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Family Reunion

Family Reunion Splash Party

The whole family’s in town, it’s summertime and sweltering hot outside–that kind of hot that makes you crave air conditioning and a nice, tall cup of ice water, but following your cravings would mean leaving the family reunion to sit in your car with the air on full blast.

It doesn’t have to be this way, though, so planning ahead for the summer heat can do wonders for the family reunion, which means you might just consider throwing a family reunion splash party!

Invitations

If you are planning on throwing a family reunion splash party, then this is something that you would want to include on the family reunion invitations to ensure each family member brings what they need: Swimsuit, towels, sunscreen, water toys, floats, and whatever else they wish to bring for the water. It never hurts to include a little checklist to help them out!

You can use this as an opportunity to hand out family reunion memorabilia by theming it to the splash party. Items such as customized towels, hats, or water bottles will come in handy during the reunion and make wonderful things to take home as a favor.

Decorations

When it comes to decorations for a family reunion splash party, think water, of course! A nautical theme tends to work well for such event, so I will use this for my examples going forward. If you are in search of suitable color schemes, blue, red and white works well, as does blue and gold.

  • Lifesavers: You can buy foam rings for really cheap from a craft store and decorate them to look like life preservers pretty easily.
  • Anchors: Anchor make for great nautical decoration and can take up a lot of decorating space! This anchor, for example, on Amazon if 5 feet tall and very cheap considering the decoration size!
  • Ropes and nets: Ropes and nets should be used all over in place of where you would put streamers for a typical party. Have fun with this decoration by adding little sea creatures attached to it to give it that deep-sea feel!

Food

Food for a splash party should not be much different than what you would do for a regular party, just add a bit of the theme and you have the perfect buffet!

  • Cupcakes: Who doesn’t love cupcakes? I know I always want to eat them all when I see them. Frost them blue to resemble water, and top them with a shark fin, and you have a perfect splash party treat!
  • Fish props: For food that is more difficult to theme, such as bowls of chips, just add in a few plastic fish into the mix, or have a fake shark on guard near the bowls.
  • Water “buffet”: Have a dispenser of ice cold water ready, and along with that, have many different varieties of water flavorings, such as Crystal Light, Kool-Aid singles, and Mio. Oh yeah, don’t forget the fun paper straws and umbrellas!

Games

Okay, games. A family reunion splash party will likely already be at a pool, as it should, but you really need every water game and activity you can think of! Best to host at someone’s home with a large yard, if possible. Here’s a bunch of water games that should be considered:

  • Water balloons: What kind of splash party doesn’t have water balloons?
  • Sprinklers: If there’s young kids who cannot swim yet, sprinklers are a good option for them!
  • Slip n’ slide: Slip n’ slides are a great time for all ages, just get one and it will surely be used!
  • Water guns: Fill a large, plastic tub with water guns, super soakers, and whatever water weapons you can find, your family will do the rest!
  • Marco-polo: This is a classic pool game, you know the rules.
  • Hot balloon: This is kinda like hot potato, but with balloons. Fill a few large balloons (full) of water, and using one balloon at a time, each player stands in a circle a few feet apart and tosses the balloon to each other. There’s three ways to get out: Having the balloon when the music stops, dropping the balloon, or it popping in your possession.
  • Wet sponge handoff: Each team of three or four people will need a big sponge and two buckets: One full of water, and another that is empty with a line marking the target. The team stands in a line, and starting with the sponge in the full bucket of water, they pass the sponge down the line to the person standing by the empty bucket who must wring out the sponge, then hand it back down the line to be repeated. First team to fill the empty bucket to the line wins!

Favors

As mentioned a bit earlier, towels make a great favor to be handed out at the end of the family reunion splash party, but a change of clothes works just as well. This is a great opportunity to hand out family reunion t-shirts! It’s not the size of the favor that matters, but the size of the splash!

4th of July Family Reunion Ideas

What’s better than fireworks, food, family and fun on Independence Day? Adding an all-out family reunion into the mix! If you are planning a family reunion for some summertime fun, make it red, white and blue with stars and stripes, too!

