It would be tough to plan a family reunion without the use of a website.
Having one saves time and provides an easy way to communicate with a large group of people.
In this article, we provide recommendations on what information to have on your family reunion website. We also provide a list of features that you should have to create a more engaging experience for your attendees.
So what information should you have on your family reunion website?
Planning Update
Make sure to have a page on the website that provides an update on the planning process of the family reunion. Regular updates on what has been accomplished and what needs to be done will keep your family reunion attendees engaged in the conversation.
Registration Information
If you want to save a ton of time, then post all registration information online. Instead of emailing each family reunion attendee individually, everyone can have access when they need it. Posting registration details online will save you from answering dozens of phone calls requesting the same information.
Committee Information
There should be a page on the family reunion website that lists the names and contact information of all the committee members. Having this information on the website will prevent confusion about who’s doing what. Related article:”What are the most common family reunion committees”.
Meeting Minutes
After every family reunion planning committee meeting, post the minutes for everyone to be able to read. You’d be surprised at how many people actually read and follow what happens during the committee meetings. This is another great way to keep your family reunion members participate in the conversation.
Hotel Information
Make sure to get group hotel rates early on in the planning process. Family reunions tend to take up more than 10 rooms at a time and qualify for group rates at hotels. In securing a block of hotel rooms, your family reunion will save money and will also enjoy perks like free hotel rooms, a hospitality suite, and free breakfast. Post hotel details, directions, and until the number to make reservations. If the software allows, add a Google map to the page so folks can get directions easily.
Activities And Games
Create a separate page that lists all the activities and games have been planned for both adults and kids. This is also the place to list any entertainment like clowns and magic shows for kids. Entertainment, such as Broadway shows, and information on how to reserve tickets should also be mentioned.
Newsletter
If you’re creating a family reunion newsletter, then copy and paste the content onto a separate page of the family reunion website. It’s a great way to bring everybody up to date on the latest family developments
Family History
Almost every family reunion website has a section on family history. Make sure to research yours and then post in as much detail as possible a chronological history. You can post different articles written by other family members, or scan old newspapers and post them on the website as well. Often, family history is the most read portion of the website so make sure to make it great.
Family Tree
Many family reunion websites will have a family tree that shows the various connections between the entire family. It makes a great visual for kids and help them better understand their relationship to other members of the family.
Family Album
Photos delight everyone so make sure to post as many as you can on your family reunion website. If you can, create separate albums for each tree of the family so it’s easier to follow and track.
Family Blog
Every family has at least one member that can write well. Ask this person to volunteer as a writer for the family reunion blog. At this person update the latest family information, accomplishments, awards and any other miscellaneous family related items. The blog can also serve as a great way to make announcements pre-and post-family reunion.
Fun stuff
Ideally, you want a page where you can post information that shows off how unique your family is. A family cookbook with recipes is something that we posted on the website to show off our diverse talents. Other ideas include placing links to various family member websites, businesses, and charitable organizations that were near and dear to our hearts.
Fundraising
While fundraising information can go under the “Reunion updates” page above, it should be given it’s own area to stress the importance of raising funds. Use this page to update the family about the latest fundraisers, directions to events, monies raised and how much is still needed.
What features should you have on the family reunion website
Message Board
No family reunion website is complete without a message board. This is where all the action is when it comes to discussions, arguments, and even some actual reunion chatter. If you want to keep people engaged in the conversation about the family reunion, a message board will provide a great starting off point. Just remind everyone to be courteous and respectful on the boards.
Calendar
What do you do with a calendar on a family reunion website beside posting the date of the event. Well, you can use it to add everyone’s birthday including ancestors. This way, as the birthdays come up, everyone gets wished and the bonds that tie get stronger.
Take Payments Online
Family reunion websites now come with the ability to take credit card payments online. Gone are the days where you have to wait for everyone’s check to come by mail. You can now accept credit cards, PayPal, and Google checkout and have the funds show up in your account in less than two days. For more information, read “How to collect registration fees online“. For folks who don’t feel comfortable paying online, make sure to add a pay by mail section with your address.
Who’s Coming
As people register for the family reunion, update a page with a list of who’s coming. As more people commit to coming, it will influence those that are still on the fence about attending the family reunion.
Event Poll
Pulling your family reunion attendees with questions that you may have is a great feature for the website. You can ask questions about meal choices, activities or any other question that the family reunion planning committee may have. Having a poll on your family reunion website is the most democratic way to make decisions.
Contact Us
Make sure to have a contact us page so family members know who to contact with any questions that you may not have answered. As you get these questions, make a list of frequently asked questions and post it online so you can avoid having to answer the same questions again.
Don’t know if you can create your own website?
Nowadays, a family reunion website is an absolute necessity for any reunion. Creating one used to require programming knowledge but that is not the case anymore. There are several websites that are dedicated to helping you create an incredibly useful family reunion website with great design and functionality.
Our favorite vendor in this area is MyEvent.com. For around $15 per month, you can create a beautiful family reunion website where you can take donations, payments, blog, chat, and much more. For more information, click here.
Regardless of the company you choose to create your family reunion website with, the important thing is to get started. Creating a family reunion website will provide a great avenue of communication between the planning committee and the attendees.
What should you read next?
Since you’re looking at building a website, take a look at our family reunion website section.