| Define "family reunion." Will "extended family" be invited? How far into your family tree do you want to reach? What about friends of the family? |
| Decide what kind of party to have. Luncheon or dinner? Picnic or pool party? Pot luck or cookout? The choices are as unique as your family. |
| Determine who will take responsibility for planning the event. Can you handle making all the arrangements alone, or do you need some additional help? Ask for volunteers if necessary. |
| Select a location. Would the whole family enjoy meeting at a famous theme park? Or is a simple get-together at the old family homestead more appropriate? |
| Choose a date. The more people you plan to invite, the more advance notice you'll need to give. Today's schedules are complicated, so give your guests plenty of time to plan. |
| Make a guest list. Start with the people for whom you have complete addresses and telephone numbers. Call relatives to jog your memory about long-lost aunts and uncles. Use the Internet to search for missing cousins. Invite everyone! That's why it's called a "reunion!" |
| Formulate a budget. This figure depends almost entirely upon the number of people invited. Make your guest list carefully, then determine a per-person cost. |
| Select a location. Will you rent a hall, a restaurant banquet room, or a hotel ballroom? What about a camp site at the lake or a historic home? What does your family expect...and your budget allow? |
| Determine who will handle expenses. In most cases, each family member shares in the cost of the event. |
| Prepare and mail invitations. They can be either plain or fancy, but make sure invitations include all the important details about your reunion. Mail them in plenty of time for people to respond, and ask everyone to let you know if they're attending. |
| Follow up the invitations with a phone call. These days, schedules are hectic. So don't hesitate to use the phone to verify the guest list. |
| Consider reserving a block of rooms at a hotel near the reunion site. Many hotels will offer discounts for special events which require several rooms. |
| Check and double-check all arrangements. This is no time for surprises. Keep the family happy by making sure rooms are ready on time, food is served promptly, and accommodations are comfortable. |
| Make your family reunion memorable. Take plenty of photos. Create a scrapbook. Shoot a video. Share old albums. Have a souvenir t-shirt printed. Post a bulletin-board sized family tree and ask members to fill in any missing blanks. Collect recipes and create a family recipe book. Present awards to the family members who are oldest, youngest, and who have traveled farthest. |
| Create a family Web site. Many sites on the web allow you to do this for free in order to help with reunion planning. |
Information above Courtesy of Hormel Foods 7/14/02 |
