Reunion Decorating Ideas

While we may concede that there is such a thing as the end of an era, it doesn’t mean we can’t revive it from time to time just for fun! This is especially true when you’re talking about shared experiences and planning reunions of any type.

Start your search for the perfect reunion decorations with a school yearbook or photo albums. What was particularly memorable? Was your basketball team the best in the state during your senior year? Has your family or class shared a favorite hangout or trip? Themed decorations can help you recreate the setting, from beachfront to big city lights.

If your group is too big for universally-shared memories, just change your focus a little. In that case, go with a theme that reflects the larger culture of your favorite time, for example taking inspiration from the most popular movie or song of the senior year. (Was a cool James Bond film released that year? See our Casino theme decorations and Madison Avenue party supplies for classic Bond settings and giant martinis!)

Other theme decorating ideas:

• Go retro! Decorate for the decade you grew up in, such as 60s flower power or the 70s disco scene.
• Use party decorations in your school colors
• Tailor decorations to reunion activities; for example, if home movies will be a big feature during the get-together, you might select a movie theme

Reunion Party Supplies Must-Haves
Theme decorations kit: Free-standing large theme pieces give kapow to your entrances, divide spaces in a stylish way, and set the scene for photographs. Also visit the Table Settings page in the Tableware department for ideas on bringing your theme to your tables.

Life-sized cutouts: Are you spotlighting certain family members, former classmates or other reunion group members for special recognition? Pull photos of the ways you like to fondly remember them for life-sized cutouts to place near entrance, stage or podium. (It can be even more fun to select people randomly.)

Fabulous Favors: Customize key tags or photo buttons for a unique keepsake from the reunion.

Reunion Party Supplies Special Tip
Reunion parties can be a little different from other parties in that the planners will probably want to include displays. Newspaper clippings, family tree diagrams, photographs of members who have passed, even time capsule contents might be artifacts to share with the rest of the group.

At the very least, you’ll need a table or two near the entrance for name tags (if needed), yearbooks or photo albums, mailing list signups and so forth. Be sure to plan early on for incorporating theme colors and elements (table covers, balloon bouquets, centerpieces) into displays — they’re too important not to!

Organize a Neighborhood BBQ

 

Neighborhood BBQ, Hula Couple Photo Prop

Start Planning A BBQ Bash

Just how well do you know your neighbors? Invite them for food, fun and games and you will start to build a stronger neighborhood relationship. Now with Spring in full swing, you can be the spark to ignite a great grill-out with backyard party supplies and scrumptious foods that bring your neighbors together.

Neighborhood BBQ By Invitation Only 

The key to making your neighborhood BBQ a success is to start with custom invitations. Each invitation should indicate the date, time and location of the BBQ. Check with city and or village officials about the possibility of having a “block party” or having the event in a neighborhood park. Another choice is your backyard. It’s up to you.

Organize & Howdy Your Neighbors

Personally delivering the invitations makes sure they fall into the right adult hands and will have more meaning to your party’s purpose of creating neighborhood harmony. The invitation should also ask the neighbor to bring a dish to pass and or bring their own meat to grill. Are they to provide their own tableware? You could step in by providing ECO green tableware . The tableware is biodegradable, which is good for the neighborhood.

Include Kids at the BBQ

Your neighborhood is not complete without kids. Keep children & tweens busy and happy before those salad forks start flying with an assortment of kids party games . It’s hard to beat “Pin-the-tail on the Horse” or “Race Car Wheel Water” game. Parents will have fun playing along too. The games are ice breakers for kids and adults alike.

Something to Take Home to Remember Your Neighborhood BBQ

Give your neighbors more to take home then just their empty dish-to-pass and a foiled covered plate of “green marshmellow jello surprise.” Neighbors will love your choice of barbeque peanuts. They’re crispy and crunchy party favor treats. Be sure to get plenty for those who just couldn’t wait until the main course.