First things first, get started on that checklist, including a guest list (which should include all family, of course)! Speaking of checklist, check out our family reunion planning checklist.

4th of July Invitations

4th of July Invitation from Etsy
4th of July Invitations

Sending out invitations for a family reunion is a must and with plenty of time, to boot! Skip the boring, plain invitations and send something out with some pizzaz and frill! For example, these invitations on Etsy are adorable and most are fully customizable and have everything you need! They are relatively inexpensive and you can order the exact amount you need!

For some extra 4th of July effects, add a pinch of confetti in red, white, and blue, and stars if you can find it! Just a little bit though, because nobody wants a mess!

Read More: Creative ways to get more RSVPs

Patriotic Decorations

4th of July family reunion ideas are perhaps most important when it comes to the decorations! The family reunion needs to have that oh-so-patriotic feel to it since you are not only celebrating the family, but the important holiday as well!

More than likely the venue will be an outdoor one, weather-permitting of course, so you need to think of some 4th of July family reunion ideas that are suitable for the outdoor environment. Here’s a few ways to get those stars shining in your family reunion decorations!

  • Banners: Every family reunion needs a banner announcing the reunion to the world! Banners are easy outside because they can be hung on fences, tree-to-tree, or pole-to-pole. Although banners are an easy DIY project, if you find yourself strapped for time, invest in one that is professionally printed in your 4th of July theme!
  • Paper lanterns: The party will likely go into the evening hours since it will involve fireworks, so hang some themed paper lanterns all around and equip them with those little battery-operated LED candles for a subtle lighting effect!
  • Flags, flags, and more flags: Flags are an easy way to decorate for this occasion, and nothing is more appropriate! Small flags can embellish food at the table, line the walkways, and double as favors!

4th of July Food

When it comes to the American way, nothing says it better than the food choices! Having a 4th of July family reunion themed celebration means you have to have amazing food! Amazing food doesn’t have to be expensive though, and remember that doing it yourself with a few helping hands can save you lots in the bank! Here’s some 4th of July family reunion ideas that your tastebuds won’t want to miss!

  • Rocket dogs: Stick hotdogs on skewers and wrap a half-inch thick piece of flattened biscuit dough (the kind in the can) around each one, cooking them according to the instructions of the biscuits. Stick a piece of triangle-shaped cheese on top for the rocket’s tip, and add an optional embellishment on the bottom to look like the rocket’s flare!
  • Star finger sandwiches: Make a platter of sandwiches, and use a star cookie cutter. Easy and cheap!
  • Flag fruit skewers: Think red, white and blue, of course! Watermelon, strawberries, and cherries work great for red, blueberries for blue, and bananas or marshmallows for white. Alternate the colors in such a way that when you lay the skewers on a tray or stick them in a foam block, the colors line up to look like the American Flag!
  • Mason jar punch bar: Is there anything more American than drinking from a mason jar? Probably, but it certainly adds a nice touch to a 4th of July family reunion! Ideas for this include having a few different punch flavors, one red, one blue, and a lemonade for “white.” Don’t forget to add these paper straws for the finishing touch!

Independence Day Games

Family reunions are all about fun and games, making good memories with the family. While the fireworks later will prove to be the more anticipated entertainment, you’ll be in need of a few daytime activities to keep everyone on their feet and having a good time! Here’s some ideas for 4th of July family reunion fun! Here are some family reunion game ideas:

  • Flag hunt: Best for the kids, but anyone can join! Hide flags all around the venue and see who finds the most in a set amount of time! If you hide some in harder places, be sure to keep a list of every place you hid them to make cleanup easier.
  • Pie-eating contest: If you’ll have enough takers, this game will double as some hilarious entertainment! Each contestant must have their hands bound behind their backs, and the only thing they may use to eat the pie is their mouths. Messy and funny, this is a must for a 4th of July family reunion!
  • Ring toss: This is great for all ages and both cheap and easy DIY project! Take an old wooden crate and paint it blue with white stars. Take as many glass bottles that will fit in the crate and paint them however you’d like: Some white, some red, some red and white stripes. Find some small wooden or plastic rings (craft store) and you’ve got yourself a game!

