My Family Reunions

One of the best ways to reconnect with family members you hardly ever see is through family reunion vacations. It’s tough to stay in touch with family members, especially today. Our busy lives get in the way of maintaining those close bonds. However, taking regular family reunion vacations together can change all of that.

When deciding on a destination for family reunion vacations, there are a few important points you should remember in order to ensure everyone has a good time:

1. The location should be acceptable to everyone. After all, this is a time for the family to enjoy being together. The location should be one that everyone has agreed on ahead of time. This will also ensure maximum turnout for the event.

2. Look for discount travel deals. Lots of hotels, resorts, and parks (even theme parks) will provide group rates, package deals, and other incentives for family reunion travelers. Call well in advance of your planned trip and see what’s being offered. If no deals are advertised, try to negotiate one of your own. Most travel destinations are willing to work with large groups to create custom packages that can save your family a lot of money.

3. Make sure there’s plenty to do. While you may enjoy just laying out at the pool for days on end, a family reunion is meant as a time to interact with each other. You’ll want there to be an ample number of activities you can all enjoy together. If there are children present, you especially need to have activities to do. You don’t want the kids to get bored, as that will put stress on everyone. If there are no pre-arranged activities at your destination, bring some of your own, such as board games and sporting equipment.

4. Consider hiring a reunion planner. There’s a lot to do when organizing a family reunion, particularly for a large family. Take the burden off of yourself by having a professional planner organize and arrange your family reunion vacations. It will be one less thing you have to do, and everyone will have more fun in the long run. You can often find reunion planners who are affordable as well as experienced, and some may offer new customer discounts, so ask around.

Ah, family reunions! Those wonderful events where you and your loved ones can get together for a day of fun, family, and fellowship, renew your bonds, and create new ones. Most of us don’t get to see our extended family members very often, which makes reunions all the more special. These events may be the only chances we have to see our family for years at a time.

If it’s done right, you and your family will probably wish the reunion would never end. How often do you get to sit with distant aunts, uncles, and cousins and catch up on each others’ lives?

The traditional family reunion has usually been held outdoors, at a park. There might be a pavilion or a tent, and everyone who came would bring a covered dish or bottled drinks. Potato salad and Jello desserts were staples of old-time family reunions. Chips, dip, tossed salad, cake, hot dogs, and other easy-to-prepare, fun foods were also present.

There were also always games. The kids and young adults would play baseball, badminton, football, or volleyball, and the elderly relatives would have a great time watching them. There might be board games, as well, and even scavenger hunts and sack races.

Naturally, everyone brags about their kids to everyone else. People share pictures and trophies, and there may even be home movies shown. Was this the type of family reunion you remember from being a kid?

Today’s family reunions may still resemble the reunions of old. They may be a bit more elaborate, too. Today, many families hold reunions on cruises, at resorts, or at theme parks. Games may include costume contests and karaoke, or even video game tournaments. The food might still be covered-dish, or it might be catered. However, the purpose is still the same–to get together with the ones you love, catch up on old times, and celebrate a shared heritage.

A family reunion is a time for scattered relatives to come together once more and share the joy of celebrating their common heritage. While family reunions have always been treasured events, the increasing popularity of genealogy as a pastime has made them even more desirable. Many a family reunion is now held specifically to celebrate those generations from the past and the current family’s connection to those long-ago ancestors. Other reunions are held simply to meet up with relatives who are rarely seen.

Whatever the reason is for your family reunion, you’ll need to plan it well to ensure its success. Here are the top 5 FAQs you need to know to make it an event to remember!

1. Form committees to help you. Family reunions are usually large affairs, since you’ll typically be inviting distant branches of the family you don’t see often. It’s a gargantuan task for anyone to complete on their own. Enlist other family members to help you by forming committees. For example, you can form a budget committee, food committee, entertainment committee, etc. Ask for volunteers from among those who will be attending, and try to get at least three people on each committee.

2. Send out invitations in advance. People need time to plan to attend the reunion, so be sure to get out invitations at least three months ahead of time.

