Does anyone have any ideas on how to increase attendance at at family Reunion?

Question

Serving alcohol is not an option. Got any ideas?

Answer 1

Have it on a Sunday of a long weekend or during the summer so kids aren't in school. Make sure you let your family know way beforehand so they can plan to be there. Airfare is cheap when you book far in advance.

Also have the destination be like that of a vacation. Don't just have it in your backyard. Have it somewhere fun where people want to go on vacation. Some ideas are an amusement park, rent houses out at the beach (Outerbanks in North Carolina is a good place.), rent cabins in the mountains, etc.

Answer 2

Takes lots of dedication and planning! Plan a reunion weekend....for one, it gives the option of coming on one or both days....if someone just cannot be there for whatever reason on one of the days...also makes it more of a mini vacation...which families love! Have plenty of options for lodging, camp sites, book several rooms at one hotel to ensure discounts....have it in a city where several family members live to allow housing for those that cannot afford other accomodations. When planning..have someone from 2 or three generations helping plan....Grandma, Aunt so and so..and yourself....this way, you can commincate and connect with those in your generation....if you're a grandchild and try to contact Great Aunt so in so whom you've never met, chances are she may not come....so someone she's going to know right off the bat contact her....and chances are then that she'll come and bring her kids and grandkids! Have plenty of games for the kids.....if you're doing a whole weekend thing...have a babysitter lined up for the adults to reunite! Part of the very careful planning.....do research..find out who's having anniversaries, birthdays, just got married, just had a baby....include these peoples names and events on the invitation and make it a family celebration for all these events!! Make the invitation a family newsletter....rather than a small invitation. Long holiday weekends and summers are always best! If there are some parts of the family you have never met or seen in many years, go visit them for a day or weekend prior to sending out the invitations or just after...this way...they don't feel like they're being invited to hang out with strangers! Hope this helps!!

Answer 3

When my uncle plans our family reunions, he always sends and invitation, and a magnet for the fridge with all the info on it. He starts e-mailing everyone at least 6 months before the reunion. He also sends everyone a photo slideshow after the reunion. You could also have an after party, or a night out, for anyone who would like to attend.

Answer 4

Have more kids or adopt some or invite people you treat as family. If it's a problem of they just don't show up maybe call the ones that usually don't and find out what they enjoy doing and ask if they wouldn't mind organizing that particular thing to do when they show up. Reunions usually go better if they are held outdoors. with water close by.

Answer 5

Games with gifts. Door prizes. A chance for everyone to add something, give each guest a pen and paper ask to write their fav family memory. Have them donate, make a book of memories you get printed at Office depot.

Answer 6

think of the needs of those you want there. if you're inviting those who are struggling financially, offer them a place to stay. if there will be lots of children, arrange to have a babysitter to supervise/play games ect. For myself personally, my children have severe allergies, so family functions can be a nightmare with relatives who just don't get it, and try offering my kids food anyway. So if anyone has allergies, make sure you address that. Instead of mailing invitations (or as well as), I would call people, it's more personal, and says "you're special to me".

Answer 7

Is the barrier travel or cost? It is hard to schedule something that everyone can attend.

Having it at a location that is accessible to everyone (flying to a major hub, for example) and not expensive.

Are they old? Need to know why people aren't coming in order to help you.

Answer 8

Send out fun invitations.

Make it somewhere where everyone can there there without a long trip.

Make phone calls.

Try making it inexpensive, some people may not be as well off financially as others.

Answer 9

Just tell them how important family is and that getting together to celebrate life is a heck of a lot better than mourning at a funeral.

Answer 10

Send out invitations, ask for rsvp's. For the ones you didnt get an rsvp for, give them a call to let them know how much it means that they attend. for the ones that did rsvp, make sure to keep in touch w/them also, just to make sure they are still going to be there :)