Are you planning a Family Gathering?

Are you planning a Family Gathering?

Family meet or family gathering or family reunions are a great way to touch base your extended family members and teach your children about your family heritage.

In any society, traditionally there are many occasions when all the family members – close or distant relatives- meet. But nowadays since every family head is busy looking after their livelihood, someone has to actually plan for such a meet and ensure the attendance of most. 

So, what are the things to plan and make the family reunion a success?

1. Date: First, you need to finalize a date. The date should be such that all family members find it convenient. May be there are some who need to come from outside your home town. You also need to ensure that it is not a working day and it is holidays for children too.
2. Number of Attendees: Make a count of the number of attendees, as this is going to be important for deciding on the food, place, budget and other things to organize.
3. Where to meet?: Deciding on the place is also a key thing. You need to decide whether reunion will be at your home or any other family member's home. This will have a impact on your cost.  If it is going to be a outside place, then you got to take into account the distance, easy accessibility for all, the facilities available and most importantly the cost.
4. The Agenda: Even though it is a informal family meet, it is important to prepare an Agenda for the meet. You need to plan who is going to speak on the family reunion, the purpose of the meet. Exchange of their experience and any other. May be you want to speak on the contribution of elders to the family growth, prosperity and also want to honor them?
5. Fun time: May be you want to decide on what games you are going to conduct for the children and Adults. This will help you to organize the items required to conduct the games and also the prizes you wish to distribute.
6. Food and Cocktails: It is very important to plan for the type of food you wish to serve and the menu thereof. You need to plan the food timings also. Please take into account, the elders in the family who may require specific foods due to old age or sickness or certain disease they may have. Plan for special foods for the children also. You need to decide if you are going tp serve cocktails. If yes, ensure to check on the preferences, to arrange for the same. Then you may need to ensure arrangement of plates, cutleries, water, wash area, enough soda. Snacks, tissue papers and others. Always have 25% extra of the estimated consumption.
7. Plan to Delegate your work: This gains more importance if you are going to have the gathering at your place. Make a team and delegate different work to be shared. Inform the people concerned and get their advance acceptance.
8. Backup Plan: Always ensure a backup plan for each of the items in case they go wrong. This will avoid disappointments and in case of a problem, family members will admire your back up plans.
9. Family Picture: Ensure you have made arrangements for a family picture and take enough copies to distribute. You can also upload the pictures in social media sites, for all family members to see.

Last but not least, do not expect your family reunion to be absolutely perfect. With such large gatherings, something will always go wrong or there will be some family members who have the habit of complaining. So, do not get disappointed.

Another important thing is you must always remember people are not predictable. Suddenly someone may shout or pick up an argument or cause some form of embarrassment. You must be patient and laugh it off, while resolving the matter then and there.

So, that's it.. Have a great family reunion and ensure it is a memorable one.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/holidays-articles/are-you-planning-a-family-gathering-5960663.html