Event Day
30+ specific award ideas — 10 serious honors and 20 funny categories — plus how to run the ceremony, what order to present awards, how to collect nominations, and what award materials to use.
Start with these — they set an emotional foundation that makes the funny awards land better.
Given to the oldest family member present. The most important award of the ceremony — present it with reverence.
Awarded to the couple married the longest. If multiple couples are close, award all of them.
The youngest baby or most recently born family member. Parents accept on the baby's behalf.
The family member who came from the greatest distance to attend. Show the distance on a map if possible.
Anyone who has attended every single reunion. If there are multiple, honor them all together.
The family member who knows the most about the family's history, maintains the family tree, or keeps old records and photos.
Given to all committee members. This should feel sincere and meaningful — not just a quick thanks.
Given to the person who best embodies the family's values — nominated by family vote in advance.
A younger family member who has achieved something impressive since the last reunion: graduated, started a business, etc.
A family member who has made a significant positive change in their life since the last reunion.
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Set up your reunion — then focus on the fun
Keep these lighthearted. Never give a funny award that could genuinely embarrass or upset the recipient — if there's any doubt, drop it.
The family member who consistently arrives after everyone else. Present with an alarm clock.
The person whose dish disappears first at the potluck every single year. A crown or 'Chef Supreme' sash works perfectly.
Self-explanatory. Award a certificate with all their children's names listed.
The person who looks most dramatically different — new look, lost/gained weight, new style. Keep it kind.
If there's any dancing, this one writes itself. Award at the end of the event.
For the family member who always takes home far too much food.
Variant of Always Late — specifically for the person who says '5 minutes' and arrives an hour later.
The family member who gets the music going and never stops moving.
Present with a large fork or spoon. Make sure the recipient has a good sense of humor.
The napper. Present with a travel pillow.
The one who always has a story. Give them a tiara or a small Oscar statue.
For the extended extended family member who showed up but seems unsure how they're related.
Track this by voting — who was always posting photos and getting other people in them?
For the family member who guards their signature recipe with their life.
The storyteller. Award a stopwatch or talking alarm clock.
The family member everyone calls when something doesn't work. Award a mini toolbox or USB drive.
The entrepreneur of the family. Fun to pair with a tiny 'CEO' nameplate.
The family member everyone goes to for advice. Award a tiny couch or notepad.
For the family member who still got lost despite having a phone with maps.
For the person who drove 12 hours, got a flat tire, and still showed up with a covered dish.
Schedule for 2:00–3:00 PM — after lunch, before energy fades. Total runtime: 25–35 minutes.
Before the ceremony
Gather all winners privately so they're not surprised. Have all award materials ready. Brief the emcee with winner names and a sentence about each award.
Opening (2 min)
Emcee gathers everyone's attention and introduces the awards ceremony. Brief acknowledgment of the day's highlights.
Serious awards (8–12 min)
5–6 meaningful awards presented with brief, sincere narration. Start with the Elder of Honor — it sets an emotional tone.
Funny awards (10–15 min)
10–15 lighthearted awards. Emcee's tone should be warm and roast-style, never mean. Read a funny description before announcing each winner.
Organizer appreciation (3–4 min)
Sincere recognition of every committee member by name. Have the full family applaud together.
Closing (1–2 min)
Brief closing remarks from the emcee or lead organizer. Transition to free time or final gathering.
Print at home or at a copy shop. Use a free Canva template. Sign by hand for a personal touch.
Available on Amazon in bulk. Classic look. 'First Place' style or custom 'Family Reunion' printed.
Plastic sash with a custom title. 'Best Cook,' 'Elder of Honor,' etc. Available on Amazon. Visual and shareable on social media.
Mini plastic trophies from a trophy shop or Amazon. Can be engraved with custom text for under $15.
Pinback buttons with custom text. Available on Zazzle or Amazon. 'Never Missed a Reunion' buttons are especially popular.
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Plan the awards ceremony and everything around it in Reunly
The best family reunion awards mix meaningful honors with funny categories. Serious awards: Elder of Honor (oldest attendee), Longest Marriage, Newest Family Member (youngest baby), Traveled Farthest, and Never Missed a Reunion. Funny awards: Always Late Award, Best Cook, Most Kids, Most Changed Since Last Reunion, Best Dance Moves, and Family Historian. The ideal awards ceremony has about one-third serious, two-thirds lighthearted — enough heart to be memorable, enough humor to be enjoyable.
Schedule the awards ceremony in the mid-to-late afternoon (2–4pm is ideal) when energy is still high but the main meal is done. Appoint an emcee — ideally your most naturally funny and warm family member. Prepare all award names and winners in advance. Announce each award with a brief description, then call the winner forward. Keep each presentation to 30–60 seconds. Total ceremony should run 20–35 minutes for 15–20 awards. Have physical awards (ribbons, sashes, certificates, or trophies) ready to hand to each winner.
Popular funny family reunion award categories include: Always Fashionably Late, Most Likely to Bring Drama (award a bottle of soap opera DVDs), Best Dressed (especially if casual dress shows up in formal wear), Most Kids, Most Changed Since Last Reunion, Biggest Appetite, Best Dance Moves, Most Likely to Fall Asleep in a Chair, Family Historian (the one who knows everyone's story), Shortest Reunion Story Ever Told, and Most Likely to Start a Family Business with Everyone Else.
Send a nominations Google Form 3–4 weeks before the reunion. List all award categories and ask family members to submit names with a brief reason. For funny awards, you can also pre-assign winners based on family knowledge rather than a formal vote. Announce the nominations privately — don't reveal winners until the ceremony. Have 2–3 nominations per award for categories where you'll do a vote, or pre-select for straightforward categories like 'Oldest Attendee.'
From awards to RSVPs to budget — Reunly organizes every detail so nothing falls through the cracks.