Distant Cousins

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The Distant Cousins - She Aint Lovin You No More.wmv

Planning a Family Get Together

Family reunions are a great time to reconnect with loved ones.  Planning one requires a great deal or work, organization, and patience.  A lot of family reunions revolve, sadly, around the death of a loved one, but they can center around joyous events like a baby or bridal shower.  Babies and new members are introduced, cousins are reunited, and extended family members are gathered into the fold.  No matter the cause, it is an effort to pull off the event, but in the end, everyone will appreciate your efforts and cherish the time together as a family.  Again, the devil is in the details and if you plan it out right, you'll be able to pull off a memorable event that everyone will enjoy.

Here are some suggestions for planning a family get together:

1.  Make a list of who should be invited.  Don't rely on your memory alone of who's who in the family.  Pass the list around to several family members to make sure not even one distant cousin is left off the list.
2.  Send out invitations well ahead of time so people can plan ahead.  Avoid major holidays, if possible, as people may already have plans.  Or, if you're planning a family reunion or event around the holidays, send out a save the date announcement six months to a year in advance.
3.  Pick a venue that's best for your theme and the number of people you expect.  Would it be best to rent a restaurant or ballroom?  Or would someone's large backyard work?  Maybe even see if you can use a state or local park, the beach, or a farm?
4.  After picking the venue, you'll want to choose a theme.  Be creative and fun or keep it simple…whatever works for your family.  A theme helps when looking at food and decoration choices.
5.  Will it be catered, potluck, a barbeque, clam bake, etc?  If you're on a strict budget and don't want to ask other family members to help pick up the bill, have everyone bring a covered dish, casserole, meat, etc.  This makes it more family-oriented and personal.  However, if you're able to spend more money, why not have it catered.  And, if so, pick something that agrees with your theme.  If it's a beach venue and theme, why not hire a company to do a clam bake?
6.  Be sensitive to any food allergies (tree nuts, nuts, shellfish, lactose) or preferences (diabetic, vegan, vegetarian) and have food properly marked.  Have selections and choices for everyone.
7.  Plan games for the kids, family storytelling (passing down tales to the next generation), sharing photos or digital images to keep the family at the forefront of the event.
8.  Avoid family squabbles or anything that's been festering.  This is a time for fun, family, and fellowship.
9.  Cordon off an area specifically for the kids.  Have relatives rotate in and out to keep an eye on the kids and help coordinate any planned activities for them.
10. If serving alcohol, try to keep it to a few hours to avoid over drinking.  You don't want the alcohol to open any unsettled family wounds that might cause conflict.
11. Arrange designated drivers for the group, or pre-arrange for a taxi company to take people home or to their hotel.  Don't let anyone drive who's had too much to drink.
12. Music is a necessity.  Whether you hire a DJ, a band, or throw some CDs on, kick up the atmosphere with festive and fun music.
13. Give out prizes to relatives who "Traveled the Furthest" or "Best Dressed" or "Married the Longest." Have a good time with it and be creative.
14. Consider renting a photo booth for relatives to pose together and have the pictures immediately.  Keep a copy and make a family scrapbook of the party after the event.
15. Negotiate a hotel room block at a reduced rate for your out of town guests/relatives.  Oftentimes, hotels have shuttles that will take guests places.  Perhaps they can help get people to your venue.

Most of all, have a good time.  Enjoy seeing long lost relatives or that aunt that you haven't seen since you were a kid.  Bask in the births and additions and welcome in the newest members who've married into the family.  And speaking of births and weddings, you can certainly build your family reunion around a baby or bridal shower.  It's a great way to welcome new family members and the perfect time to share time together.

About the Author

Misha Anatolia writes about party planning and one of the best reasons for a family get together is a bridal shower. If you are engaged and planning a bridal shower, then be sure to check out Misha's articles on bridal shower recipes and other bridal shower ideas.

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