With sending out invitations, reserving places, catering services and photographers, finding lost classmates, and organizing entertainment, there’s a lot that goes into planning a class reunion! One often overlooked item that really adds a special touch to a class reunion are party favors. Party favors are actually a very important aspect of the party. They serve as a reminder of the good times shared with the old school and will help your classmates to remember the reunion.
Here are some tips on how to choose the best gifts for class reunion parties:
Tip No. # 1: When trying to come up with ideas for class reunion favors, you need to keep the purpose of the party in mind. A class reunion is about remembering and catching up with old friends, recalling old fashion styles, sharing old stories, listening to old music, etc. Your party favors should remind your classmates of the good times! This can be done using old photos from graduation, prom, sports games, class outings, etc.
Tip No. # 2: You want to have favors that are practical and usable, not something your classmates throw away in a drawer or in the trash as soon as they get home. Favors should be something your former classmates see or use every day so they can remember your reunion every time they see them. You also want some of your favors to be something that will make a lasting keepsake, not just for one-time use.
Tip # 3: Party favors are a keepsake to remind guests of their high school experience. Gifts can be personalized with school colors, mascot, graduation year, graduation photos, and reunion year. You can customize just about anything, so why not add a personalized touch so classmates can remember each time they wear the item. (People tend to like something sweet, so you can order custom candy bar wrappers, lollipops, photo cookies, and custom M & Ms.
Tip # 4: Although your class reunion is primarily about reminiscing about the past, it is also a time to create new memories and rekindle old friendships. You want your classmates to remember their high school experience, as well as the reunion with party favors. You can have activities on site, such as a photo booth, where images can be instantly printed and placed in a pre-made frame with the name of the school and the meeting date. Your classmates can take home the personalized frame and enjoy a recent photo with old friends.
Tip No. 5: The class reunion decoration can also serve as a party favor to take home. Placemats with a collage of graduating class photos or lists of the best movies, songs or news from your graduating year can be placed on each seat. Not only will guests enjoy looking at it, but it is also a great starting point for conversation and can be taken home at the end of the night.
Here are some more party favor ideas your classmates will love; all can be kept and used frequently and personalized with school colors, logos or mascots.
- Ballpoint
- Handbag
- Magnet
- Cup of coffee
- Shot
- Key chain
- Clothes (hat, t-shirt)
- Bottle opener
- Tin with sweets inside (candy, chocolate)
- Markers
- Pocket notebook
- Paperweight
- Calendar
- CD (with songs that were a hit during your high school days)