3. Raise funds. Reunions can be expensive, especially if they’re large, so you might need to raise money to do it the way you envision. Hold family fundraisers, such as garage sales, car washes, and more to raise the money you need. You can also ask for donations from family members.

4. Choose a venue. The venue is important, but your choice will ultimately depend on the preferences of your family. Some families are happy with an outdoor picnic at a local park, while others prefer holding the event at the old family homestead. You might also consider going to a resort or theme park, having the reunion at a nice hotel, or even going on a cruise.

5. Use the right software. There are a number of family reunion planning software programs available to help you keep everything organized. These programs are typically inexpensive, and can save you hours of time and a lot of hassle in getting everything together. If you want to make planning your event as easy as possible, the right software is essential!

Family reunion planning doesn’t have to be a drawn out, complicated affair. Properly organized and approached realistically, the planning process can be quick, efficient, and fun. In fact, it’s better if it’s fun for you, because the more fun you have with your planning, the better time your family will probably have at the reunion.

Family reunion planning can be broken down into a few simple, easy to follow steps:

1. Make a list of all the family members you plan to invite. Categorize them into age groups, so you’ll know how many children will be there, how many teenagers, how many elderly relatives, etc. This knowledge will help you plan activities that are fun for everyone.

2. Get correct contact information for everyone who will be attending, and send out invitations at least three months in advance. This will give everyone time to plan to attend the reunion.

3. Decide on the location. The possibilities here are almost endless, and depend on the theme of your reunion and what your family prefers. You might choose locations such as old family homesteads, cruises, national parks, cruises, resorts, or theme parks. In choosing a location, be sure to consider travel distance for the various family members, accommodations available at the location, and cost. You might want to send out a survey to family members a month or two before sending out invitations, in order to determine everyone’s favorite choice of location.

4. Choose the date. Try to pick a time that works best for everyone who will be attending. Summers are usually good, since the kids are out of school and many people are on vacation. However, you might want to include a preference of time in your location survey.

5. Plan activities. Every good family reunion needs fun activities to keep participants engaged. Choose activities that everyone of all ages can enjoy, such as board games, puzzles, karaoke, costume contests, storytelling, etc.

6. Plan for food. Food is a critical part of family reunion planning. You want to have an abundance of it, while keeping it as inexpensive as possible. You also want to make sure the food is acceptable to the greatest number of family members, so be sure to check and see if anyone is a vegetarian or has any other special dietary requirements (if so, you’ll need to include items they can eat). Many family reunions assign dishes to participants to bring. For example, someone will be asked to bring a salad, someone else a dessert, etc. You might also have the event catered, though this will be significantly more expensive than a covered dish event.

Once you’ve done all of your family reunion planning, you can send out the invitations and put the plan into motion. With the right organization and plenty of time to get everything done, your event is sure to be a stunning success that the whole family will enjoy!

When it comes to throwing a great family reunion, fun is the order of the day. There’s nothing like getting together with your distant and fondly remembered family members for a day or two of fun, frolic, and togetherness. It helps strengthen your bonds for years to come. You’ll feel closer to each other, and personally renewed, as well.

Here are some tips to help your family reunion fun reach new heights of success:

1. Be sure you consider the kids and young adults. You should include activities that will appeal to children under 5, children between 5 and 10, children between 10 and 15, and young adults between 15 and 25, depending on the age groups that will be present at the reunion. In addition, there should be at least a few activities that all age groups can enjoy together.

2. Keep activities appropriate to the venue. For example, if you’re having your family reunion at a hotel, you may not be able to have a lot of rambunctious outdoor activities there. However, you can have board game and karaoke tournaments, which everyone should enjoy. If the hotel has a volleyball area, you can play that, too.

3. Be creative. Some family reunion venues will plan activities for you. However, you can add your own to the mix. Some families really love creating their own adaptations of popular TV shows, such as Survivor and The Amazing Race. These are actually good games to play if you’re having your reunion in a large park. Costume contests, art contests and other types of friendly competitions will also keep everyone involved in the proceedings. If you give prizes to the winners of competitions, such as gift certificates, you’ll make the event even more fun, and get family members really invested in it.

