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 – €79)
Your own reunion website doesn't have to be expensive. With Mijn Reünie you start free (Basic plan) or pay a one-time fee of €49 (Premium) or €79 (Ultimate) for extra features like the LiveWall, more photo albums and a custom domain.
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 | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 10% on paid tickets (max. €1.50). 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: use the free Basic plan
For a small reunion (up to ~50 people) the free Basic plan of Mijn Reünie is more than enough. You get your own website, unlimited registrations and ticket sales. Only upgrade to Premium or Ultimate if you need the LiveWall or more photo albums.