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5 Tips for Planning Your Next Big Family Reunion

As those in the know can tell you, organizing a family gathering is a tall order.

Whether you’re expecting a dozen or several hundred relatives, you’ll have a lot on your plate. Planning these events takes time, creative thinking and organizational skills.

On the bright side, putting together a successful family reunion will win you brownie points with everyone involved. These events are usually talked about for years to come!

Not sure where to start? Here are five tips that will make this tough task a bit simpler.

1. Don’t Go It Alone 

As the name implies, family gatherings are best approached as family affairs.

If you involve your relatives from the start, planning the gathering should go much smoother. Depending on the size of the event, you might only need a couple of volunteers.

With its 2 billion monthly users, Facebook is a great choice for planning the event. Simply create a Facebook group and add everyone involved with the organization. Now and then, post group updates to let everyone know what’s going on.

2. Take Your Time

If this is your first time planning the reunion, give yourself enough time to make sure everything goes as it should. This is especially important if you’re inviting a large group. Remember, some gatherings require a year or so of planning!

Additionally, advance planning comes with a lot of benefits. For example, tracking down contact information for each person on the guest list can take a while. Plus, you can secure your preferred venue on time.

3. Pick the Right Location

Speaking of venues, have you picked one yet?

As you can probably guess, location can be a key factor when planning a family gathering. Will this place be close or far away? What attractions and activities should be available?

The location of your family members might help you come up with a solution. If most of them are clustered in one area, you’ll probably want to pick a nearby venue. Otherwise, choose a central location to minimize travel expenses.

4. Make It Affordable

On a related note, make sure that your reunion is sufficiently affordable. With family gatherings, you should take into account all ages, abilities, and income levels.

You can ensure the gathering is affordable for everyone by planning a fundraiser. Having an auction or collecting donations can cover costs for members who might not attend the reunion otherwise. You can also use fundraising for scholarships.

5. Start with an Icebreaker

Once the reunion day arrives, you’ll want to start off on the right note.

One way to make that happen is to get everyone involved. For example, have the welcoming committee greet the guests as they arrive. You can also print out some name badges and welcome banners.

In the mood for something slightly more unorthodox? Download a blank family tree – or create your own – and have your guests fill in their information.

More Tips for a Family Gathering

Planning a staycation in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area? We’ll probably have some additional advice for you.

You can contact us right here, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible!