10 Things You Should Do To Ensure A Successful Family Reunion
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10 Things You Should Do To Ensure A Successful Family Reunion
By:
Marie Christianson
For the next grand family reunion, you have been unanimously voted to organize the event. What do you do? Yes, organizing a family reunion is a big responsibility, but you need not be intimidated even if it has been a long time since your family last got together. With some thought and careful planning, you can prepare for a wonderful family affair everyone would always remember with fondness.
Be sure to include the 10 things in in your family reunion planning "To Do" list:
1. Create and Finalize Your Family Reunion Guest List
As in any social gathering, you need to create the guest list for your family reunion and finalize it. This will ensure a more manageable crowd size. Decide which side of the family you are inviting and how far the reunion will branch out -- are you including second and third cousins or are you inviting immediate relatives or direct filial lines only?
2. Choose the Venue for the Family Reunion
The venue for the family reunion is one important aspect that you cannot completely decide unilaterally even if you are the designated planner and organizer. Choose a venue accessible to those who will attend the affair. Ask family members for venue suggestions and make a survey if needed before picking the site for the family reunion. Make sure that the venue is acceptable and satisfactory to everyone. Think of the convenience of all those who will be present. Make sure to give due consideration to the older members of the family as well as those who will be traveling with children.
3. Set the Date for the Family Reunion
After finalizing the guest list and identifying the venue for the family reunion, the next thing you need to do is set the specific date for the affair. Consult with family members as to when they think it is best to hold the family reunion. This is one phase of the planning process where you need to have your guest list ready. It is possible to have conflicts in the schedules of those who plan to come. As the organizer, you have to choose the date that is most convenient for the majority, if not for everyone. It is also your responsibility to inform everyone about changes and to update them on developments.
4. Confirm Guest Attendance to the Family Reunion
Once your guest list is finalized, your next step is to send out the invitations. Depending on your budget, you can have a formal invitation printed. Otherwise, you can simply invite your guests by phone or send e-mail invitations. If you have relatives in your guest list whom you do not have a way of contacting, you can course your invitation to them via other relatives who can contact them.
You will have to receive the confirmations and regrets since you are the person in-charge of the planning the family reunion and finalizing the guest list. Encourage your relatives to confirm their attendance or absence at the family reunion so you can determine the expected head count for planning purposes. By having a definite head count for the family reunion, you can set a budget for the venue, food and even the souvenirs.
5. Draw a Budget for the Family Reunion
As the organizer, you have to determine the funding sources for the family reunion. You can ask the other members of the family to chip in. They can contribute cash, take care of the food, provide the venue, including decorating the place and come up with the souvenirs. Work out all arrangements according to the budget and make sure that it does not hold you back in providing everyone with a great time at the family reunion.
6. Unify the Family Reunion with a Theme
It is very common for family gatherings to follow a theme. A theme unifies the various elements of an affair: invitations, music, decoration, food and attire. Ask what everyone has to say and listen to their suggestions. You can try a “Retro” theme or the “Return to the 60s” (or 70s or 80s or whatever decade you feel is relevant to the occasion). A theme can bring out the quirky side of the more serious and stern members of the family. It would also be fun for the younger generations to sport the fashion of yesteryears.
7. Plan the Menu
Before planning the menu for the family reunion, review your guest list. Make provisions for family members with special dietary requirements like diabetics and those with other afflictions. Prepare healthy food for them; ask their immediate family or those in the know for particulars. Likewise, be considerate to vegan relatives if there are any and arrange to serve vegan dishes such as tofu burgers at the family reunion. Serve the usual macaroni and cheese or spaghetti to the kids.
8. Develop a Program of Activities
Once you finalize the theme for the family reunion, you can develop a program of activities that will entertain everybody at the affair. Prepare fun games for the kids and teenagers. Charades is a popular party game that both young and old will enjoy participating in. Are there any singers or dancers in the family? If so, ask them to do special intermissions to show their talents. Produce a show similar to those presentations in school with your family starring in all the numbers.
9. Snap Pictures and Videotape the Family Reunion
Cameras and video cams are necessities during the family reunion. Ask your guests to bring their gadgets and make sure that your own equipment is available during the event. You can never have enough pictures. Encourage swapping of pictures and tapes/CDs after the party. If it's in your budget, you can hire a professional videographer to film the affair.
10. Aim for Non-Stop Fun
Aim for a family reunion filled with fun and excitement. The trick for non-stop fun is to let everybody participate in the affair. Expect endless chatter and updating. Your own warmth, hospitality and sincere concern for everyone will be enough to send them home cherishing the memories of one of the best family reunions they have attended.
About the author
Marie Christianson is a senior business analyst at http://www.FamilyDetails.com. Visit the http://FamilyDetails.com Family Reunion Resource Center for guides, activities, games, invitations and checklists for planning a family reunion.
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