5 Tips for Planning a Family Reunion in the Texas Hill Country

Thinking about planning a family reunion, but have no idea where to start? Luckily, at Cedar Lodge Texas, we’re no stranger to these types of events and we know what it takes to plan a reunion the whole family will enjoy.

Nestled in the heart of the Texas Hill Country along with beautiful Lake Buchanan, Cedar Lodge Texas has become a popular destination for all types of reunions. With 13 hand-built Texas lake cabins, there’s plenty of room for the entire family. Each of our log cabins varies in size and can fit between 4 and 14 people. Plus, every cabin includes a kitchenette, private bathrooms, and a screened porch or covered outdoor picnic area. It’s no wonder Cedar Lodge Texas is a popular choice among guests planning a family reunion.

If you’re thinking about organizing your own family reunion, read on for our Top 5 Tips for planning a successful family reunion in the Texas Hill Country.

1. Choose a Venue for All Generations

When choosing a venue for your family reunion, it’s a good idea to consider everyone’s needs. In other words, you should be looking for a place that has activities for all age groups, young and old. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself before booking a venue for your family reunion:

• Is the venue suitable for children, including babies and toddlers?
• Are there activities to keep children busy and having fun?
• What about those teens and young adults? Are there activities to keep them entertained as well?
• And what about your seniors? Is the venue accessible for elderly family members?
• Is there an air-conditioned space where they can sit and enjoy everyone’s company?

Take a look at each of the age groups that are attending and consider what venue amenities would make them more comfortable and ensure they have a great time.

Aside from amenities, you’ll also want to consider the location. It’s best to select a venue that is close to everyone, but especially elderly family members and families with young children. It can be difficult for young families and the elderly to travel far distances, so try to keep the venue close to where they live. That way, you’ll ensure the highest turn out for your reunion.

Aside from amenities, you’ll also want to consider the location. It’s best to select a venue that is close to everyone, but especially elderly family members and families with young children. It can be difficult for young families and the elderly to travel far distances so try to keep the venue in close proximity to where they live. That way, you’ll ensure the highest turn out for your reunion.

2. Book Your Venue Early

After you’ve found the best reunion venue for your family, it’s time to lock in your date. Because reunion reservations are often for large parties, it’s essential to book your site far in advance. We highly recommend booking your venue at least one year ahead of time. By booking early, you’ll make sure you get the place and date of your choice.

Luckily, we’ve found that many reunion venues will accept reservations up to a year ahead of time. Most of our reunions at Cedar Lodge Texas booked during the summer months for the following summer. By booking early, you can easily avoid any frustration or disappointment. Plus, as a bonus, you’ll have an easier time finding a date that works for everyone since most people won’t have plans scheduled that far in advance.

3. Get Skin in the Game

Now that you’ve decided on a venue and date, you’ll want to get buy-in from the rest of your family. The last thing you want is to book a site and then have people drop out last minute. Get your families to commit before you turn in a deposit for your venue. Reach out to all of your family members early on. Ask them to decide by a specific date (you could even have them RSVP), and then have them back that decision up with a deposit. Doing this will help you avoid unnecessary stress down the line, as well as provide you with enough funds to pay the deposit on your venue.

Although it may be difficult for some families to make a decision or financial commitment a year in advance, this must happen early on. Doing so will ensure a successful family reunion and a happy coordinator. If you don’t have an early decision and a deposit from all of your attending families, you will likely spend a lot of your time chasing people down. In the end, you’ll be exhausted and unable to enjoy the reunion you worked so hard to plan.

4. Create a Promotional Item

You booked your venue, your families have committed, and you paid the deposits. Now for the fun part! It’s time to start thinking about a fun promotional item for your reunion (because everyone loves a good reunion souvenir). Fortunately, there are tons of online stores selling all sorts of promotional items for every kind of budget. From water bottles to t-shirts to koozies, there’s no shortage of unique things to surprise your family with. Give your family a gift that will remind them of their joyful reunion memories well into the future.

When deciding on a promotional gift, keep these tips in mind. First off, you’ll want to choose something everyone will enjoy, and that’s suitable for all ages. T-shirts, cups, water bottles, and hats are all excellent options. Secondly, be sure to take advantage of any discounts for bulk ordering. Get a final count of attendees and look for ways you can save money by ordering a large quantity of the same items. Lastly, come up with an excellent design for your item. We recommend including your family name, the date, and the location so your family can remember the reunion for years to come.

5. Share the Work

Last but not least, don’t do it all yourself! Far too often do we see a select few doing all of the logistical work that it takes to make a reunion happen. Share the workload, and don’t be afraid to lean on some additional family members for help. Come up with a list of tasks and divvy them up among family members. Do this before and during the reunion.

Assign different family members to plan tasks, like coordinating with the venue, sending out invitations, or ordering supplies. During the reunion, let each family take turns cooking a meal or ask different family members to come up with an activity for the day. By allowing everyone to play their part and help out, your family will feel even more involved and connected. Plus, it ensures everyone shares the work, and no one person feels too overwhelmed to enjoy themselves.

By following these five tips, we guarantee you’ll have a spectacular family reunion that every family member will look back on fondly. If you’re thinking about planning a family reunion, consider Cedar Lodge Texas, as your venue.

You’ll love everything our resort has to offer. To inquire about reunion rates and availability, please fill out the Reunion form found here, and we’ll send you all the information you’ll need to make your reservation. Join us in the heart of the Texas Hill Country for your next family reunion! And if you have any questions about planning your family reunion, don’t hesitate to ask. We’re always happy to help!

Or, click the button below and be redirected to our reunions page where you can request more information about hosting your upcoming Texas family reunion at Cedar Lodge by filling out our contact form!