Family reunion fun isn’t hard to achieve. All it takes is a commitment to togetherness, a little creativity, and a desire for everyone to have a good time. If it’s fun, your reunion will be a success, and people will eagerly look forward to the next one!

A family reunion gift should be thoughtful and personal. After all, family reunions are special times. How often does your family get together to renew its ties and connect the generations? Probably not very often. These events evoke deep emotions in participants by their very nature, and it’s only natural to want to express these feelings in a meaningful way. Gifts are a great way to do this.

There are a lot of different gifts that are appropriate for family reunions. If you’re giving a gift to everyone who comes, consider choosing a common theme, such as t-shirts or caps with the family crest or name on them. Themed key chains, mugs, mouse pads, and pens are also great ideas. For kids, perhaps a stuffed animal wearing the family t-shirt or cap would be appreciated. You might also delay the gift by taking a reunion picture, then framing it in a special frame and sending it to all the participants later.

While family reunion gifts aren’t required to have a great event, they definitely help make the day more special and meaningful. Giving some thought to what kind of gift you want to distribute will make your reunion one of the most memorable your family has ever had, and may even start a new tradition that will be passed down through the generations.

The family reunion vacation has been a rapidly growing tradition since 1999. It’s now accelerating at a tremendous pace as technology and travel combine with a growing interest in genealogy and maintaining strong family bonds.

Family reunion vacations have become an industry unto themselves. Reunion planners are seeing their businesses explode, hotels are offering generous discount and incentive packages to family reunion groups, and cruises dedicated to reunions are becoming extremely popular. Many families prefer taking a family reunion vacation to staying home, because doing a reunion at home is too much work. There’s the planning, hosting, and cleaning up afterward. On a vacation, there are other people to do that for you.

Royal Caribbean, a popular cruise line, is well-known for its elaborate family reunion specials. Ship staff organize group activities with a reunion theme, while providing elaborate meals and rousing entertainment. The cruise is a getaway from the everyday, yet still feels intimate and personal to those who attend.

Travel agencies are also beginning to accommodate family reunion vacation travelers. In fact, family reunion travel is increasing at a rate of about 14% a year, making it a thriving industry, even in a down economy. Over 67 percent of travel agents report booking family reunion travel in the past 7 years. Over 64 percent of agents report an increase in family reunion travel requests in the past 5 years.

Many cities and towns are reaching out to family reunion travelers, offering them discounts at local attractions and special group activities. Resorts and national parks are doing the same. The family reunion vacation is big business, and looks poised to stay that way for the near future. Why not become part of the movement and begin planning your own reunion trip today?

Family reunions will be more eagerly anticipated by everyone if the invitations are appealing. Therefore, creating the perfect family reunion invitations should be the primary concern of anyone who is organizing a family reunion. So that you will be sure to create only the most perfect invitations for your event, here are the things that you should put into practice immediately:

1. Decide on a theme for your family reunion. What is significant about the event? Where is it being held? Who is coming? When is it being held? The answers to these questions will help you determine a theme. When you choose a theme, create family reunion invitations to match it.

2. Decide what materials you will use. Once you decide on the theme of the invitation, you should choose the paper you are going to use and how you are going to print out the design. The choices here are endless. You can use a simple paper or something more elaborate You can also buy an invitation kit from a craft store to help you.

3. Choose your layout. Conceptualize how the design will look when it’s finally printed on the paper you picked out. Experiment with photos, fonts, print colors, etc. Try a lot of different layouts until you find the one you like best, and the one that best fits the theme of your reunion.

4. Be sure to add the pertinent information. Design is important, but you can’t forget the details. Your family reunion invitations must include the time, date and location of the reunion at a minimum. Ideally, it should also include your contact information, payment information, and any other details that are important to the event. When you’re designing your invitations, be sure to conceptualize where the information will appear.

