Event Day
22 specific awards - Best Storyteller, Family Historian, Best Hugger, Funniest Relative and 18 more - designed so almost every family member has a shot at winning something. Includes a free printable ballot, trophy ideas, and a 20-minute ceremony script.
Every award here celebrates a personality, not an achievement - which means almost every relative has a real shot at winning at least one. Read each award name aloud, then the one-sentence description, then the winner’s name.
Whoever had the table laughing hardest - the one-liner specialist nobody can keep up with.
The relative who can make a grocery-store run sound like an adventure - everyone leans in when they start talking.
Honors the family member who came the farthest to be here. Read the city and miles aloud when you announce it.
The one who inherited her laugh, her recipes, or her way of fussing over everyone at the table.
The one who tells the same jokes, fixes the same kinds of things, or sits in his chair the same way.
New haircut, new baby, new house, new outlook - whoever showed up looking like a whole new chapter.
Earned on the dance floor - the relative who refused to sit out a single song.
Somehow looks great in every single group photo, even the candids. A natural in front of the lens.
The one who watches everyone’s kids, listens to long stories twice, and never seems to lose their cool.
You always know where they are in the room. A laugh you can hear two backyards over.
Whoever’s dish disappeared first at the potluck. The recipe everyone politely begs for and never quite gets.
Already taking notes, already has a venue in mind. The natural successor to this year’s organizer.
Knows every name on the family tree, every old address, every story behind the photos. The keeper of the record.
The relative whose hug lasts a beat longer than everyone else’s - and somehow that’s exactly what you needed.
The one cousin everyone hands their phone to. Fixes Wi-Fi, prints boarding passes, sets up the slideshow.
Surprised the whole family with something nobody knew they could do - sang, juggled, played piano, recited a poem.
Brought the single best thing on the potluck table. The dish that started the “who made this?” chain.
For the kid who kept everyone on their toes - in the best, funniest, most-stories-to-tell-later way.
Said something during the weekend that nobody’s going to forget. The quiet line that landed.
Dominated the cornhole bracket, the kickball game, or the sunrise hike. The one nobody wants to play against.
Knows everyone, introduces everyone, makes sure nobody is standing alone. The reason cousins twice-removed actually talked this year.
The youngest baby, newest spouse, or most recent addition. Parents or partners accept on their behalf - usually with photos.
🎉 With Reunly
Track RSVPs, meals, and the day-of schedule in one place
Print one per adult and older kid. Hand them out at check-in with a pen, set a basket on the snack table, and remind people to drop their ballot in before lunch.
Write the family member you nominate beside each award. Drop in the basket by lunch.
Your name: ______________________
You don’t need real trophies - but you do need something to hand each winner. Here’s what works at every budget.
Free Canva template, print at home or Staples. Sign by hand. The simplest, most foolproof option for all 22 awards.
Bulk on Amazon. First-place style or custom “Family Reunion” ribbons. Pin them to shirts for the group photo.
“Best Storyteller,” “Family Chef,” etc. Loud, visible in photos, hugely shareable on social media afterward.
Amazon or trophy shop. Engraved versions run $12–18 each. Best for the 4–5 most prestigious awards (Historian, Chef, