Detailed Task List

The Detailed Class Reunion Planning Checklist (Every Task by Deadline)

Reunly Class Reunion Team·May 2026·15 min read

Other reunion checklists give you bullet-point dumps with no deadlines and no owners. This one is sequenced by category, every task has a real deadline (counted backward from reunion day), and every task has a named role owner. 138 tasks across 9 categories. Print it, paste it into a spreadsheet, or run it inside Reunly with deadlines that auto-set from your reunion date.

📋 138 tasks🪑 9 categories📅 Real deadlines (counted from reunion day)👤 Owner per task⏱️ 15 min read

How to use this checklist

At your kickoff meeting, walk through every category and confirm the owner for each role. Do not read every task — that takes 2 hours and overwhelms the committee. At each weekly meeting, look at the next 4 weeks of tasks across categories. The chair confirms each is on track or escalates if not. The full checklist is the reference, not the agenda.

With Reunly

Skip the spreadsheet — run all 138 tasks in Reunly

Every task here lands in your committee's dashboard with the deadline pre-calculated from your reunion date.

Start your reunion →▶ Try the Demo
🪑

Committee & Setup

12 tasks

The work before any other work. Get the committee structured, the bank account open, and the kickoff done before you do anything else.

DeadlineTaskOwner
Week 52Identify 5–7 willing committee membersChair
Week 52Confirm role assignments in writing (email or shared doc)Chair
Week 52Schedule the kickoff meeting (90 min, video call)Chair
Week 51Run the kickoff meeting: lock date, city, rough budgetChair
Week 51Open the shared Google Drive (or workspace in Reunly)Chair
Week 51Set the recurring weekly committee meeting (30 min)Chair
Week 50Open the reunion bank account (2 signers: chair + treasurer)Treasurer
Week 50Order debit card and paper checksTreasurer
Week 50Create the dedicated reunion email address (Gmail)Comms lead
Week 49Document each role's responsibilities in shared docChair
Week 40Identify backup chair candidate (for emergency handoff)Chair
Week 40Document backup owners for every roleChair
🔎

Classmate Roster & Search

16 tasks

Finding classmates is a marathon, not a sprint. The work starts in Month 11 and stays open through Month 6. Most classes find 80–90% of graduates; the remaining 10–20% require accepting the missing list.

DeadlineTaskOwner
Week 49Request the official graduating class roster from alumni office or registrarSearch lead
Week 48Scan/photograph every senior portrait page of the yearbookSearch lead
Week 48Build the master classmate spreadsheet (name, maiden, contact, status)Search lead
Week 48Open the class Facebook group (private)Comms lead
Week 47Send the first 'confirm your email' email to all known addressesComms lead
Week 47Track bounces in a separate spreadsheet columnSearch lead
Week 46Recruit 5–10 'class detective' volunteers from FacebookSearch lead
Week 44Run LinkedIn search for the entire classSearch lead
Week 42Run Facebook search by maiden names and city of originSearch lead
Week 40Email parents/siblings of confirmed classmates for missing classmate leadsSearch lead
Week 26Publish the missing-classmate list publicly (Facebook group)Search lead
Week 26Add missing-classmate list to website (password-protected if needed)Comms lead
Week 24Each committee member contacts 10 classmates personally for leadsAll committee
Monthly through Week 24Update the master roster monthlySearch lead
Week 12Verify memorial list (classmates who have passed) — two independent sources per nameChair + memorial coordinator
Week +3 (post-reunion)Hand off final updated roster to next committee (or archive with alumni office)Search lead
🏛️

Venue & Vendors

25 tasks

Lock the venue at Week 38, the rest of the vendors by Week 30. The venue contract is the single most consequential document of the year — read every clause before signing.

