How Many Branches Are We Talking About?

A family tree, especially if your surname is Smith or Chan, can be pretty large. It's better to decide up to how many degrees you'd wish to include in your family reunion. If you're a big family, having only up to the first degree relations would be sufficient. If you want to share the love, you can invite members up to the third degree.

Decide on the Event Specifications

Where - Location, location, location! Firstly, think of a place that's most convenient and accessible for the whole family. Secondly, the place must be large enough to accommodate everyone comfortably.

When - Always hold important occasions like family reunions during the weekend to ensure that most of the guests, if not all, would be available.

What - Is it a simple afternoon get-together, a one-day event, or an overnight stay? Is there a theme for the reunion? Should the guests bring anything?

Budget - The person doing the inviting is also usually the one who does the paying. If you're not ready to dent your pockets, however, you should consider asking for a small contribution from each guest; you could request them to pay a certain fee or simply divide responsibilities of the event among yourselves.

Before the Event

Form an organization committee then divide responsibilities among yourselves to get things done quickly.

Invitations may be sent over the Internet or by mail. The important thing is to have these invitations sent at least a month in advance then have someone call all the people in the guest list to confirm their attendance. This is necessary because only a few people nowadays respond to RSVPs. If you are not offering free accommodation, have a list of nearby bed and breakfast inns and hotels prepared and offer to reserve a room in their behalf.

During the Event

Create a welcoming committee and have them positioned in the reception area; they should ensure that everyone are given a warm welcome, a written itinerary of the events scheduled for the reunion, and their assigned rooms if any. A questionnaire should be given to each guest so that everyone's contact numbers will be updated.

Give people time to chat and catch up with old times during cocktails; schedule this thirty minutes prior to the main event. Mingle and make sure that none of your family members are given the Bridget-Jones-treatment: you know, being interrogated about a nonexistent love life and so on.

The seating arrangement should be pre-arranged already to ensure that nobody gets left out.

Take lots of photos. This will ensure that your family reunion is an affair to remember for all time.

After a time, it's time for a family reunion ice-breaker. There are a number of ways to encourage people to loosen up. Games like charades are already passe; rather than go for ordinary games, why not have the whole clan play a family scavenger hunt? It may be more complicated to organize but the effort will be definitely worth it.

Make sure that foods and drinks are replenished constantly; hungry and thirsty guests make one very irritable lot.

Give special attention to the oldest and the youngest in the clan. Encourage people to share stories from the past.

Finishing the Event and Post-Event Communication:

Always have giveaways ready. These gifts must be chosen carefully; they should be objects that will symbolize the event poignantly and serve as a keepsake of good times.

Make sure that you personally say goodbye to each and every guest. Thank them for their time and participation then invite them to come back the next year or whenever the next family reunion will be held.

Post all the photos in a website. Make sure that the design is simple but beautiful. Use a genealogy software program to create a family tree. Each member must have a photo as well as contact details and the latest updates of their lives. Invite all the guests to become members of the website. Create a virtual scrapbook for everyone to enjoy.

We hope you enjoy your family reunion. May it be filled with love and laughter!