| There are very few things, if any, in life that are as | | | | out sheets for guests to affix their labels plus a blank |
| important as our beloved family, and with careers, | | | | line for writing down their email or website addresses |
| weddings, children, and other life changing events, | | | | should they wish. The "Address Exchange Station" |
| families tend to lose touch with one another despite | | | | should be located near the place where guests will |
| their best intentions. A reunion is the ideal way to get | | | | arrive where they can then attach their labels, one |
| reacquainted with long lost relations as well as for | | | | on each sheet of paper. At the end of the event, |
| getting together with lour immediate family to create | | | | each guest can take a sheet home with them that is |
| plenty of new, happy memories. | | | | filled with all address labels of the family members |
| Handling The Initial Details | | | | that attended the reunion. |
| - Creating the Guest List: Before even beginning to | | | | - Recipe Swap: Family recipes are generally |
| plan the guest list, you will first will need to decide | | | | transferred from one generation to the next, but |
| what type of reunion to have, a smaller affair with | | | | quite often these coveted recipes get lost in time or |
| grandchildren and first cousins, or a more elaborate | | | | essential ingredients are long forgotten. By having a |
| event with numerous generations of extended family | | | | reunion swap, everyone from the family can share |
| spanning all over the family tree. | | | | their own personal special recipes and figure out how |
| - Planning the Expense: Once you are aware of how | | | | to create Grandma's prize-winning chocolate cake. |
| many families will probably be involved you will have a | | | | Note somewhere within the invitations that everyone |
| better idea of what type of budget to have set up. | | | | should bring a recipe if they want to be involved in |
| Decide if it is going to be a low-cost affair with | | | | the swap. |
| everyone bringing covered dishes, snacks, and drinks, | | | | - Reunion Favors: Favors are not simply weddings |
| or if the costs will be split up evenly amongst the | | | | and baby showers anymore. They can also be a very |
| families attending if you are utilizing a caterer or | | | | good way of thanking everyone for attending the |
| making the food yourself. | | | | family reunion and a way to give everyone a special |
| - Picking a Date and Time: Most reunions are held | | | | keepsake. This can be an especially nice touch if you |
| over a weekend in the summer so children will not | | | | have several families coming from different parts of |
| miss school and more people will find it easy receive | | | | the nation. Favors could be personalized using the |
| time off from work. For large reunions with | | | | first letter of the family's last name, or possibly be |
| numerous guests, schedule the event early in the day | | | | reflective of their heritage. |
| so those arriving from out-of-town have plenty of | | | | - Family Members Talent Show: All families have at |
| time to get settled in before the fun starts. Some | | | | the very least a few people that tend to be more |
| reunions are so big that a lot of families have | | | | than pleased to perform in front of everyone for a |
| two-day events rather than one to ensure that | | | | couple of laughs, and children always like to dress-up |
| everyone receives an opportunity to visit and take | | | | and have a good time. Enlist the help of a handy |
| part in various activities together. | | | | family member and get them to construct a |
| - Choosing a Venue: Although many reunions are | | | | make-shift stage from some pieces of plywood and |
| outdoors, the weather can be so unpredictable it | | | | after that hang some old blankets behind it to |
| really is vital that you have a good clear back-up plan | | | | function as the curtain or backdrop. Decide |
| in place just in case the weather does not cooperate | | | | beforehand if you will have single or group acts and |
| on the day of the big event. Possible sites for a | | | | award little prizes for first, second, and third places |
| family reunion include Amusement Parks, Cruise ships, | | | | after the rest of the relatives cast their ballots. If |
| Country Clubs, Hotels, Parks, The Beach, Your own | | | | there is a great story teller in the group have them |
| Backyard | | | | relate some family stories, funny memories or some |
| The Invitations | | | | tall tales. This is sure to stir up memories in the older |
| Invitations for a family reunion will more than likely be | | | | generation and the younger generation may learn a |
| one to two pages of details rather than the standard | | | | thing or two about grandpa. |
| varieties of invitations sent for parties and other | | | | More Helpful Hints for Reunion Planning |
| events. You will want to be sure your guests know | | | | |
| exactly what to expect, how much money they will | | | | 1. Ask one or two members of the family in advance |
| be required to contribute, what they will need bring, | | | | to serve as the photographers for the event. In this |
| and just how they should dress for the day. It is also | | | | technological age of digital photos plus the internet, |
| a wise idea to send out a letter first, letting | | | | sharing pictures with everyone is easier than ever. |
| everyone know about the upcoming event so those | | | | 2. Ask someone else to be the family historian and |
| who wish to participate and help you will likely have | | | | mingle throughout the crowd taking notes and jotting |
| an opportunity to do this. | | | | down points of interest and special accomplishments |
| Games and Prizes | | | | to later be assembled in a family newsletter that is |
| Besides the number of usual party games including | | | | later sent out to all of the guests and also to the |
| three-legged races, water balloon tosses, hot potato, | | | | people who were not able to attend. |
| charades, and musical chairs, there are several other | | | | 3. Make sure to begin planning the reunion as early as |
| fun and simple activities you can use at your family | | | | possible, and booking the venue a year in advance is |
| reunion to encourage interaction between your | | | | the best option to ensure you should have the date |
| attendees, spark some old memories and create tons | | | | you wish as well as give everyone a lot of time for |
| of new ones. | | | | them to prepare to attend. |
| - The Address Exchange: A great low-cost idea for | | | | Reunion Supplies You Will Require |
| keeping in touch with everyone long after the | | | | - Cameras, film, batteries |
| reunion is over is the address exchange. Everybody | | | | - Decorations |
| has received many sets of free address labels | | | | - Games |
| through the mail from one organization or another, or | | | | - Keepsakes |
| many of us have special personalized labels of our | | | | - Invitations, envelopes |
| own for using on correspondence, and this is a | | | | - Paper |
| perfect use for all of them. Using a computer, a | | | | - Paper Products; cups, plates, napkins, etc. |
| printer, plus some plain paper you can actually print | | | | |