It’s been years since you’ve passed your college exams and graduated, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t relive the moments again, and that too with an alumni party or get-together. But you need a plan and you need event rentals. Let’s do this step-by-step. Here is the guide that you must have for planning an alumni event.
Hunt Down Your Classmates
This is probably the hardest and time-consuming part so you better get started on it first thing. As much as you don’t want to, you might lose contact with a lot of people you went to college with, and that’s normal. People move away, get different jobs, change their cities, get married, and settle down, but did you know that there’s an easy way by which you can find out your long-lost college seat partners and pals? Well, it’s social media, of course!
Everyone has a count on at least one or more social media platforms and your best bet is to find your long-distance friends over there. Search them by their name or look in the friend list of your mutual friends and find them. All it takes is a bit of looking around and you’ll hit the jackpot soon.
Once you find them, shoot them a friend request, along with a message, just to refresh their memory and be polite because no one accepts random friend requests, let’s be real. You can do the same for teachers as well.
Make A Budget
Okay, so now you have found all of your college buddies and teachers, it’s time to take the planning seriously. First things first, you need to come up with a budget. If you’re not willing to bear the expenses by yourself, then it’s time to let others in on the planning and let them know what your plan is.
You can ask your friends to contribute to the alumni meet-up too because it is for everyone. Regardless, making a budget is super important because you’ll get a good idea as to how much you need to spend and what’s something that you can scratch off the list.
Decide On A Venue
The next important thing to deal with is the venue and that too finding the perfect one for your alumni party. The venue is super crucial because you want something that’s going to give a nostalgic feeling to everyone. It will be just like the old days.
So, move some muscles and try to look at different places, until you find the perfect one. Your friends can also help you out in this regard. The more people involved, the better.
Make Invitations
Now is the time to formally invite everyone to the alumni party. You’ve already given a rundown to your friends and classmates about the college reunion, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t deserve an official invitation.
Whether you’re making paper invitations, or inviting the guests over a text or email, you must keep in mind the fact that you’re inviting at least two people. People get married and your teachers, especially, will want to bring their spouses as well, so keep this tiny yet important detail in mind because that’s going to set the tone.
Invite Special Guests
The special guests that are being referred to, in this case, are your teachers. Let’s be real, you might resent your college teachers and professors at one point while you were in college, but that doesn’t mean that they were torturing you. They’re the reason where you are now, so it’s time to show some much-deserved gratitude.
Reach out to them personally and invite them to the alumni party because it won’t be complete without them. Sweeten the deal by already sending an invitation for two to them, and in this way, no one will be able to say no.
Bring Back Memories
While you might take a stroll down memory lane while you’re at the party, something that will elevate the whole experience will be the décor. Go for a “blast from the past” theme, because it’s going to be extremely nostalgic and people are going to appreciate this detail.
For this, each scenario can be different. So, it’s time to jog your memory and come up with the most bizarre and funny moments that solidified the whole college experience for you and then encompass it in the décor. In this way, you’re going to have the most unique décor and no one will be able to top that.
Don’t Forget About The Food
Parties are great and all, but they’re incomplete without food and you don’t want the guests to leave with empty stomachs now, do you? So, keep the menu and the food options in mind. It’s a great idea to include a buffet-style set up for the food as well as options for people who are allergic to certain things or following a strict lifestyle.
So, some plant-based, vegan, and gluten-free options will be appreciated by the guests and they will be extremely thankful towards your thoughtfulness.
Entertainment Is Key
Another key component of a party, no matter if it’s an alumni event or any other party, is entertainment. You can’t expect the party to be a blast if there’s no substance. So, music, either a live DJ or a playlist is important.
Aside from music, you also have to include certain activities and games that will allow the guests to mingle with others. Games like pool, chess, card games, cornhole, etc. are just some of the options that you can choose from.
Also, a photo booth is necessary because you will want to take a lot of pictures to make even more fun memories together with your college friends.
Special Speeches
This bit might take things to a whole new level but it’s heartfelt and people attending the party will love it. The main gist of an alumni party is the fact that you want to get to know the people you lost contact with, including teachers and you can show your heartiest gratitude through some speeches.
It’s not cheesy at all. People are going to love this part and they will appreciate the fact that you remember all of the small details even after many years have passed. So, pick up that mic and go to town.
Reconnect With Your Friends
You want to be a part of the party. Don’t sweat about the party planning. After completing the planning process, tell yourself: you’ve done your best and that is enough.
Take some time out to enjoy the party yourself and talk to the people you’ve invited. Connecting with your friends after a long time is a great and exhilarating feeling and it’s always a huge highlight of any reunion. Ditch the shyness and reconnect with your teachers too because this is the moment when you’ll feel amazing.
Conclusion
These tips are going to make you a pro in party planning and the best part is that they’re pretty versatile, so you can use them for any events to come, not just an alumni party. So, find your friends, book party rentals Frederick and the venue, and host a great alumni event.