BBQ Post Scripts

Be sure to RSVP all the neighbors to find out what dish they will bring to pass. Give them choices of fruit salad, potato salad, dessert, etc. This way not everyone will bring their “green marshmellow jello surprise.” Consider preparing these dips recipes for chips and veggies. You’re going to have fun and build a stronger, more unified neighborhood. It’s just takes a little grillin’, the taste of barbecue and some planning. Go for it!

Fantastic Decorations for a Family Reunion Party

A family reunion is the perfect event to center around a fun party theme. It makes it much easier to decorate and plan activites. For example, a Western theme would be perfect for all ages with a square dance and decorated with haybales and bandanas! If you decide not to have a theme, here are some casual yet festive decorations that are sure to have your family members begging you to plan another reunion next year!

Outdoor Decorations:
• Greet your long lost relatives with an impressive balloon arch at the entrance of your party.
• Many times a reunion centers around the celebration of a birthday or a landmark anniversary. Make it truely a special occasion by hanging a Personal Photo Memories Mural in a prominant place. By having your own special photo on this you are making your reunion a very personal experience for all who attend!

Indoor Decorations:
• If you are decorating a large area, or want to make any area look more intimate and festive, drape and swag our gossamer across ceilings, walls, and the edges of table skirting. Twist two colors together for a stunning look.
• Never underestimate the power of decorating with Balloons, as they can transform any size room into a cozy space in minutes at a very low cost. You can choose to inflate balloons with helium, but you need not think that is the only option. In order to save money, inflate hundreds of balloons in colors to match your theme without using helium. Tie a 6-8 foot piece of curling ribbon to the end of each one. Using scotch tape, masking tape, or straight pins, hang balloons down from the ceiling so they hang at different lengths. Curl the loose end of the ribbon with scissors.

If you are hanging the balloons in a gymnasium, or large hall, cut the ribbon to a length appropriate for the height of the ceiling. A very cost effective means to transform a large space into a much more intimate one, is to hang the balloons down from different spaces all over the area you are decorating.

• Whether you are indoors or outside, there are so many ways places to hang lighted paper lanterns to create a wonderfully soft-lit atmosphere!

Table Decorations & Napkins:
• We offer a large selection of table covers, cups, plates and cutlery. These are available in just about any color, so you’re sure to find something perfect for your particular reunion setting.
• For an old-fashion picnic setting, try gingham tablecovers and coordinating ensemble. These alone set the stage for a great family picnic in the park!
• Order personalized napkins and have them imprinted with your party slogan and design of your choice. Select a metallic or foil imprint. The napkins will serve several purposes – great decorating in disguise and a delightful memento of the party that can be saved in scrapbooks for years to come!

Napkins can be laid out on a buffet table, or displayed at each place setting.
Place napkins in the center of each place setting at an angle, or unfold them and place them in Personalized Stadium Cups for a tall festive look.

Welcome family with a Personalized Family Tree Autograph Banner and have them sign the banner before they leave for a wonderful keepsake.

Check out our other Family Reunion TipZ and all of our Family Reunion Supplies.

Activities for the Whole Gang at a Family Reunion

Our Family Tree Standee (pictured right) makes a great decoration and activity. Have people put together the family tree with names written on tissue leaves to the best of their abilities. Award a prize to the person who knows your genealogy the best!

Create a Family Time Capsule
Include:
Pictures
Old videos of family events
A new video with predictions or plans for the future

Make lists of each persons:
hobbies
favorite movie
favorite sports player
favorite star
favorite songs

