A family reunion is an opportunity to connect with people who make up a large portion of your identity. It also offers younger generations a connection to the history that came before them, and a sense of heritage. But reunions can also be stressful and expensive to plan.
Aim to start with a clear purpose and vision for your reunion. Whether it’s to celebrate a milestone birthday, anniversary or retirement, or simply to reconnect after years apart, this will shape the tone, activities and goals of your event.
If you’re in a reunion rut, introducing a new menu and different activities can liven up the party. Adding a photo booth or family trivia game can get everyone talking, laughing and reminiscing, or you can have a family cooking lesson or another hands-on activity to spark creativity. A recent study found that the number one thing most families enjoyed at a reunion was casual chatting. Set aside time for this and don’t overwhelm your agenda with too much structured activities.
Give family members opportunities to take home mementos that strengthen a shared sense of identity and heritage, like a guestbook, personalised T-shirts or a short film. Have someone volunteer to create or buy the keepsakes ahead of time, and let attendees self-address envelopes for easy distribution. Make it easier for family members to share photos and videos afterward by using a platform that allows you to easily create collaborative albums.
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