Family Reunions and Family Reunion Planning
Family reunions are an important part of family life. They can help preserve fond memories, favorite recipes, stories and, most importantly, relationships that will last for generations. Given a chance, family reunions and celebrations can provide family members with important values, strong and lasting bonds, and a deep sense of belonging that they can pass on to their children and their grandchildren.
Planning a family reunion can be a daunting assignment. It can also be a most rewarding and enjoyable one. Careful planning and attention to detail will make a reunion one to remember. The challenge is to form an effective planning committee with one person designated Family Reunion Chairman. The Chairman should be someone with good organizational skills and the time and desire to do it. The Chairman will head several sub-committees with chairmen of each.
Set the Date Far in Advance for Family Reunions:
Getting a large group of family together takes a lot of coordination, and it is best to start planning the trip at least a year in advance so everyone can save the dates and book flights and accommodations. As you get closer to the date, availability will become slim, and prices will go up. Be firm about sticking to a date once it has been chosen. You want to accommodate as many people as possible, but you’re unlikely to find a time that works for everyone.
Consider a House or Lodge Rental:
Homes and Lodges offer many benefits for family reunions, including multiple private bedrooms, fully equipped kitchens and communal living and outdoor spaces where everyone can gather. Look no further than Utah Family Lodges we have options to give you the space and privacy of a home along with the amenities of a resort such as access to a pool, spa and other amenities. Slick Rock Lodge in Moab, for example, will open soon, a free-standing ten-suite residence that was built with family reunions in mind.
Pick a Destination With Activities
It’s important to find a destination where all generations of your family can have a good time with a variety of activity options. You want a lodge or home that offers or is near a golf course, a pool, a spa, a lake where you can go swimming or fishing, hiking trails, bike rentals and more. For properties suited to large family reunions, Six Lakes Resort and Fishing Preserve offers lots of lake, an outdoor pool, and fishing activities, or Silver Springs Lodge for canoeing on a private pond, outdoor pool and spa and many outdoor activities.
Plan a Themed Event
The purpose of a reunion is to spend time with your family, but there are many instances where people tend to go their separate ways to participate in their favorite activities and get little time together as a group. We suggested designating one afternoon or evening of your reunion for a fun collective event such as a Mexican fiesta with a mariachi band, a Texas-style barbecue with western music would be great at Hidden Spring a working cattle ranch, or a dance party of oldies tunes. In our experience, parties, where everyone in the family gathers together, are the highlight of the reunion.
