A family reunion brings a group of relatives together in one place for one or more days to celebrate their bond. Though it’s sometimes challenging to get past those political conversations with Aunt Myrtle or the squirrel-eating cousins, these temporary interactions often make families closer. The key to a successful family reunion is careful planning.
Start by collecting names and addresses, including email and phone numbers for each person attending. Then decide if all expenses are to be pooled or whether each attendee will pay their own way. This information will help you determine the overall budget for your reunion.
When deciding who to invite, consider how far family members will have to travel and their schedules. It’s often best to limit your guest list to immediate family, and only include second or third cousins if you have lots of them.
During the reunion, organize activities that will appeal to all ages and interests. Family games, a talent show or a slide show are often popular. You can also hire a professional entertainer, like a musician or magician.
Depending on how large your reunion is, consider creating committees to handle specific aspects of the event. Enlisting family members to create T-shirts, research side trips and communicate with others in the family promotes teamwork and can alleviate stress from one individual trying to handle everything alone. At the end of the reunion, ask for honest feedback on how things went and what improvements could be made for the next gathering.
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