Speed Plan Your July Family Reunion in 20 Minutes

All around the world family reunions will be celebrated from May to September. Family reunions are a haven for nurturing children, mothers seeking mutual support, fathers seeking camaraderie, teens seeking identity and genealogist and family historians. 

While family reunions are vital to the survival of this basic unit of society many career minded people and domestic workers just can't seem to find the time to pull it off.  Do not despair.  I've been there! And what have I learned? The fact is you can plan a successful and memorable family reunion just 6 to 8 weeks in advance. Here are a few tips to make your reunion event a most memorable one.

Speed Plan Your July Family Reunion in just 20 minutes.

What You'll Need.

1. A Mobile Phone (with texting capability and a stopwatch app.)
2. A Note Taking App
3. Family reunion planning checklist (like Fimark's Family Reunion Planner.)
4. A family contact with a large backyard (call them and establish best date and time) or... 
5. An all you can eat banquet restaurant (with a private room)
6. Family History Video/ Slideshow (Consult the family genealogist for content of history video or show pictures or video of all special events provided by each family.)
7. Some no cost entertainment ideas  (see Fimark's Family Reunion Planner.)

Now create a group text message to be forwarded to all family contacts.
"We're speed planning a family reunion this summer
Date - Location - Time." 

If your holding the event in the back yard include the following message. "Bring a dish and drinks to share and also a chair"

Make sure the person on the grill supplies charcoal, foil, meat, bread and condiments. Bring extra drinks early.

Entertainment and Activity Ideas

Create your own outside entertainment with games and perhaps a talent show. (See Fimark's Family Reunion Planner for inspiring ideas.)

Read Set Go!

Synchronize your stopwatch app and hit the start button
Make the phone calls and send a group text message. Those who reply within the next 5 minutes with doable ideas will be considered.

Put the suggested date, location and activities, down in your notes. Ask the family to vote on their favorites within the next 5 minutes.
The first three or four to respond can be considered as members of the family reunion committee. The date, location and activities most favored are written in stone. Now send out the invitation

Calculate the Cost

A wise man once said, "Who would build a tower without first sitting down and calculating the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?" If your reunion is at a restaurant consider how much to charge each family member.  Consider an all-you-can-eat food bar to cut down on menu and ordering complications. Within the next 5 minutes send them a menu complete with costs and have them bring the funds to the restaurant to keep things simple.

Want more practical money saving reunion planning tips? Get Fimark's Family Reunion Planner complete with checklists, themes,  activity ideas, itinerary and more. Everything you need to plan a memorable family reunion.

Family Reunion Activity Ideas

When the subject of planning a family reunion comes up among family members, many find it hard to agree on the location or activities. Does this dilemma often delay the planning process? Don't be dismayed. When the well runs dry of good ideas for your next family reunion, here are a few suggestions that will get your planning off and running straight to the finish line.

1. Choose a Theme
2. Choose Theme-Related Activities
3. Choose the Ideal Location
4. Create your Itinerary and Luncheon/Dinner Program
5. Event Planning Software

Choose a Family Reunion Theme

The first step in planning the event is choosing a theme. Your theme will help you determine activities, location, and the items in your Itinerary and dinner program. There are several themes common to annual family gatherings. Themes are often centered on the family name, homestead, and heritage. Other themes may be closely tied to the activities of the event, such as the following:

Traditional Themed Gathering
Genealogy Homestead Tour
Family Fest
Family Reunion Cruise
Living Legends Ball

Theme-Based Event Planners

Some event planning applications feature theme-based planning. Each theme comes with a pre-written itinerary, dinner program, and activities.

Choose Family Reunion Theme Related Activities

Now that your theme is established, you can better consider activities that would be appropriate for this special occasion. Typical activities may include a visit to the old homestead, a luncheon program on the premises, a family history recital, story time, a presentation of a family quilt or other heirloom, and honoring of family elders. Some of these activities may be incorporated into a dinner program. If you're throwing an outdoor event, consider having a talent show, sing-a-thon, food fest, outdoor games, or a bubble show.

Choose The Ideal location

Having established the theme and an outline of activities, choosing an ideal location should be much easier. The locations considered should allow for the enjoyment of most, if not all, activities listed.

Create Your Itinerary

Once the location is selected, it is time to start putting together an itinerary for the event. Create a simple list of activities and include the day and time each activity is scheduled.

Event Planning Apps

As mentioned earlier, reunion planning software makes theme selection and associated activities much easier. When looking for such an app, choose one that provides a theme selector. Theme selectors guide you through the initial planning process by providing theme-related activities, a pre-written itinerary, and luncheon/dinner programs. Other important features would include a timeline planner and an attendee roster. Even better, select reunion planning guides that include a supplies and services list. 

So if you're struggling to come up with some fresh and creative ideas for your next reunion, start by selecting a family reunion theme and associated activities. That said, a reliable theme-based reunion event planner may be all that's needed to jump-start your next fun-filled family reunion event. 

Event planners like Fimark's Family Reunion Planner feature all the above suggestions along with detailed planning, organizing, and management tips, as well as printable templates, tools, and guides.

Need Help Planning Your Family Reunion?

We wrote the book on family reunion planning, literally! 

Fimark's Family Reunion Planner Guide