DeadlineTaskOwner
Week 44Decide reunion format (one-night, weekend, full Fri–Sun)Committee
Week 43Shortlist 5–7 venuesEvent coord
Week 42Request itemized quotes from all shortlisted venuesEvent coord
Week 40Tour top 3 venues in personEvent coord + chair
Week 39Call 2 references from each finalist venueEvent coord
Week 39Compare itemized quotes side-by-sideEvent coord + treasurer
Week 39Commit to the venue (committee vote if needed)Chair
Week 38Sign venue contract (chair + treasurer co-sign)Chair + treasurer
Week 38Pay venue depositTreasurer
Week 38Save signed contract in 3 locations (Drive, treasurer email, chair email)Treasurer
Week 38Confirm cancellation terms in writingChair
Week 37Negotiate hotel block (15–30 rooms, courtesy rate)Event coord
Week 37Get hotel booking code or URL for classmatesEvent coord
Week 37Set hotel block cutoff date (typically 30 days out)Event coord
Week 33Hire DJ — verbal agreement + contract within 48 hoursEvent coord
Week 33Pay DJ deposit (typically 50%)Treasurer
Week 33Read DJ contract for overtime and equipment-failure clausesEvent coord
Week 32Hire photographer for 3 hoursEvent coord
Week 32Send photographer the shot list and group-photo timingEvent coord
Week 22Finalize menu with catererEvent coord
Week 22Confirm dietary alternates: vegetarian, vegan, GF, kosherEvent coord
Week 22Decide bar format (open / drink tickets / cash)Committee
Week 8Confirm AV needs with venue (projector, mic, sound)Event coord
Week 8Site visit to test AV equipment if possibleEvent coord
Week 1Vendor confirmation phone calls (not email)Event coord

💰 With Reunly

Vendor contracts and deposits in one place

Upload signed contracts to Reunly and get auto-reminders before every payment milestone.

💰

Money & Budget

14 tasks

Treasurer reconciles every 2 weeks once money is flowing. Every contract, every deposit, every refund — through the treasurer, period.

DeadlineTaskOwner
Week 51Agree on rough per-head budget at kickoffTreasurer + chair
Week 48Draft budget v1 with estimatesTreasurer
Week 36Replace estimates with quoted numbersTreasurer
Week 36Add 15% contingency above break-evenTreasurer
Week 35Set ticket price (clean number: $95, $125, $150)Chair
Bi-weekly from Week 30Reconcile bank account every 2 weeks (starting Week 30)Treasurer
ContinuousTrack every deposit and disbursement against budgetTreasurer
At each reconciliationFlag any line item 10%+ over budgetTreasurer
WeeklyHand chair a 1-page financial summary at every committee meetingTreasurer
Week 30Give chair read-only access to bank accountTreasurer
Week 2Lock final revenue number after RSVP closeTreasurer
Day ofSettle venue final bill on reunion nightTreasurer
Week +1Pay every outstanding vendor invoiceTreasurer
Week +2Send final P&L to committeeTreasurer
✉️

Communications & Website

16 tasks

All outbound goes through the comms lead. Other members can draft; comms lead has final edit and final send.

DeadlineTaskOwner
Week 47Draft 'confirm your email' first outreachComms lead
Week 42Send first save-the-date with confirmed dateComms lead
Week 27Launch reunion website with single URLComms lead
Week 27Pin reunion URL to Facebook group headerComms lead
Weekly from Week 36Schedule weekly nostalgia post in Facebook groupComms lead
Week 17Design formal invitation (email format for 90% of class)Comms lead
Week 17Get chair sign-off on formal inviteChair
Week 16Send formal invitation to full contact listComms lead
Week 16Open ticket sales with early-bird discountRSVP lead
Week 16Cross-post invite content to all social channelsComms lead
Week 8Send 'who's coming so far' social-proof emailComms lead
Week 4Send logistics email (parking, dress code, arrival)Comms lead
Week 2Send RSVP-close 48-hour warningComms lead
Friday of reunion weekSend 'see you Saturday' Friday-morning emailComms lead
Week +1 (day after)Day-after thank-you with photo gallery linkComms lead
Week +2Send post-event survey (5 questions max)Comms lead
🎟️

RSVP & Tickets

12 tasks

Single source of truth: the RSVP form is the headcount. Don't run a parallel spreadsheet that drifts.

