{"id":4869,"date":"2023-06-05T15:51:51","date_gmt":"2023-06-05T20:51:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.circalegacy.com\/?p=4869"},"modified":"2023-06-08T12:27:41","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T17:27:41","slug":"how-to-plan-a-family-reunion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.circalegacy.com\/how-to-plan-a-family-reunion\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Plan a Family Reunion: Tips and Tricks for Bringing Generations Together"},"content":{"rendered":"
Here’s my first tip for how to plan a family reunion: Pick a memorable date and stick with it.<\/p>\n
For over 50 years, my dad’s family has reunited on the second Sunday of October. It’s typically the end of harvest. The fall leaves *might* (depending on Iowa’s weather) be at their peak colors. And the weather has a 50\/50 shot of being nice for an outdoor event.<\/p>\n
Our annual fall picnic and family reunion is a pretty simple affair: a big bonfire, all the hotdogs you care to eat, a table of chips and salads, and a table of desserts. We bring our own lawn chairs and drinks. We roast hotdogs, eat chips by the handful, share beer and bottles of whiskey, and have a great time catching up with relatives we rarely see. The highlight for me is the afternoon hayride around our century family farm. Each new generation hears the same stories and is shown the same special landmarks.<\/p>\n
It’s one of my favorite fall events. However, there’s a lot more we could do to take advantage of that special time with family members that we might only see one day a year, or every few years.<\/p>\n
Family reunions hold a special place in many people’s hearts. It’s a time for all the generations to come together to celebrate, update one another on life happenings, and share favorite family stories.<\/p>\n
However, if your family reunions are anything like ours it can be a struggle to get different branches of the family tree to talk to one another, and nearly impossible to get different generations to share time together. (By the way, we created a handy How to Plan a Family Reunion Checklist<\/a> that you can download for free on our Resources page<\/a>. It starts with tasks to begin one year before the reunion!)<\/p>\n In this guide, I’ll give you ideas to ensure your next family reunion creates meaningful connections and lasting bonds across generations. I’ll provide tips for fostering open conversations, explore the importance of sharing and preserving stories, and introduce you to some tools and services that can help you capture your family’s priceless memories.<\/p>\n At the heart of a family reunion is the treasure trove of shared life experiences and stories that bind your family together. These connections are extremely important<\/a> for all generations, and can even make our children more resilient and emotionally stronger. Why? Because family stories hold the power to strengthen bonds between grandparents and grandchildren, parents and children, aunts and nieces, uncles and nephews, and cousins of all ages! Your family may be crazy, but there’s something wonderful in knowing that they’re yours and will be there for you.<\/p>\n When we acknowledge the importance of family stories, we can set the stage for meaningful connections that will be cherished and remembered for years to come.<\/p>\n To create genuine connections at your family reunion, it is essential to design an atmosphere that encourages open and relaxed conversations. While planned activities and structured events can be enjoyable, start with ample free time for family members to reconnect and catch up.<\/p>\n Here are some tips on setting the stage for meaningful conversations:<\/p>\n For the most part, your family reunion really should be all fun and games and good food. The point is to allow people to relax and enjoy one another. However, a family reunion is an amazing opportunity to finally record memories and stories from your family members. One of the simplest and most convenient ways to capture family stories is through video or audio recordings using your smartphone.<\/p>\n There are lots of free and inexpensive apps and tools available to enhance the recording experience and make it even more enjoyable. Consider popular audio recording apps such as Voice Memos\u00a0 or video recording apps like FilmicPro or OpenCamera. These apps offer features like high-quality recording, easy editing, and the ability to add timestamps, ensuring that the captured stories are both well-preserved and easily accessible.<\/p>\n Next, designate an official camera person or interviewer. Choose a family member that most people know. Someone who is tech-savvy and also has an approachable, friendly manner. Set up a quiet area with two comfortable chairs. Casually invite people to the recording area to tell a short story or 10 minutes of family memories. Consider bringing in long-time married couples to interview together. Or brothers or sisters. But limit it to one or two people at a time.<\/p>\nBringing Family Together<\/h3>\n
Setting the Stage for Connections<\/h3>\n
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Preserving Family Stories<\/h2>\n