If you’re like most people today, your family is likely spread out across the country, or even living abroad. With the cost of travel expenses, it’s often hard to see your family members on a regular basis. Why not plan a family reunion where everyone can gather in one location?

Planning a family reunion is a big task that will take careful preparation. It’s an event that may include hundreds, even thousands, of immediate and distant relatives. The cost of the reunion and travel expenses will probably impact the size of the event, so you’ll need to establish parameters first.

Start Planning Early

Set a date for your family reunion as early as possible, preferably a full year in advance. You will need a lot of time to create an organized schedule, find a convenient location, make arrangements for hotel rooms, meals and activities, and figure out last minute details. Family members with children in school will have to plan around school activities, so a summer reunion may be more convenient.

Make Up a Guest List

Overall costs for the event will depend on the number of family members that are invited. Of course, parents, grandparents, sisters and brothers, and grandchildren will be on the list, but what about first cousins, second cousins, and beyond? Ideally, inviting everyone would be great, but it’s likely that you won’t be able to include every branch of your family tree.

Find a Location

Finding a location that works for everyone may be difficult. It’s best to look for a centrally located place that’s convenient for most family members, especially if you have elderly grandparents and small children on the guest list. If there’s a family member with a large back yard or a beautiful public park nearby, you can rent a high peak tension tent for meals and family activities.

Plan a Time Frame

If you’re planning an annual reunion, a weekend will be enough time. If family reunions don’t happen very often, consider a week or at least a few extra days for family members who can stay a little longer. It may be years before another family reunion occurs.