Create lists of:
historical events
news headlines
famous people in history

Other Games:
• Favorites of the Decade.  Have the family select their top 10 favorites in a variety of areas.  Top 10 sports persons, top 10 politicians, top 10 historical events, top 10 movies, top 10 TV shows, top 10 fads etc.  Share everyone’s selections and create a unified family list.
• Game Day.  Create a personalized family Charades Game.
• Video Memory.  Let all family members know ahead of time that they will be asked to share with the group what they are thankful for.  Encourage family members to write down their answer.  Before you eat, have everyone read aloud why he or she is thankful and videotape each person for posterity.
• Family Trivia Quiz.  Create your own family trivia game.  Starting early, create simple multiple-choice questions concerning each family member.  The questions can be simple or more difficult.  You might ask favorite foods, music, or colors.  Name of first pet, first grade teacher, childhood teddy bear, etc.  Let each family member see how well they know his or her family.  For fun, structure it from easy to hard like the TV show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”.
• Create a family scrapbook.  Have family members bring photos from the past few years and get started on a new book for the new year!
• For a craft for the children, there are several craft kits that make a perfect quiet activity that is sure to keep them busy for a while!

Gather the Family with Family Reunion Invitations

Holding a family reunion is a fun and exciting time! Whether it is the first annual event or the 75th year for a reunion, this day is a very special event. Start your planning by selecting a theme. Use your imagination! Once the theme is selected, the invitations, decorations, food, and other details are much easier to plan.

Themes can be something related to the family name or the theme can be more specific like a Western theme, Fifties theme, Casino Night or something similar. A picnic or a beach theme are very popular and work well for a large group of people as well.

Invitations:
Once you’ve decided a theme, you want to choose the invitations. There are tons wonderful imprinted invitations that would be perfect to send out for a fun and whimsical family reunion.

• A Celestial Magic Stars Invitation and a Dancing Universe Invitation would be a perfect choice for either a formal affair or a more relaxed casual atmosphere. Try our Fun in the Sun Invitation for a summery look.

• An inexpensive Beach Ball invite is always fun especially for a summer reunion. Write the party details in permanent ink and deflate for mailing. Your family will surely know that this party will be a ball!

Party Favors for a Family Reunion Event

Send your guests home with something that will make them remember this special celebration for years to come. Here are a few party favors to consider!

• Check out the huge selection of personalized glassware. We carry flutes, goblets, mugs, and snifters in a multitude of sizes, shapes, style and color options. Guests can drink water, soft drinks, etc. from a special glass, then take the glass home and fondly recall the party every time they see the glass.

• We also carry parfaits, dessert dishes, and candy dishes. All will add a lovely touch to your tables. Tie a small piece of curling ribbon, gossamer streamer, or even a party horn to each stem (attached with metallic garland) for a festive look. The glassware can also hold a gathered cloth or paper napkin to create a tall dramatic look at each place setting, or on a buffet table. Glassware filled with candy, mints, or chocolate treats or with metallic shred to match your theme colors also creates a terrific table accent.

• Give guests frames imprinted with special party details. We stock a huge variety of personalized frames, in a wide array of sizes, colors and styles. If your budget is limited, try an imprinted acrylic frame. When the party is over, the frame can be filled with a photograph. Either use a Polaroid™ camera to send a picture home with each of your guests, or mail souvenir photos at a later date with thank you notes for gifts. Make sure that you have plenty of film on hand, so that you can take lots of pictures of the couple with each family/couple/ or individual in attendance.

• One of the most economical and fun favors we offer is a bottle of personalized bubbles. The label on our bubbles can be imprinted with your theme or special design graphic, in your color of choice. The bubbles look great on tables as a stand-alone favor, or you can tie a piece of Curling Ribbon in an accent color to the neck of the bubbles. For more formal occasions, the bubbles are just as much fun and a great table accent when wrapped elegantly! Cut circles out of gossamer, netting or tulle (9″ in diameter). Place the bubbles in the center of the circle, wrap and tie with a 12″ length of thin satin ribbon or curling ribbon.

• Favor boxes also provide an economical table accent. They can be filled with candy, mints, nuts or toy trinkets for each guest. If you are filling the boxes with candy, select candy in a color that complements the colors you will be using for your other decorations. To save money on the volume of “treats” you will need to fill each box, start by filling each box with some metallic shred or a little gossamer “puddle” in a coordinating color.