How to Host a Stylish Family Reunion!

Looking for inspiration for a stylish family reunion? We got it here! Elegant table setting ideas, free printables, and ideas for displaying your special family photos. Sometimes family reunions can look – how do I say this – a little cheesy? I wanted to find a way to celebrate family (after all, it’s so wonderful when everyone can be together) while keeping it sophisticated and chic.

Summertime holds so many family memories of gathering with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins while sharing family stories and enjoying favorite recipes. I spent so many summers in South Carolina where my grandparents taught me how to make the perfect peach cobbler, the tea was just a little sweeter, and you never saw a rocking chair empty! These family gatherings around the table were the perfect yearly “family reunion”. So I styled a summer-themed family reunion to share as inspiration!

I wanted a casual yet sophisticated design for my family reunion so I paired classic black and white with garden hydrangeas on a white farm table. Beaded white dinner plates were topped with a black and white striped salad plate. Recreate the look with any combination of white or black serveware. You can pair a simple white salad plate on top of a black dinner plate or all white on a black charger. Read on for more details…

My centerpiece was a simple DIY! A craft store wooden box was painted white and filled with various glass bottles and mason jars. Each jar was filled with hydrangea blooms. I used clothespins to clip on cherished family photographs. We loved looking through the old photos and laughed all night long! The photos are a detail I carried throughout the design because we so often forget to pull photographs back out and enjoy them! I chose all black and white photos to keep in color scheme (I just love the look and feel of old photos).

Family reunions and gatherings can often lead to some awkward “What is her husband’s name again?” and “Where does Uncle Joe live now” conversations. Keep it easy breezy by clipping on a place card (you can make this a name tag if you really want to make things official) with each guest’s name and current city as well as a photograph to keep. You can try your hand at calligraphy for these or grab a fun font online. I used Le Veronique which I absolutely love! Each place setting also had a small black and white striped favor box of mini Walker’s Shortbread cookies!

My “Celebrate Family” logo (you can download it for free below) was used to create simple drink flags (wrap around bamboo skewers). These can also be placed on toothpicks or lollipop sticks for a simple dessert topper too! The possibilities are endless!

Delicious treats are a must at every family celebration! Make it personal and encourage the family favorites. Maybe that’s Grandma’s Brown Sugar Pie (yum!) or Aunt Betsy’s Key Lime Pie. I love serving a childhood favorite that’s fitting for summertime so shortbread s’mores (think s’mores but 10x better) were a must. I’ve included the cute “Celebrate Family” ribbon graphic in the printable set (end of the post) so you can print it and add it to cake stands or a tiered tray like I did. Tip: I love using adhesive dots from the craft store to easily adhere these items. 

To encourage passing on of those beloved family recipes, ask each guest to fill out an enclosed recipe card with their invitation. They bring it with them and you can make copies for everyone as a sweet post-celebration gift! I also love packaging up a stack of recipe cards with ribbon as a little favor too. I’ve included my recipe card (below) in the free printable set too! Hooray!

Speaking of notes on the invitation, if you and your family love hashtags, then create one for your family celebration and include it on the invite! This is a great way to keep track of photos from the reunion!

Download the Family Celebration Printables {FREE}

Use a thick white cardstock for best results. You can also send these to an office supply store for printing. If you want to match the personalized elements of the printables to my designs, you can use Le Veronique or another calligraphy font. I’ve also included mini rounds which can be used as table scatter, to create a garland, or favor tags! Also note that the Menu has extra space above so it can be placed underneath the place mat like I did or a ribbon (or name tag) can be attached to the top.

Invitation Front | Invitation Striped Pattern Back
Mini Drink Flags
Recipe Card
Mini Rounds (Striped & Celebrate Family Logo)
Large Ribbon Sign
Large Rectangle Sign
Menu

I hope you’re inspired to host a stylish family reunion!