DeadlineTaskOwner
Week 30Set up online RSVP and payment formRSVP lead
Week 30Connect Stripe for credit card paymentRSVP lead
Week 29Test full RSVP flow with $1 test ticketRSVP lead
Week 28Two committee members test on mobile devicesRSVP lead
Week 28Confirm ticket revenue routes to reunion bank accountTreasurer
Week 16Open ticket sales when formal invite goes outRSVP lead
Week 16Set early-bird discount expiry (4 weeks after launch)RSVP lead
Weekly from Week 16Share weekly headcount with committeeRSVP lead
ContinuousHandle every refund / transfer / edge-case emailRSVP lead
Week 2Close RSVP form at announced timeRSVP lead
Week 1Build alphabetized check-in list (last name + maiden)RSVP lead
Week 1Print check-in lists (1 per check-in station + 2 spares)RSVP lead

👥 With Reunly

Track RSVPs and tickets without a separate Eventbrite

Reunly's RSVP form, ticket sales, and headcount dashboard are one integrated system.

🎤

Program & Decor

17 tasks

Plan every minute of the day. The run sheet is the source of truth; share it with every committee member and every vendor.

DeadlineTaskOwner
Week 15Open photo submission folder for then-and-now slideshowSlideshow producer or comms
Week 14Order name badges (yearbook photo + current name + QR code)Comms lead
Week 13Build slideshow shell (8–10 min target)Slideshow producer
Week 11Send awards/superlatives survey to confirmed attendeesAwards lead
Week 9Write the run-of-show document with timingChair + event coord
Week 9Pick welcome speaker (under 4 minutes)Chair
Week 9Pick memorial reader and practice the namesMemorial coord
Week 7Finalize playlist with DJ (must-play + do-not-play lists)Event coord
Week 6Order signage (welcome, directional, photo backdrop)Event coord
Week 6Order printed programs and table tentsComms lead
Week 5Confirm dress code on every channel one more timeComms lead
Week 4Final memorabilia request to classComms lead
Week 3Finalize slideshow; test on venue's screen if access permitsSlideshow producer
Week 2Print name badges, sort alphabeticallyComms lead
Week 1Print 10 extra blank badges for walk-upsComms lead
Week 1Print run sheet — 1 per committee member + 3 sparesChair
Week 1Pack supply bin: Sharpies, scissors, tape, batteries, cables, extrasEvent coord
🛠️

Day-Of

15 tasks

The day runs the day. Setup at T-3 hours. Brief vendors as they arrive. Committee dinner at T-30 minutes. Doors at T-0.

DeadlineTaskOwner
T-3 hrsSetup crew arrives 3 hours before doorsDay-of crew
T-2 hrsDecor up, slideshow tested, badges sorted, table tents placedDay-of crew
T-90 minVendors arrive 90 minutes before doors; brief each oneEvent coord
T-3 hrsBriefing for day-of crew (15 min, with printed assignments)Event coord
T-30 minCommittee dinner (eat now — you won't get to during)Chair
T-0Doors open — two check-in stations activeCheck-in crew
Per run sheetWelcome remarks (under 4 minutes)Chair
Per run sheetMemorial momentMemorial reader
Per run sheetSlideshowSlideshow producer
Per run sheetAwards/superlativesAwards lead
Per run sheetGroup photo at scheduled time (NOT 'a lull')Photographer + chair
T+last callSoft close announcement; after-party bar namedDJ + chair
End of eventSettle venue final bill; get written copyTreasurer
End + 60 minTeardown crew packs decor and badges into binsDay-of crew
End + 60 minLeftover food handled (take home or donate)Day-of crew

📅 With Reunly

The run sheet, the supply bin, the day-of crew — all coordinated

Reunly's day-of view turns the run sheet into a live shared timeline every crew member can see.

📬

Post-Event

11 tasks

Most committees skip the post-event phase. Don't. The 4-week wrap-up is what makes the next reunion easier — and it's the single most-skipped task category of every reunion cycle.

