Make your reunion an event that leaves your classmates smiling.
The first class reunion for high school or college graduates is a much-anticipated event, so you don't want your classmates to leave disappointed. Unfortunately, many first class reunions do not live up to expectations, and attendees might feel like they wasted their time and money by attending. Understand some of the classic pitfalls of class reunions so that you can avoid them.
Limited Guest List
One of the greatest challenges for reunion organizers is tracking down classmates. Although schools often keep a directory of alumni, it is not always up to date, leaving reunion organizers to find long-lost classmates, many of whom might have new last names. If their efforts fail, reunion attendance can suffer. Those classmates who do attend the reunion are often disappointed that some of their friends did not attend, often because they were not even notified about the event.
Awkward Moments
After 10 years or more apart, classmates might struggle to find things to talk about. In fact, they might not even remember many of the people at the reunion. This can result in some awkward moments and gaps in conversation at the event. Moreover, if classmates revert to their old cliques, then the people who weren't a part of those cliques might feel alienated during the reunion, perhaps bringing back negative memories of their school days.
High Costs
Many people are turned off by the high costs of attending the first class reunion. Without funds to pay for the reunion, the committee has to charge ticket prices for each guest who attends. If the committee chooses a swanky location for a cocktail hour or sit-down dinner, then ticket prices can exceed $100 for a couple to attend. While many classmates will attend despite the high costs, their expectations will certainly be high given the exorbitant cost to attend.
Not Family Friendly
Classmates with children might be put off by a reunion that does not include their entire family. After all, the point of the reunion is to share what you're up to now, and children are an integral part of many classmates' lives 10 or more years out of school. If the reunion committee hosts an adults-only affair, parents might attend, but they will enter the reunion with a negative attitude since they want their children there and likely had to pay for a babysitter to attend.
Tags: first class, class reunion, class reunions, first class reunion, high costs, many classmates
