A family reunion is meant to bring all family members together to strengthen their bond and love for their heritage. It also allows them to reconnect and share their stories and daily life experiences. Imagining yourself drowning in all the decisions and details of a family reunion may seem overwhelming, especially when you have no idea of what to do. However, you can make the event successful and put a smile on everyone’s face when you plan, organize, and coordinate all the activities beforehand. It takes a lot of patience, time and commitment to bring people together as a family when they have not seen each other for years. Here are some of the factors to consider throwing a family reunion party by yourself.
- Create a Guest List
The initial step of planning a family reunion is to decide the people that you will invite. This may be your direct-line relatives, cousins, or second cousins. There is a ton of new potential attendees each time you take a step back on the ancestral tree. The best way to track down contact information for every individual is to get in touch with at least one person from each family segment. It is important to send out a survey if you are planning to invite many people in your family reunion. This helps to gauge people’s interest and preferences about the occasion.
- Set the Date
Many family reunions take place at a time when people have flexible schedules and the weather is favorable for an outdoor gathering. You do not want to be disappointed by the number of people who will show up on your family reunion just because they could not find time to attend or the weather did not work in their favor. Never change the date once you set it since not every date works for everyone.
- Type of family reunion
The reunion style may vary depending on the number of family members who will be attending as well as your estimated budget. The one-day extravaganza works for groups of any size and is best for family members living relatively close to each other. The weekend adventure works for small to mid-size groups and is best for family members who live very far from each other.
- Location
Choose a location that is most accessible and budget-friendly for the majority of family members who will be present. Select a nearby location if your family members are located in one area. If everyone is scattered, you can cut down on travel expenses by choosing a central location for far-flung relatives. Some of the options to consider include someone’s home, a park, or a rented indoor space. You might consider setting aside a place to sleep if your family reunion has multiple-day adventures.
- Select a Theme
A family reunion with a special theme creates interest in people. It makes things more for fun as they become imaginative with different aspects of the reunion such as food, social activities, games, and invitations. You can revolve around family history themes, a family’s cultural heritage, or a special family member’s anniversary.
- Determine the Menu
One of the most difficult tasks about planning a family reunion is feeding a large group of people who have different tastes and food preferences. Select a menu that celebrates your family’s heritage or relates to your theme. You can assign different tasks to a group of family members to prepare food for your family reunion. You can always seek the expertise of a professional caterer if you have a large group. A tasty menu guarantees a memorable family reunion and unforgettable experiences.
- Social Activities
Planned social activities allow family members to spend time together and get to know one another. These activities need to appeal to all ages or different age groups and further the family knowledge of their shared heritage. Another idea is to include award prizes for noteworthy distinctions such as longest distance traveled to attend or the oldest family member.
It is very difficult to get in touch with your family in today’s day and age. Maintaining close ties with distant relatives seems impossible as they are influenced by social apps, work, and people’s personal lives. Organizing a family reunion offers a great opportunity to rekindle the connection with relatives who have not seen each other or spoken for years. The time you spend with your family members provides a sense of belonging and a perspective of your family history and lineage.