Festive 4th of July Favors

Every party needs favors to thank guests for coming and a family reunion is no different! I personally enjoy the idea of people making their own favors, such as tie dye family reunion t-shirts, but it all depends on the crowd. For family reunions, personalized picture frames to hold a memory from the reunion is always a win! As for the kids, they can go out with a bang with a bunch of Pop Rocks and party poppers!

Family Reunion Awards

Roll out the red carpet, because at this shindig, your family members are the stars! The ending of a family reunion doesn’t have to be a dreadful time where all you focus on is the fact that everyone is leaving; instead, go out with a bang!

A grand finale is in order. It’s not very often that the entire family can get together for a good time, so go big then go home!

Award Ceremony

Having an award ceremony is a great way to bid your family farewell at the ending of a family reunion event. What better way to say goodbye then by handing out family reunion awards at a grand party?

Now this event should be grand, but also a fun time for everyone, so depending on the flavor of your family, here’s some tips to make it fun!

Family Reunion Flair

  • Live entertainment: Hire a few locals to provide live entertainment whether that entertainment be music or contortionists! Having live entertainment at an event adds a flair to the event that is hard to achieve otherwise!
  • Fancy food: This is a grand event and if there’s literally going to be a red carpet, better make the food red carpet-worthy! You don’t need to spend a ton on caterers, either. Just get a few helping hands together for some prep work before the event and take shifts cooking. Read more about family reunion menu planning.
  • Professional DJ: DJ’s not only make events fun, but they coordinate timelines and really know how to read an audience to keep that party bumpin’! Be sure to interview a few to find a good fit for the reunion.
  • Dress up: It’s likely that most of the reunion has been jeans and t-shirts laid back, so make this an event to go all out for! Dress in your best, because you might just score an award for it!
  • Paparazzi: AKA anyone in the family who has a good camera! What’s the red carpet an an award ceremony without someone taking glamourous pictures?

Now that we have gone over a few little tips for making the ceremony fun, the question is: What kind of family reunion awards should you give out? Here’s a list of family reunion awards that would be perfect for a family reunion:

Family Reunion Award Ideas

  • Funniest Reunion Moment Award
  • Best Family Reunion Potluck Dish Award
  • The Bottomless Stomach Award
  • The Fashionista Award
  • Most Creative Crafter Award
  • Karaoke King Award
  • Karaoke Queen Award
  • Best Dancer Award
  • Most Outgoing Award
  • The Good Sport Award
  • Most Helpful Award
  • Biggest Little Helper Award
  • Craziest Kid Award
  • The Jokester Award
  • Most Artistic Award
  • Biggest News Award
  • Best Costume Award
  • Neatest Hair Award
  • Funkiest Hair Award
  • Tastiest Chili Award
  • Biggest Kid Award
  • Best Balancing Act Award
  • Most Hospitable Award
  • Best Hugs Award
  • Most Children Award
  • Bushiest Beard Award
  • Manliest Mustache Award
  • Most Motivational Award
  • The Traveler Award
  • Oldest Family Member Award
  • Most Contagious Laugh Award
  • The Newlywed Award
  • Silliest Selfie Award
  • Family History Hound Award
  • Two Left Feet Award
  • Crazy Racin’ Award

Of course, the types of awards chosen will be based on your particular events at the family reunion and the family members, themselves! Handing out family reunion awards can double as reunion favors as long as you make an award for each person. Although this can be tough, everyone is different so it is entirely possible to find something rewardable about each person!

Create Some Family Competition

As you might have noticed, some of these awards can create pre-family reunion competitions that will make the events all the more fun. If you really want to build up some anticipation, feel free to let some people know about some of the awards that will be given out. You might just create an annual rivalry that everyone looks forward to.

For example, let all the men know that there will be a “Bushiest Beard Award.” You might just ignite an annual facial follicle feud that people will talk about for years to come. Let the beards…. I mean awards begin!

Family Reunion Committees: Everything You Need to Know

Planning a family reunion by yourself, especially really large family reunions, can be both difficult and lonely as you try to take on every single task on your own. Most of the time, it’s just not possible to do it by yourself and you will need a group of people, known as a committee, to aid you in the planning process.

