Pricing Guide

Class reunion pricing strategy

The full playbook: break-even math, tiered pricing, premium add-ons, refund rules, and 4 real reunion budgets. Skip the spreadsheet improvisation.

What's covered

  1. The break-even calculation
  2. 3-tier pricing structure (Early Bird / Standard / Last Call)
  3. Spouse and plus-one pricing
  4. Premium add-ons that lift average ticket value
  5. Refund policy that prevents margin leakage
  6. 4 real reunion budgets by size + venue type
  7. The 7 pricing mistakes to avoid

1. The break-even calculation

The first number you need: your break-even ticket price. This is the price at which the event covers all costs at your conservative attendance estimate. You'll price 10–15% above this for safety margin and to seed the next reunion's deposit.

Formula:

Break-even price = (Total event cost ÷ Conservative attendance) + Safety margin

Conservative attendance = 35–50% of your graduating class for a typical reunion. Use 25–35% for small classes or first-reunion attempts.

Example — 10-year reunion, class of 320:

  • Venue rental: $1,500
  • Catering (plated dinner, 100 people @ $48/plate): $4,800
  • Decor + linens: $400
  • AV (DJ + mics): $850
  • Photographer (4 hours): $1,200
  • Printables + name tags: $150
  • Insurance: $200
  • Total: $9,100
  • Conservative attendance: 100 (31% of class)
  • Break-even: $91/person
  • Recommended ticket price: $105/person ($91 + 15% margin)

2. The 3-tier pricing structure

Tiered pricing is the highest-leverage move in reunion pricing. It drives early commitment, creates urgency, and discourages day-of stragglers.

Early Bird

6–4 months out

$85

$20 below standard. Captures 40–60% of total RSVPs.

Standard

4–1 months out

$105

Most active sales window. Bulk of RSVPs here.

Last Call

Under 30 days

$130

$25 surcharge. Forces decisions, covers last-min costs.

Hard close: 14 days before event. After this you don't sell more tickets — caterer headcount is committed.

3. Premium add-ons that lift average ticket value

Add-ons let high-engagement classmates spend more without forcing it on everyone:

  • Reunion T-shirt ($25–$35) — 30–50% take rate. Class colors + year on chest. Order extras for walk-up.
  • Class yearbook reprint ($45) — 10–20% take rate for milestone reunions. PDF or printed.
  • Memorial donation ($25/$50/$100 tiers) — for classmates who can't attend; 5–15% of registrants contribute.
  • Reserved table for friend group ($25/seat upcharge) — for groups of 8+ who want to sit together.
  • Friday pre-mixer ($25 add-on) — casual happy hour for early arrivals.
  • Sunday brunch ($35 add-on) — extends the weekend, popular with out-of-towners.

4. The refund policy that prevents margin leakage

State this policy on the ticket page and every reminder email:

  • Before [date — 45 days before event]: Full refund, no questions asked.
  • [Date] to [date — 14 days before]: 50% refund.
  • After [date — 14 days before]: No refunds. Caterer headcount is committed.
  • Transferable: Tickets can be transferred to another classmate at any time (just email the committee).

About 5–8% of attendees typically need refunds. A clear, written policy prevents one-off negotiations and bad feelings.

5. Four real reunion budgets

Casual 10-year, 60 people, restaurant buyout

$65

per ticket

Venue $500 / Food $2,400 / Decor $150 / Photographer $600 / Printables $80 / Misc $170

Total: $3,900

Standard 10-year, 100 people, hotel ballroom

$105

per ticket

Venue $1,500 / Catering $4,800 / Decor $400 / AV $850 / Photographer $1,200 / Printables $150 / Misc $1,600

Total: $10,500

Premium 25-year, 150 people, country club gala

$175

per ticket

Venue $4,000 / Catering $10,500 / Decor $1,800 / AV $1,500 / Photographer $2,800 / Slideshow $400 / Memorial production $300 / Printables $400 / Misc $4,550

Total: $26,250

Full weekend 50-year, 80 people, hotel + restaurant

$255

per ticket

Fri mixer $2,500 / Sat venue $3,000 / Sat catering $5,600 / Sun brunch $2,400 / Decor $900 / AV $1,400 / Photographer $2,200 / Memorial $500 / Printables $400 / Misc $1,500

Total: $20,400

6. The 7 pricing mistakes to avoid

  1. Pricing for "expected" attendance instead of conservative. If you price for 150 and 90 show up, you lose money.
  2. No early-bird tier. You leave 40%+ of early commitment on the table.
  3. No hard close. Last-minute RSVPs blow up your per-plate cost.
  4. Refunds-at-discretion. Every one-off negotiation is a margin leak. Use the policy template above.
  5. Pricing plus-ones way below classmates. Per-plate cost is identical; you erode margin.
  6. Ignoring add-ons. T-shirts and brunch can lift average ticket value by $30–$60 with zero pressure on hesitant attendees.
  7. Per-ticket fee platforms for 50+ tickets. Eventbrite-style fees cost more than dedicated reunion software at any meaningful scale.

Run all this in Reunly

Tiered pricing, add-ons, refund rules, live dashboard — all built in.

Start your class reunion →

Pricing FAQ

How do you calculate class reunion ticket prices?

Start with total event cost (venue + catering + decor + AV + photographer + printables). Divide by your conservative attendance estimate — 35–50% of your graduating class for a typical reunion, 25% for a small class. Add a 10–15% margin for unexpected costs. That's your break-even ticket price. Most committees price 10–15% above this to fund the next reunion's deposit.

Should I charge spouses or plus-ones more than classmates?

Most committees keep plus-one pricing identical to classmate pricing to avoid awkwardness. A few charge $5–$15 more for plus-ones to slightly subsidize the committee's planning costs (which classmates implicitly benefit from but plus-ones don't). What you should NOT do: charge plus-ones substantially less, because the per-plate cost is the same and you'll erode your margin.

Do early-bird discounts actually work for class reunions?

Yes, dramatically. Reunions with 3-tier pricing (Early Bird / Standard / Late) typically see 40–60% of total RSVPs come in during the early-bird window. That's huge for two reasons: (1) you can confidently sign venue/caterer contracts months earlier, and (2) early RSVPs become social proof for fence-sitters. The discount is usually $20–$30 off standard.

Should I offer a payment plan for expensive reunion tickets?

For 25-year+ milestone reunions with $200+ tickets, yes. A 2-installment plan (50% at registration, 50% at standard-pricing cutoff) typically lifts conversion among middle-age classmates with kids. For shorter reunions or sub-$150 tickets, payment plans add complexity without much lift.

Is it OK to charge for a class reunion?

Yes — class reunions are an event with real costs (venue rental, catering, photography). Even casual backyard-style reunions usually have $20–$40 per person for food and supplies. Free reunions only work if a single host absorbs the cost personally or you have a sponsor willing to underwrite. Most reunions sell tickets to cover costs, and that's universally expected.

What's a typical class reunion budget by attendance?

Approximate per-person all-in costs by venue type: Casual restaurant buyout (50 ppl): $60–$90/person. Hotel ballroom (100 ppl): $90–$140/person. Country club gala (150 ppl): $130–$200/person. Full weekend (mixer + gala + brunch): $180–$280/person. These include venue + food + decor + photographer + name tags + printables.

See all class reunion resources →