DeadlineTaskOwner
Day +1Send day-after thank-you email with photo galleryComms lead
Week +1Pay every outstanding vendor invoiceTreasurer
Week +1Treasurer reconciles bank accountTreasurer
Week +2Send post-event survey (5 questions max)Comms lead
Week +2Update master roster with attendee + contact infoSearch lead
Week +3Write 1-page lessons-learned docChair
Week +3Hand off updated roster + playbook to next committeeChair
Week +4Archive everything (Drive folder, treasurer P&L, vendor contracts)Chair
Week +4Committee thank-you dinnerChair
Week +2Send final P&L to committeeTreasurer
Week +6Close the reunion bank account (or hand off to next committee)Treasurer

Patterns Every Committee Should Notice

Reading the full list at once, three patterns become obvious. Most committees only learn these the hard way:

Front-load the boring infrastructure

Bank account, shared docs, recurring meeting — get the boring stuff done in weeks 52–48. Skip these and every later task becomes harder.

Treasurer is busy long before the rest of the committee

The treasurer's clock starts at Week 50 (bank account). The classmate-search lead and event coord don't really fire up until Week 44. Plan your recruitment in that order — treasurer first, then everyone else.

The final 4 weeks have more tasks than the previous 6 months

Roughly 35% of all tasks happen in the last 4 weeks. If the committee feels relaxed at week 8, that's the calm before — plan for a 5-hour-per-week spike for every member from week 4 onward.

The post-event phase is real work, not a victory lap

11 post-event tasks across 6 weeks. Skip them and the next committee starts from scratch. Block calendar time for it in advance.

🎉 With Reunly

Stop maintaining the spreadsheet

Reunly turns this entire 138-task checklist into a live dashboard — owners, deadlines, status, all in sync.

Start your reunion →▶ Try the Demo

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this really every task?

Close to it — 138 tasks across 9 categories. Some reunions add work that's specific to their context (campus venue coordination, fundraising for a class gift, a memorial bench dedication). Skim, then add any class-specific tasks at the right deadline. The structure of category + deadline + owner is what makes the checklist usable — the specific tasks are customizable.

How do I use this without losing my mind?

Don't read it all at once. At your weekly committee meeting, look only at the next 4 weeks of tasks across every category. Confirm owner, confirm progress, move on. The full checklist is the reference; the 4-week window is the to-do. Reunly does this automatically — only this week's and next week's tasks surface in the dashboard.

What if we're not assigning tasks by role?

Assign anyway. Tasks without owners don't get done. Even on a solo-planning setup, write your own name next to every task — it forces you to look at the volume of work and make sober scope decisions early. See our solo planning guide for the compressed version.

Which tasks are the most commonly skipped?

Three: (1) Verifying the memorial list with two independent sources — committees often trust one source and end up with errors that can't be undone. (2) The post-event handoff to the next committee — most committees disband within a week and never archive the playbook. (3) The 1-page lessons-learned doc — saves the next committee 40 hours and takes 4 hours to write.

What deadline format should I use in the spreadsheet?

Real dates, not relative weeks. Convert 'Week 38' to '2027-01-15' or whatever your reunion-minus-38-weeks lands on. Relative weeks are useful for reading the checklist; real dates are what go in the calendar. Reunly does this conversion automatically when you enter the reunion date.

Should we share this checklist with the full class?

No. The checklist is committee-internal. Sharing it can create the impression that work is being micromanaged, and produces unhelpful 'why don't you also do X' suggestions. Share the headline milestones (date locked, venue locked, invite sent) — not the underlying tasks.

How do we handle a task that gets delayed?

First, escalate it at the weekly meeting. Most delays are recoverable if caught early. Second, identify the cascade — does delaying this task push another later task? If yes, the chair needs to decide whether to compress the later task or move both. Third, if the delay is structural (the owner is overwhelmed or quitting), backfill the role before the cascade gets worse.

What goes in the spreadsheet alongside each task?

Five columns: Task, Owner, Deadline, Status (Not started / In progress / Done / Blocked), Notes. Keep it simple. If you need more columns, you're overengineering and the spreadsheet will fall out of date. Reunly's task model is the same five fields — it just auto-populates the deadline from the reunion date.

With Reunly

The detailed checklist, but actually usable

Reunly's task dashboard surfaces only this week and next week — no overwhelming wall of 180 items.

Open the demo →▶ Try the Demo

138 tasks. One dashboard. Zero spreadsheet chaos.

Reunly turns this entire checklist into a working committee dashboard — tasks, owners, deadlines, RSVPs, and money all in one place.