How to Host a Family Reunion?

Answer 1

Did you make the mistake of volunteering to host the next annual family reunion? Do you just need a few tips to make the gathering run smoothly? Are you the usual host and simply searching for some money saving tips? This short, four step guide will make your life much less chaotic in the days leading up the the reunion as well as the day of. Don’t let the planning stress you out: family reunions are a good time and an opportunity to see the loving faces that share the same blood as you.

Step one: find a location. If you’re looking to save some money, reserve a pavilion at a local park. The fee is usually negligible, especially if you book well in advance (usually a few months). Another option would be meeting at a public beech, although I would advise against this option if you are planning to have a picnic, as sand and Sandwiches (despite their common name) don’t mix well. Some churches offer their facilities for cheap, too, and provide more protection from the elements than a park pavilion or the beach, alleviating some stress you may feel concerning weather.

Step two: notify the family. Give your relatives plenty of advance to plan on the date you set. The reunion is nothing without the family, and you will find fewer and fewer family will show up with every date you postpone the invitations. E-mail is a great way to send them, as it is instant and removes the stress you would otherwise have to deal with while assembling paper invitations. Be sure to include what to bring. Potlucks are popular, so you may want to ask everyone to bring a dish to pass. Family pictures are another must to allow the family to catch up visually.

Step three: have the reunion. On the day of the reunion, recruit some reliable family members to come an hour or so ahead of time to set up tables, chairs, tablecloths, balloons, signs, and activities. Your family is going to expect everything to be ready for them once they arrive, and it will stress everyone out (including you) if there is no party waiting for them upon their arrival. Try to keep a few family members afterward to help take everything down.

Have fun with your family reunion!