Does the idea of another boring family reunion with cousins you don’t know sound awful? It can be the highlight of your summer, but it will take some creativity and a lot of planning to have a family reunion people can’t wait to attend.

I know how to have a fantastic family reunion because my extended family of over 60 people does a week-long reunion every other year! They are the highlight of our summer and a great way to ensure our kids feel a family connection.

The reason we love our reunions is that they are fun! Here’s how to do it.

 

Why Traditional Family Reunions Suck

Same Old, Same Old

Traditional family reunions often follow the same old routine, with no changes or updates made year after year. This can quickly become monotonous and boring, making attendees lose interest and dread attending future reunions. The same old activities, food, and location can soon become stale, leaving attendees feeling unenthusiastic about the event.

Lack of Activities

Another reason traditional family reunions can suck is the lack of activities. Attendees may feel bored and unengaged without planned activities or entertainment. This can make people feel disconnected and uninterested in future reunions. Without a variety of activities, attendees may feel like they are simply going through the motions and trying to find an excuse not to go next year!

Poor Communication

Poor communication can also contribute to the suckiness of traditional family reunions. Confusion and frustration can arise when organizers fail to communicate effectively with attendees. Attendees may not know what to expect or what is expected of them, leading to a lack of engagement and participation. Additionally, poor communication can lead to misunderstandings and hurt feelings, further dampening the mood of the event.

 

Planning a Family Reunion That People Want to Attend

Choosing a Unique Venue

When planning a family reunion, your chosen venue can make or break the event. Instead of opting for a generic hotel ballroom or conference center, consider choosing a unique venue to make the reunion more memorable. This could be a rustic cabin in the woods, a beach house, a grouping of homes in the same city, or a cruise ship!

When choosing a venue, it’s important to consider the needs of all family members. Ensure the venue is accessible for those with mobility issues and enough bedrooms and bathrooms to accommodate everyone comfortably. (Don’t assume people want to squish together!)

Also, consider the venue’s location and whether it’s easy for everyone to get there.

Planning Fun Activities

No one wants to attend a family reunion where they’re bored out of their minds. Plan fun and engaging activities that cater to all age groups to ensure everyone has a good time. This could include a family talent show, a scavenger hunt, or a group outing to a nearby attraction.

At my family’s family reunions, we have a different family pick out an activity for each night. We have played a simplified version of the Amazing Race, untangled string “spider webs”, carved faces into ice cream, played relay games, played Nerf gun battles, solved giant crosswords, raced cardboard boats, going tubing, had cinnamon roll baking contest, reproduced grandparents pictures and more.

It’s also important to schedule downtime for family members to relax and catch up with each other. This could be as simple as setting aside a few hours for everyone to hang out by the pool or scheduling a family movie night.

Effective Communication and Coordination

One of the biggest challenges of planning a family reunion is coordinating everyone’s schedules and preferences. To make things easier, use a shared online calendar where family members can input their availability and preferences for activities.

It’s also important to designate a point person or committee to handle the logistics of the reunion, such as booking the venue and coordinating transportation. Make sure everyone knows who to contact with questions or concerns.

Finally, effective communication is key. Keep everyone informed of important details such as the schedule, what to bring, and any changes to the plan. This will help ensure everyone is on the same page and that the reunion runs smoothly.

Deciding the Length of Time

Many family reunions are over a weekend, while some are only a day. In my family, we do week-long family reunions and love every moment. A lot depends on the commitment people are willing to make on the reunion.

If you don’t do a reunion yet, you might want to start small, and when people see that it is the best time ever, you can add a day the next year.

There is truth that the quantity of time you spend with extended family is important too. You create memories at reunions that bind people together and make families more involved in the daily lives of one another.

Involving Everyone in the Planning Process

Planning a family reunion can be daunting, but involving everyone in the process can make it a lot easier and a lot harder. One person ultimately needs to be in charge and dealing with frustrated aunts or uncles can be hard.

Here are some tips on how to involve everyone in the planning process:

Delegating Tasks

One of the best ways to involve everyone in the planning process is to delegate tasks. Assigning specific responsibilities to family members not only helps to lighten the load but also ensures that everyone feels involved and invested in the event.

You can assign families different tasks. One night one family can make dinner, another family can be in charge of cleaning one part of the house, and another can be on activities. Just make sure that everyone is on board.

Have a calendar of who is doing what each day so everyone knows what is going on.

Incorporating Everyone’s Ideas

Another way to involve everyone in the planning process is to incorporate everyone’s ideas. Encourage family members to share their thoughts and suggestions and be open to new and creative ideas.

Creating a brainstorming session where everyone can share their ideas can be a great way to get everyone involved. You can use a whiteboard or a large piece of paper to write down everyone’s ideas, then work together to narrow the list to the most feasible and practical options.

Involving everyone in the planning process can make the event more enjoyable but can also help to create a sense of unity and togetherness among family members. By delegating tasks and incorporating everyone’s ideas, you can create a family reunion that everyone will look forward to attending.

Realize that Not Everyone Will Always Be Happy

It is ok to know that not everyone is going to love every idea, and that there will be clashes about some things. Depending on the size of your family reunion, you may want to put 1-3 people in charge. Try to make sure that everyone feels heard and understood, but know that ultimately someone needs to assign bedrooms, someone needs to make a calendar, someone needs to make sure the house is in good shape when the reunion is over.

It’s not fun to be the person people are grumpy at, but the next reunion, you can turn it over to someone else. Maybe the biggest complainer this time?

Making It a Memorable Experience

Planning a family reunion can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Creating a theme, incorporating family traditions, and capturing the moments can make it a memorable experience for everyone.

Creating a Theme

 

Creating a theme is one way to make a family reunion more exciting. The theme could be based on a family tradition, such as a favorite vacation spot or a shared hobby. Or, it could be something completely new and different, like a costume party or a scavenger hunt.

You can have a theme for each night, or you can do an overall theme.

Incorporating Family Traditions

Another way to make a family reunion more memorable is to incorporate family traditions. This could include activities like a family talent show, a game of Capture the Flag, or a potluck dinner featuring everyone’s favorite family recipes. By incorporating these traditions, you can create a sense of continuity and connection across generations.

 

Capturing the Moments

Finally, capture the moments of the family reunion. This could include taking photos and videos, creating a family scrapbook, or commissioning a family portrait. By documenting the reunion, you can preserve the memories for years to come and ensure everyone feels connected even when they’re apart.

In conclusion, by creating a theme, incorporating family traditions, and capturing the moments, you can make a family reunion a memorable experience for everyone involved.

 

Conclusion

Planning a successful family reunion can be a daunting task. Still, with the right approach and a little effort, it can be a truly memorable experience for everyone involved.  If you have been wanting your family to be closer, this is your moment!

One of the most important things to remember when planning a family reunion is to be flexible and open to suggestions. Every family is unique, and what works for one group may not work for another. By listening to feedback from family members and being willing to adjust plans as necessary, organizers can ensure that everyone has a good time.

Another key factor in planning a successful family reunion is to be organized and prepared. This means creating a detailed itinerary, making reservations in advance, and communicating clearly with all attendees about what to expect. By taking care of the details ahead of time, organizers can minimize stress and ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Finally, it’s important to remember that the most essential part of any family reunion is simply spending time together. Whether playing games, sharing meals, or just catching up on old times, the memories created at a family reunion will last a lifetime. Families can ensure their reunion succeeds by focusing on what matters most.

In conclusion, planning a family reunion that doesn’t suck is all about being flexible, organized, and focused on the things that matter most. By following these simple tips and putting in a little bit of effort, families can create a truly memorable experience that brings everyone closer together.