion Party Mug Shots work too! Hire an event photographer and if they use a digital camera, those images can be quickly added to a slide show running in the background.
Class Reunion Memorial Ideas
As you get further away from your graduation date, those that have passed will go up. Have a Class Reunion Memorial for those gone but not forgotten. This can be done wither with a banner, bow or tree of life remembered.
Using an old yearbook, copy photos of those that have died. Increase the size before copying. Cut out the photos and attach them to a memorial ribbon. You can play this bow on a chair called the Empty Chair. | Source
The Empty Chair Poem for a Class Reunion
The Empty Chair
We gather here a class once more,
To reminiscence like years before.
Upon the days and joys we knew,
Before our school-aged time was through.
Yet before we meet with memories near,
We think of those always held dear.
Our friends and classmates passed away,
To be with God and enjoy their day.
Until that hour when we join again,
An empty chair we will maintain.
In honor of the life-long bond,
We forged with those now passed beyond.
The friends with whom we learned life’s truth,
Whose bonds lasted far from our youth.
And shall remain forever near,
When we gather from year to year.
– Author unknown
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Another idea is to have memorial tree of life. Using an old yearbook, copy photos of those that have died. Increase the size before copying. Cut out the photos and hang them from a tree branch to mimic a tree. | Source
Lastly, you can pick up these Memorial Luminaries of Deceased Classmates using old yearbook photos. Get flameless candles and add them inside white bags. Such a beautiful way to remember old friends – lost but not forgotten.
Incorporate some of Graduation Party Ideas. Your graduating class mgiht enjoy a few of these elements including décor, party food activities and more. Pin to Pinterest.
Some ideas might overlap, enjoy our Family Reunion Ideas. It is the season of reuniting. We have plenty of fun Family Reunion Ideas from planners, family reunion games, printables, décor, party favors and more Pin to Pinterest.
Also take a look at these Retirement Party Ideas (the time will come – wink!) Whoever the retiree, we have a full list of Retirement Party Ideas including Retirement Party Games, Retirement Party Décor, Retirement Foods and more! Pin to Pinterest.
WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.
Last Updated on June 22, 2022 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living
Ina Turben says
Thank you for this information! I had ideas but you really helped get my creative mind going! I am totally doing the empty chair!