Tips for hosting a family reunion on a budget

There’s no time like family time. With summer heating up, the moment for family reunions is upon us. What’s better than cooking out, playing games and bringing up embarrassing memories? 

Planning a summer family reunion can seem like a daunting task when trying to stick to a budget. As families grow and travel costs increase, having a great party can get harder and harder without breaking the bank. This year, try some of the tips below to help your reunion come off without a hitch, under budget!

Planning your reunion in advance has several benefits. First, you can often find cheaper rates on things like hotels, venues and travel. Secondly, planning in advance allows everyone the opportunity to ask for vacation time and save the necessary funds for travel or to contribute to the budget for the party. 

If you know you want to host your reunion in the summer, consider lining up as many details as you can in the fall. As an additional benefit, by the time the event rolls around, many of the large-ticket items will already have been paid for, allowing you to rest easy and focus on time with family.

Group rates on hotels, airfare and other rentals can save you big money when planning your reunion. Consider carpooling on vehicle rentals and working with hotels to book group accommodations well in advance. 

Many airlines and lodging companies offer good discounts for groups, and by doing a little digging, you’ll be able to save money that you can use for other fun things like games and delicious foods.

Catering companies can cost a lot. Depending on your family’s locations and the location of the event, it may be worth choosing to have a potluck dinner instead of a catered one.

Potlucks will help you disperse the cost of the food across the entire family, reducing the overall burden on everyone. Also, it’s an awesome opportunity to rehash some old family recipes, do a recipe swap, have a cook-off or gossip about that weird aunt’s “fruit cocktail.”

If you’re really trying to pinch pennies and keep the reunion on a budget, try skipping out on unnecessary expenses. Instead of sending fancy paper invitations, try sending out email invites or creating a group or event on social media. 

Having a family reunion website or social media group page can be much cheaper than sending out printed invites and notices, and it allows everyone to interact ahead of time and build some excitement. You could even post pictures from past events, polls or family trivia questions to get everyone hyped up.

Having fun doesn’t have to be expensive. This year, try skipping the moonbounce and jetski rentals and instead opt for yard games and challenges that everyone can enjoy. Whether you get a pickleball set for the yard or have a bocce ball tournament, find creative and social ways for everyone to get into the game and share some laughs.

It's all about family

At the end of the day, it’s all about the moments you make together. Having a budget for your family reunion—and sticking to it—is a great way to make sure the event stays low stress and fun, just the way it should be. Memories made from family gatherings like these are truly priceless and always worth the investment!