Summer is just around the corner, and many families that can now leave their houses safely are ready for some fun in the sun. It might also be the first time for families to be near their relatives in over a year. Sure, technology has allowed us to keep in touch, but there’s nothing like being able to see your loved ones in person. That’s why now is the perfect time to get together with those cousins you used to get in trouble with or aunts and uncles you barely see. For some ideas on ways you can do that, read these tips on how to plan a summer family reunion.
Research and Communication
The same tools that allow us to glimpse into each other’s lives, such as Facebook or Instagram, are also the perfect instruments for communicating with relatives. Send them a message explaining the plan and any potential dates you’ve worked out. Ask grandparents, cousins, and other relatives if there is anyone else you aren’t already in contact with that will need an invite. The earlier you start this process, the better. Once you have a consensus for a date and know who is available to come, you can begin setting everything up.
Recruit Some Help
Now that you’ve figured out the date, you’re going to want as many hands on deck as you can get. Talk to your relatives and ask who can volunteer their time to help prepare everything. Remember that for significant events like these, you can’t do everything yourself. Try to give people tasks they feel comfortable with and would be good at accomplishing. If you have a cousin who is a chef at a restaurant, ask if they can help with food preparation and cooking. If your uncle works with a hotel chain, ask if he can help get a reasonable rate for out-of-town folks.
Plan Your Activities
By and large, your budget will dictate how you plan everything. If you need to keep costs low, find a public space like a park that will allow everyone to hang out and offer options for grilling outside. If you have a little more to work with, you might try to find an event space and work with a coordinator that can set up games for children, a bar for the adults, and anything else you imagine your family will love.
Personalized Gifts
You never know when you will get to see some of these family members again. Once your festivities wind down, everyone will go their separate ways and back to their busy lives. Tracking everyone down again can also be difficult once the party is over. Gifting your family members a personalized family tree with names offers each person a memento they can treasure for the rest of their lives. At Love is a Rose, we provide family trees and more to make your family reunion feel as unique as possible. If you have any questions, feel free to call or email us.