When you’re finished planning, it’s time to print. You can put your design on a CD and take it to a printer for professional production. Or, you can print your family reunion invitations out on your computer at home. The method of printing you choose will likely depend on how many invitations you need to print. Once you’ve put together the best invitations possible, you can be certain that the right family members will know about the reunion, and be excited about coming!

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to plan a family reunion, this is your lucky day! Family reunions are more popular than ever. We have more ways of keeping in touch with distant relatives than ever before. However, even with all the ways technology allows us to communicate with our loved ones at a distance, it’s still nice to see them in person once in a while. In fact, there’s simply no substitute for it. That’s why people love family reunions. They allow us to connect on a real, personal level with people who share our bloodline, many of whom we rarely get to see.

To know how to plan a family reunion, you need to know how to be organized. Planning an event like this can be a huge undertaking. To that end, you should ask for volunteers to help you. Many very large families actually form committees of people to handle different aspects of the event, such as location, food, invitations, fund raising, entertainment, etc. If you can get help and delegate responsibilities, things will be a lot easier on you.

Next, you must send out a survey to everyone who is being invited, asking them their preferences of date and location. Also find out if anyone has any special dietary requirements that will need to be taken into consideration in menu planning. Once you have an idea of what people want, you’ll be able to plan a better reunion.

Then, decide on a theme. Themes bring family reunions together in a big way. Will your theme be heritage, a special anniversary or birth that coincides with the reunion, or something else? Your decorations and invitations will revolve around the theme, and many of your planned activities might, as well.

Entertainment is important. You need to keep everyone occupied and engaged with each other. Plan games and other fun events that everyone of all ages can enjoy. Karaoke, board games, storytelling and other such activities are all popular reunion events.

One of the most important things to do when learning how to plan a family reunion is putting together the menu. Some reunions are catered, while others are covered dish. You should definitely not try to do it all yourself, as this would be overwhelming. Delegation is key. Just be sure to make the food appropriate for the venue and appealing for the largest number of people. If you have any vegetarians or other family members with special dietary requirements, be sure to include foods those people can eat.

Once you learn how to plan a family reunion, it gets easier to do in the future. After your first try, you’ll have the skills you need to create magical reunions any time your family wants to get together! In fact, if your first reunion is a success, you’ll likely always be the one the others call on to plan these events!

The right family reunion ideas can have a big impact on your special event. Putting together a family reunion takes a lot of planning and attention to detail. You’ve got to come up with a theme, make invitations (and send them out!), decorate, arrange for food, decide on activities, and many more things in the months leading up to the reunion. It may all seem a bit overwhelming. However, if you have some good family reunion activities in mind, you’ll all have a much better time and everyone will remember the event for a long time to come.

One of the most important things you can do is to decide on games and other activities for your reunion. Activities promote togetherness and bonding through shared fun. It’s important that the activities all be things that everyone can enjoy, from the oldest to the youngest family members. Here are some family reunion ideas for activities that are sure to be a hit:

1. Put together a family reunion jigsaw puzzle. You can have a puzzle made from your last family photo. At the reunion, you can have everyone gather to put it together, or you can have several puzzles made and divide into smaller groups to complete them. You could even have a puzzle contest, where the first group to complete the puzzle wins a door prize (you should have an identical prize for each member of the winning group).

2. Have a scavenger hunt. The family can divide up into several teams for this, with one or two members coordinating and overseeing it all. People of all ages love scavenger hunts, and everyone can participate in some way. You can make it more theme-oriented by having family members look for objects that have special meaning to the family, such as a napkin from the diner where Grandpa used to work, or a ticket stub from the movie theater where Mom and Dad had their first date.

3. Play an interactive board game, such as Pictionary or Scattegories. These are great games for groups, and will get everyone involved in what’s going on.

4. Karaoke is always a big hit. Even Grandpa can sing a song, even if he does it sitting down. Rent a karaoke machine for the day and watch everyone turn into their own version of a superstar!

Family reunion ideas aren’t hard to come by. With a little creativity, anyone can think of activities that the whole family can enjoy. Having fun together promotes bonding, which means that everyone is more likely to look forward to the next family reunion, and maybe even stay in touch with each other during the time in between.