So you got nominated to plan the family reunion and you have no idea how you got nominated much less where to start. It’s really a lot easier than one would think. As long as your family all gets together and catches up and there’s enough food you have a successful reunion. And you can’t forget your t shirt and tote bag to remind you of the fun you had. But there’s a lot more fun that with little planning and imagination you can really create a memorable family reunion.

The first question is where to host the event. If your family is all from a certain area it’s always nice to go back to your roots for the reunion. In today’s world most relatives are strung from one ocean to the other and everywhere in between; for those families you may want to think about alternating in fun locations so that every year the same families aren’t put out. Of course if you are planning the reunion it’s always nice to do it nearby so that way you can be more hands on in the whole planning process.

Once you have decided what area you want to have your reunion in then you need to think about where you want the reunion to be held. This of course depends on the number of family you have, number of children, and what the general feel of the evening you want. State parks and picnic areas are probably the most popular destination. Lakes and poolside are great options for kid friendly options as well as theme parks. Another fun idea would be a vacation for all and of course standing out wearing your matching t shirts. Maybe rent a condo at the beach or go camping. If you wanted to really do something memorable you could always book a cruise or spend a week at golf or fancy resort and you won’t have any pressure of planning activities or worrying that Aunt Bess is not comfortable.

After the big decisions of the where and what you have the daunting task of deciding how to feed the masses. There are multiple choices for you here. The most popular would be the potluck. Everyone bringing enough food plus a little extra and then everyone sharing. You could also do a big fire and let everyone bring their own meat to grill. And do not underestimate the power of catering. Having the food brought in and then cleaned up eliminates all the stress and problems caused by out of town guests who may not have a way to bring a covered dish. My own family does a mixture of the potluck idea. Everyone brings a set amount of money to cover the expensive parts of the meal (meat, drinks, plastic plates ect) and then everyone brings a side dish.

Of course after the mess and cleaned up and you have received your last hug from Aunt Edna the fun doesn’t have to end there. You should have great t shirts made up for everyone to take home. They can be cheaply done if you keep it to white shirts with one color print. Have someone design a logo on their computer. Just make sure you order extras because everyone will want one. Another option is tote bags. Put the same logo on the bag so the older family members will be enjoy it. Also the family recipe book will be a great addition to everyone kitchen. Sending a family newsletter either on print or set up a family website. People can post pictures and blog about how much fun they had.

Family is the most important thing in the world and a reunion is a great way to get together. It doesn’t have to be stressful. As long as everyone is together that is the important thing.