Has it been a while since you got the whole family together? Maybe it’s time to plan a family reunion. Reunions allow you to see each other face-to-face, catch up on old times, and let the kids discover how fun it is to play with their cousins. You can also meet babies and spouses who have joined the family since you were together.
Here is a step-by-step guide on planning your next family reunion.
1. Talk to Family Members
Connect with family members to find out if anyone has a special occasion coming up — wedding, graduation, etc. You can avoid those dates. Ask if anyone has a venue or location preference. You may want to book a place close to where most people live, visit a theme park or plan a cruise.
Seek out information on medical needs and dietary preferences. It’s essential to know if you need a wheelchair-friendly venue or if the menu needs to account for severe food allergies. The point of getting the family together is to include everyone, and you don’t want to deter people from attending.
2. Choose the Date
Hopefully, you can find a date that works well for almost everyone. You can take advantage of a long holiday weekend, such as Labor Day, if people will be traveling and need the extra vacation time. Summertime can mean more open schedules for families with school-aged children. It can also give you the option for outdoor activities. However, some venues may be less expensive in the off-season.
3. Set Your Budget
Is everyone pitching in to offset food and venue costs? Be sure to choose an amount that works for your family members. You may need to select a cheaper venue, change your menu or shorten the duration of your reunion if some people may not be able to attend due to price. If the amount is still cost-prohibitive for some family members, consider pitching in for a travel fund so that everyone can be there.
4. Plan the Food
Choosing your menu can be the fun part of planning a reunion. The sky is the limit. For an exciting and educational experience, base your menu around your family’s culture or heritage. Ask the family chefs to share unique recipes or bring their favorite dishes. You can consider making a cookbook filled with your family’s cuisine.
If you want to keep things simple, pizza is a great option. You can survey those attending to get an idea of favorite kinds. You can also order a variety of toppings, including some surefire crowd-pleasers.
Grilling is an easy option for an outdoor picnic. You can offer burgers, hot dogs, grilled vegetables and other delectable choices.
If you have a destination reunion planned, such as a cruise, you can cross the food planning off of your list.
5. Delegate Tasks
You don’t have to do all the planning by yourself. Ask other family members to pitch in. Even those who live far away can help with things such as calling people to remind them of the date or sending online invitations.
On the day of the reunion, there will be plenty of work to delegate. Some jobs you may need to do include:
- Collecting monetary donations
- Handing out name tags
- Organizing entertainment
- Helping with food preparation and serving
- Cleaning up
6. Plan Entertainment
Are you going on a cruise or visiting a theme park? You have plenty of entertainment at your fingertips. You may only need to schedule times and places to get together.
If you’re hosting a reunion at a venue, your entertainment may depend on the weather. Outdoor activities, such as sports or yard games, are great during the warmer months. Other activities can include trivia games, storytelling, card games or a scavenger hunt.
The most important thing you can do at a family reunion is to have fun. Things may not go perfectly, and that’s all right. The main event — getting loved ones together — is your goal. Enjoy your time with your family.
