Are you wondering what goes in a reunion memory book? The quick answer is anything you want. However, once you begin to plan your layouts, the task can seem a little daunting. Fortunately, LoveToKnow Scrapbooking has some ideas to help you get started.
Mission: What Goes in a Reunion Memory Book?
Reunions are a wonderful time to relive old memories and create new ones. They're also a perfect opportunity for scrapbooking. The challenge lies in figuring out how to capture the moments in organized layouts so your memory book doesn't become a mish mash of odds and ends.
Let's take a look at two of the most popular types of reunions and share some ideas on what to include.
Family Reunion Memory Books
Family reunion memory books are meant to be shared, so be sure to include photos and stories from each branch of the family tree.
Family Name Page
Not everyone at the reunion will share the same last name, but everyone will be connected somehow to the ancestral family name. Create a memory page using the family name as your main banner. Include interesting facts such as:
- The meaning of the name
- Where it derives from
- A coat of arms if you have one
Founding Family
A founding family page is the place to display photos and information of the main person or couple the family traces its roots back to. Include information such as:
- Birth and death dates
- Marriage license
- Where he and/or she hailed from
- Tidbits of information about the era they lived in
- How the people included on the page made their living
Photo Galleries
Photo galleries are the heart of any reunion memory book. You can approach organizing these pages in a number of ways. For example:
- Assemble pages by family. You can gather each individual family unit for a semi-formal portrait at the reunion, then add candid reunion snapshots of this branch to the page.
- Gather the entire group for one large family portrait.
- Display photos with an accompanying time line, from the beginning to the present. Don't forget to include names and bits of information about the people featured.
- It can be a lot of fun to record some of the family history by decades. Ask family members to bring old photos to the reunion, organized by decade. You can capture the way family members looked during the roaring 20s, groovy 60s, swinging 70s and more.
- A "Gone, but Not Forgotten" gallery might be a nice way to include recently deceased family members.
Family Chart or Tree
When deciding what goes in a reunion memory book, the single most sought after page is the one that features a family tree. Everyone enjoys seeing how they are connected to each other, and who their direct ancestors are. A page of this nature can become quite large, so you may want to "branch off" onto other pages or create a fold out in order to display the entire tree or chart at a glance.
Family Recipes
Many family reunions involve pot lucks. Ask family members to bring the recipe for their dish on a 3x5 inch card and use them to create a family recipe section.
Reunion Events
Many family reunions include fun events like picnics, contests and silly awards. This is a nice opportunity to do some journaling about highlights of the entire reunion.
Reunion Summary
Things to include on these pages:
- Where and when the event was held
- Record of who was in attendance
- List of special activities/events
- Current contact info for family members
Class Reunion Memory Books
Class reunion memory books can be similar to family reunion scrapbooks, but you can still tailor them to the specific theme. Class reunion scrapbooks can be bound fairly inexpensively at your local printers, and distributed to class members after the event for a nominal fee, including postage. You might also choose to compile the memories in a digital scrapbook everyone can view online.
Then and Now
When you think about your old classmates, the thing most of us are most curious about is how everyone looks now. A "Then and Now" gallery of photos is a fun way to bring everyone up to date.
Most Likely to...
Some class yearbooks include a section titled "The Girl/Boy Most Likely to...". It can be interesting to update the original with what each individual is doing now.
Old Friends, New Friends
If your graduating class was large, it probably wasn't possible to know or be friends with everyone. However, reunions give us a way to touch base with so many people that it's easy to strike up a friendship with someone you finally got to know better during the event. You can capture memories of both groups with a layout that includes old friends and new.
Current Contacts
The information gathered while putting the reunion together can be compiled in a class address section. Don't forget to add email addresses to the list of phone numbers and street addresses. Since most people keep their email wherever they move, this method of communicating is generally the most convenient.
Special Events
Did your reunion include any special events like a Sunday picnic or a Friday night ice-breaker? Give each event its own special layout. Include plenty of images and journaling to capture the memories.
Gone, but Not Forgotten
Just as with a family reunion memory book, a class reunion book might include a gallery of class members that have passed away. This is a nice way to honor lost friends and update everyone on their passing.
