Water Bottles

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Consider providing water bottles for every family member at your reunion. You can even have them printed with your family name or crest. Use a permanent marker to write each person's name on their own bottle and encourage family members to conserve paper cups and disposable plastic water bottles by refilling their personal bottle as needed. They'll help protect the environment and go home with a neat souvenir.

Themes

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If you have frequent family reunions and they're beginning to seem a little stale, it might be time to have a theme party. A theme re-energizes your gathering and gives participants a renewed vision for your time together. Consider having a Mexican fiesta, a Hawaiian Luau, a Western barbecue, or a carnival theme, complete with hot dogs and cotton candy. Plan your meals, attire, activities, and decorations around the theme. Don't worry about being to corny. Even those who complain about having to dress up in riduculous costumes generally really enjoy themselves once they get there.

Have a potluck

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Instead of expensive catering and the fuss of making sure everyone is happy, just have a potluck. Assign each family a dish and delight in seeing what they bring.

Have an ice cream sundae bar

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Set up an ice cream bar with several kinds of ice cream all the toppings possible. It's fun to make your own sundaes.

Special Food Problems - advance notice

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There are so many dietary restrictions nowadays, such as food allergies, vegetarians, diabetics, etc. You may not have the means to satisfy everyone's needs, but as you plan your menu, it will be helpful if you're aware of the dietary needs of some of the family members -- then, at least if you have a list, you can decide whether to try to supply a variety foods that can accommodate every taste, or if your budget can't handle that, you can let people know in advance and they can decide if they want to bring their own special items or do without. No unpleasant surprises that way. HOW TO FIND OUT:: Work with the committee or person handling invitations/advance registration. Send out notices together with invitations asking that any special dietary info. Be sent in well in advance.

Family Meal Deals

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For reunions that last more than one day, consider enlisting a different family to provide, prepare, and serve the main meal each day. This plan gives each family an opportunity to show off their culinary skills, serve the rest of the family, and set the menu at least once. You may want to assign a different family unit to clean up.

Get All Dressed Up

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Consider having one formal meal as part of your reunion fun. Whether you all get dressed up and go out to a nice restaurant together or you throw your own mini prom in the backyard, you'll have fun putting on the ritz for at least a few hours. Decorate with candles and nice linens. Put on soft music and encourage couples to dance. End with a champagne toast to this year's host and hostess.

Make fresh lemonade

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Squeeze fresh lemons and make lemonade. Everyone loves lemonade. Plus you can make one batch spiked for the adults.

Chatting With the Caterer

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When talking with a caterer about supplying a meal for your reunion, be sure to ask if they are providing plates and utensils or if that is your responsibility. Also find out if they will bring their own serving tables.

Make edible arrangements

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Make centerpieces out of fruit or vegetables. They're pretty, fun to eat and useful.

Send out potluck assignments

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Email out dish assignments; appetizer, hot salad, cold salad, fruit, vegetarian entrée, meat, pasta, potato, dessert, etc.

Snack Time

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Encourage each family to bring their favorite snack foods to share with everyone else. While most people will probably bring baked goods and salty snacks, make sure you have plenty of healthy options. You may want to assign someone to provide fruit, veggies and dip, granola bars, and yogurt cups.

Bake people cookies

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Bake gingerbread men and women cookies then use frosting to decorate them and write each person's name attending on one so they have a person cookie.

Offer a toast

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Serve up champagne and sparkling cider and give a grand toast to all the family and thank them for coming.

Hire a bartender

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During your grown-up time hire a bartender to take care of all your drink needs. Purchase the alcohol yourself before hand as it will be cheaper but pay someone to come in and mix drinks and serve your family.

Have a bake off

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Invite everyone to participate in a bake off. Have strangers test the treats and determine who's dessert is best.