How to Give Affordable Family Reunion Favors

Send family reunion attendees home with a favor to remember the good times.

Family reunions are great events for reminiscing about old times, strengthening family relationships and meeting members of the extended family that you don't yet know. If you're organizing the reunion, consider including favors in your plans. Family reunion favors give family members something to take home to remember the fun times they had and to enhance family identity and traditions.

Instructions

1. Consider your budget. Will family members be sending money to you for organizing the family reunion? If you don't have a set amount of money to work with and you will be paying for the favors out of your own pocket, determine the total amount of money you're willing to spend on favors before you look at individual pricing. For example, hone in on the total price of $100 for favors rather than the per unit price of $5 per gift.

2. Find out how many people will be attending the reunion. A few weeks after sending out invitations or announcements about the reunion, press family members about whether or not they'll be attending. Getting a ballpark number will help you with all aspects of planning, from site selection to food; the number will be essential for your calculations regarding favors.

3. Divide the total amount of designated money by the number of people attending. If you have $100 to spend on favors and 20 people will be attending, you have a maximum of $5 to spend on each favor. You might also consider giving one favor to each nuclear family that will be attending the reunion. If 5 families will be attending, you can spend $20 on each family favor.

4. Brainstorm ideas for favors. These items make great family reunion favors: T-shirts (printed by a t-shirt supplier or decorated at the reunion), hats, mugs, key chains, a CD containing pictures from the family reunion or pictures of common ancestors, a poster-sized family tree, spiral-bound copies of stories of ancestors, refrigerator magnets with the family crest or a cherished picture and calendar.

5. Shop around for prices on the item or items you choose to pursue. Some family reunion favors can be made inexpensively by you or other family members, and others can be bought in bulk from on-line or local suppliers.

6. Package or display the family reunion favors in an appealing way. Set them out on a table at the entrance to the venue where you're holding the reunion. If the favor is wearable, encourage family members to wear them during the reunion. It will create an instant bond between people. If the items are fragile, such as refrigerator magnets or CDs, package them in a way that will make transport safe for those who have traveled long distances to the reunion.

Tips & Warnings

• Begin working on favors 3 to 4 months before the reunion to allow for time to order or make them.

• Get input on the favors from other family members.

• Recruit family members to help you make and distribute favors.

References

• Family Reunion Success: Family Reunion Favors
• Better Homes & Gardens: Welcome Bags & Party Favors
• Organize a Family Reunion: Family Reunion Gifts