Host a Family Tree Get-Together: Planning Guide

Hosting a family tree get-together is a beautiful way to celebrate your family’s history while honoring the matriarchs who have been its backbone.

Step 1: Research Your Family History

To create a meaningful family tree, you’ll need to gather as much information as possible.

Here are some ways to get started:

• Use Online Tools: Utilize family tree apps or software to stay digitally organized like Ancestry.com, MyHeritage or Family Tree Maker to organize your findings and create a visual representation.
• Talk to Relatives: Sit down with your parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles to document their memories, stories, and family lore. Use a voice recorder or a notepad to capture their stories.
• Find Records: Search county and state records, obituaries, and military documents to uncover details about your ancestors. Websites like Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org can help.
• Take a DNA Test: Consider sharing DNA results to uncover deeper connections and expand the tree.

Step 2: Plan the Get-Together

Choose a Date and Location

• Date: Select a date that works for most family members and allows enough time for planning.
• Location: Host the event at a family member’s home, a community center, or a park. If possible, choose a space with sentimental value.

Send Invitations

• Send out invitations via email, social media, or traditional paper cards. Include details about the event’s purpose, date, time, and location.
• What is a catchy phrase for family reunion?

  -“Wherever We Go, Family Remains.”

  -“Laughter, Love, and Legacy: Our Family Reunion.”

  -“Making Memories, One Hug at a Time.”

  -“Family Ties: Unbreakable, Unforgettable.”

  -“Where there is family, there is love.”

  -“Family gives you the roots to stand tall and strong.”

  -“Family is the heart of a home.”

Delegate Responsibilities

• Assign roles to family members, such as food preparation, decorations, or setting up tech for presentations.
• Ask for family members to bring items to share, such as:
  • Old family photos and documents
  • Recipes for the family recipe book
  • Memorabilia or heirlooms to share
  • Stories and memories to contribute

Make Backup Plans

• Plan for unexpected situations, such as bad weather for outdoor events or extra supplies for larger-than-expected attendance.

Step 3: Set Up and Decorate

Decorations

• Family Photos: Create a display of old and new family photos. Use photo boards or hang them on string with clothespins.
• Family Tree Wall: Use a large poster or canvas to create a family tree. Provide markers, stickers, or leaves for guests to add their information.
• Heirlooms and Memorabilia: Display meaningful items like jewelry, books, or artifacts that represent family history.
• Theme Colors: Use your family’s favorite colors or symbolic shades like green (growth) and gold (heritage).

Setup

• Seating Areas: Arrange comfortable seating for group conversations and storytelling.
• Activity Stations: Set up areas for specific activities, such as a genealogy research station, a scrapbook table, or a video interview corner.
• Tech Tools: Provide a laptop or tablet with family tree software or photo slideshows.

Step 4: Food and Beverages

Appetizer Ideas

• Mini quiches
• Fruit and cheese platters
• Charcuterie boards
• Deviled eggs

Main Dishes

• Family recipes passed down through generations, such as casseroles, pot roasts, or pasta dishes.

Dessert Ideas

• Cupcakes decorated with family initials
• A “family recipe” dessert table featuring contributions from attendees
• Cookies shaped like trees or leaves
• A cake with a printed family tree design

Step 5: At the Party: Activities and Entertainment

Creating the Family Tree

• Interactive Tree Building: Provide materials like paper leaves, markers, and glue sticks for attendees to add their names and connections to a large tree display.
• Digital Options: Use a projector to display a digital family tree and update it during the event.

Storytelling

• Ask the matriarchs to share cherished family memories and traditions.
• Record these sessions for future generations.

Games

• “Who’s Who?” guessing game using old photos.
• Family trivia based on interesting historical facts you’ve uncovered.

Craft Projects

• Create a scrapbook or memory jar where everyone can contribute notes or small mementos.
• Make a family cookbook: Collect recipes from relatives and compile them into a cookbook. Provide blank recipe cards for attendees to share favorite family dishes.

Helpful Tools and Resources

• Genealogy Websites: Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org
• Photo Scanning Apps: Photomyne, Google PhotoScan
• Family Tree Software: MyHeritage, Family Tree Maker
• Recording Tools: Voice recorder apps or handheld devices like the Zoom H1n.

By planning a family tree get-together with thoughtful touches, engaging activities, and delicious food, you’ll create a heartfelt event that brings your family closer together while honoring its matriarchs. This celebration will undoubtedly be remembered and cherished for years to come.