Family reunion committees are a great way to bring family together before the reunion and can really make the planning process more enjoyable. Just how do you go about deciding what kinds of committees are needed? How do you decide who will be on each committee? What responsibilities will each committee have? Find answers to all of these questions and more below.

How To Form Committees and Subcommittees

First thing you need to do is find out who is interested in being in a committee of some sort, and you do this by starting with local family members by simply asking. You might just be surprised at the turnout of willing participants. Once you have a few family members interested, set up a meeting to being the long process of planning.

During the meeting, everybody will need to discuss the various areas in which a committee will be needed, and each individual’s talents, abilities, and interests will need to be assessed to see where they would be the most helpful and where they would be the best fit.

Let’s look at an example for a subcommittee. One committee that is often needed is one for planning activities and entertainment to keep everyone busy. You may have one person who is an expert crafter; therefore, they can form a subcommittee for crafting activities while the activities committee focuses their attention on other things such as planning games. Committees and subcommittees will always depend on the specific needs of the family reunion as a whole.

Keep in mind that you can involve distant family members in any part of the planning process because there is a lot of different ways we can communicate these days: Social networking, e-mail, telephone, text message, and the list goes on. Distant family members can even be present at meeting by way of video chat services such as Skype; just hook up a laptop!

Choosing a President and Chairpeople

Heading each committee is a person who will report to each and every meeting to keep everyone up-to-speed on where they are in their planning, to share ideas, and gather additional ideas from other committees. In other words, these are the important people that keeps every aspect of planning on the same page to keep everything organized.

The president is typically the person who started the planning in the first place, but can end up being someone else if desired by the voice of the chairpeople. The chairpeople can be any one person within each committee appointed by the members of each committee, chosen by the president, or simply volunteer for the position. Chairpeople need to be people who have free time outside of their day jobs in order to be able to make the meetings; they need to be reliable, organized, and punctual.

Types of Family Reunion Committees

This is a list of many different types of family reunion committees and their duties. Keep in mind that you will likely not need all of these committees, and you can also double up on some of the duties for some committees.

The committees marked with an asterisk (*) are generally necessary for normal-size reunions, but the others may be necessary for larger reunions.

  • Food*: This committee is in charge of food and beverage. From selecting the caterer (if the reunion will be catered) to choosing the menu, and even coordinating a potluck if applicable. If it deals with food or drinks, this committee is in charge.
  • Decorations*: Want the reunion to look amazing? Well then you might just want a committee full of designers to make it happen. They can coordinate with a crafting committee for DIY projects, or take it upon themselves to find the funding for purchasing decorations or renting props.
  • Crafting: As mentioned above, a crafting committee may help in DIY projects for decorating, or they may be a subcommittee under the activities committees, solely coordinating craft activities for the family reunion.
  • Activities*: For a family reunion full of fun, having a committee geared toward planning activities is a must. Since reunions typically last a few days, you’ll be needing many activities planned! From making group reservations at local attractions to fun and games at the reunion, these are the people that make the fun happen!
  • Entertainment: If you have family members who are good at entertaining, consider them for this committee! Not only this, but the entertainment committee will be in charge of all things entertainment at the committee, from hiring a DJ, to dressing up as clowns for the kids.
  • Information*: While all of the other committees are indulged in the planning, they will need help from this committee to communicate with the outsiders, or the people who are not involved in the planning. From sending out invites, to responding to any and all communications, to relaying important information to the other committees, this committee is truly helpful at keeping things organized.
  • Fundraising: While each committee should plan their own fundraisers to help raise money for what they want or need to do, it can be very helpful to have a separate committee completely dedicated to raising money for the entire thing.
  • Treasury: Say the reunion is so huge that it becomes necessary to become a non-profit organization (yes, this does happen!) then it is necessary to have a committee dedicated to controlling all things financial from keeping track of the budget and the “money-in, money-out,” to paying bills on behalf of the other committees.

The planning may seem overwhelming, but can easily be made more enjoyable, a less stressful by forming family reunion committees. Never be afraid to approach family members with the idea; the very least you can do is ask for help!