The biggest cost items
Reunion costs depend on four factors: number of guests, venue, catering and programme. Let's go through each one.
1. Venue (€300 – €2,000)
The venue is typically the biggest cost. Prices vary enormously:
- Private room in a pub or restaurant: often free or cheap, but with a minimum spend on food and drinks.
- Function or party venue: €300–€800 for an evening, excluding catering.
- Event venue: €800–€2,000 for an evening. Often more options for décor and programme.
Tip: always ask whether the price includes cleaning, tablecloths and basic AV equipment — these are sometimes charged separately.
2. Catering (€15 – €55 per person)
For catering there are roughly three options:
- Drinks and nibbles: €15–€25 per person. Simple, but sociable.
- Walking buffet: €25–€40 per person. Popular at reunions because guests can keep moving and chatting.
- Sit-down dinner (3 courses): €40–€70 per person. Better suited to smaller, more formal groups.
3. Music and entertainment (€0 – €900)
Music doesn't have to be expensive. A Spotify playlist on a good Bluetooth speaker costs nothing. A DJ or live band costs €400–€900. A middle ground is a DJ app — just a few pounds per evening.
A popular and cheap programme element is a reunion quiz — easily made with Kahoot (free). Fun, interactive and always a hit.
4. Digital tools (€0)
Your own reunion website is completely free with Mijn Reünie — including ticket sales, the LiveWall, photo albums, check-in, and your own domain. You only pay €1.50 service fee per sold ticket. Optional extras (email campaigns, AI moderation) are available à la carte.
Compared to venue costs, a digital tool is negligible — but it makes organising far simpler.
Sample budget: reunion for 50 people
| Cost item | Budget | Mid-range | Uitgebreid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue hire (4–6 hours) | € 300 | € 700 | € 1,500 |
| Catering / buffet (per person) | € 15 | € 30 | € 55 |
| Drinks (per person) | € 10 | € 20 | € 35 |
| DJ or music | € 0 | € 400 | € 900 |
| Decoration | € 50 | € 150 | € 400 |
| Printed materials (invites, badges) | € 0 | € 50 | € 150 |
| Digital tools (website + tickets) | € 0 | € 49 | € 79 |
| Contingency (5–10%) | € 50 | € 100 | € 200 |
| Total (for 50 people) | ± €1,650 | ± €3,250 | ± €6,500 |
* Amounts are indicative based on 50 people. Catering and drinks calculated per person × 50.
How do you calculate the ticket price?
The easiest way: add up all costs, divide by expected attendance, and add 10–15% as a buffer for no-shows and unexpected expenses.
Example: total costs €3,000, expected guests 50 → €60 per person. With a 10% buffer: €66 per person. Round up to €65 or €70.
Watch out for the ticketing platform's service fee. Mijn Reünie charges €1.50 per paid ticket. Free tickets are always free.
5 ways to save money
- Choose a venue with a minimum spend instead of a fixed room hire fee. You only pay for what's actually consumed.
- Use a walking buffet instead of a sit-down dinner. Cheaper, more relaxed, and better suited to a reunion atmosphere.
- Skip the professional DJ and use a good Spotify playlist or an app. Put that money towards better catering instead.
- Do the decoration yourself. A few balloons, old photos on the wall and some table decorations are enough to set the mood.
- Start registrations early. The earlier you know how many people are coming, the better you can negotiate with the venue and caterer.
Money-saving tip: Mijn Reünie is completely free
Your own website, unlimited registrations, ticket sales, the LiveWall, check-in app, and statistics are all included for free. You only pay €1.50 per sold ticket — which comes straight out of your ticket revenue.