How to Create Family Reunion Invitations

There's nothing quite like a family reunion to bring everyone closer together. There are always distant family relatives that have lost touch with the rest of the family, so it's important to get together every so often to re-connect. All you need is some food, a central location and some invitations. If you want to create family reunion invitations yourself, use these tips to make this task a breeze.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Set a budget. You need to decide early whether you plan to print the invitations out on your home computer, take them to a local copy shop or pay someone to design and print them. Printing them yourself is the cheapest option, but a professional may do a better job. The number of invitations you need will also be a factor. You may be able to print out 50 invitations, but if you're inviting 500 people, you're better off with a professional printer.
2. Pick a format. Choose whether you want to create your family reunion invitations in a word-processing program or a paint/graphics program. Decide how large you want the invitation to be, a standard 8.5 x 11 page, something like a postcard or a different size altogether.
3. Keep it simple. When you create family reunion invitations, keep it clean and simple. A simple graphic at the top of the invitation should be plenty. You can choose to use clip art, a stock photo or a family photo from a past reunion.
4. Add the particulars. Be sure to include the following on your invitation: date, time, location, contact person and phone number, description of the event, cost per family (if any), directions on how to get there and any special clothing or instructions that they need to be aware of.
5. Create a response card. Give attendees a chance to RSVP by creating a small response card to enclose in the invitation. Simply ask whether they plan to attend and if so, how many people will be attending. If you're planning a potluck, this is where you'd ask each attendee what dish they will bring.
6. Proof it. Print out a proof of the invitation and response card and enlist the help of a friend or family member to double-check the items for typos or other problems. Correct any mistakes.
7. Stamp and send. Print out the invitations and response cards and mail them to family members promptly.

Tips & Warnings

• If you plan to use a professional printer for this project, call ahead of time and find out what they need to print the invitation. Often, they will need the graphics in a higher quality or in a special format.
• Proofread your invitations several times. If you put the wrong date or time, the entire event could be a disaster.