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Name tags & check-in

Name badge etiquette done right

The badge that helps most is not the fanciest. It is the one a classmate can read from across the room and instantly connect to the person they remember.

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Quick answer

A reunion name badge should show the classmate's name, their maiden name if it changed, and their senior photo, so everyone recognizes each other regardless of the years. List the name classmates remember alongside the current one to prevent confusion. Make the badge large enough to read from a few feet away, with the name in bold and the class year underneath.

The one job a badge has

A reunion name badge exists to remove a single friction point: the moment two classmates recognize each other's faces but cannot summon the name. Everything about good badge etiquette flows from that. If a design choice makes the name harder to read or the person harder to place, it is wrong, no matter how nice it looks. Legibility and the right name beat elegance every time.

Anatomy of a great badge Jennifer Brooks (Alvarez) Class of 1998 Senior photo Bold first name Maiden name Class year
Bold first name, maiden name in parentheses, senior photo, class year.

What to put on the badge

The name people will recognize

Lead with the first name in large bold type. It is what a classmate scans for from a few feet away.

The maiden name, in parentheses

List it right after the current last name: Jennifer Brooks (Alvarez). Classmates remember Alvarez, not Brooks, so the maiden name is what actually triggers recognition.

A senior photo

The single most effective element. It lets the face people remember do the identifying work that a changed adult face cannot.

The class year

Essential for multi-class reunions and a nice grounding detail everywhere else. Keep it small, under the name.

Print the name your classmates remember, not just the one on the driver's license. Recognition lives in the maiden name.

Design and etiquette do's and don'ts

  • Do make it large. A badge the size of a business card is too small to read across a noisy room. Aim for something readable from three to four feet.
  • Do sort them alphabetically at the check-in table so volunteers hand out the right badge in seconds.
  • Don't rely on tiny cursive fonts. They look elegant and defeat the entire purpose.
  • Don't force people to write their own. Handwriting is slow, inconsistent, and often illegible. Pre-print from your RSVP list and keep a few blanks for walk-ins.
  • Do offer a clip and a lanyard, so classmates can wear the badge without ruining a nice outfit with a pin hole.

Frequently asked questions

What should a reunion name badge show?
Show the classmate's name, their maiden name if it changed, and their senior photo so everyone recognizes each other regardless of the years.
Should reunion badges include maiden names?
Yes. Listing the name classmates remember alongside the current one prevents confusion and sparks easier reconnection.
How big should a reunion name badge be?
Make it large enough to read from a few feet away, with the name in bold and room for a photo and class year underneath.

Pre-print every badge from your RSVP

Class Reunly stores each classmate's name, maiden name, and yearbook photo, so you can generate clean, legible badges straight from your attendee list.

Start your free reunion page →

Keep planning

Reunion Name Tags With Yearbook Photos
Add senior photos for instant recognition
Class Reunion Name Tag Ideas
Creative badge layouts and formats
How to Set Up a Reunion Check-In Table
Hand out badges without a bottleneck
Free Reunion Name Tag Templates
Starting layouts you can adapt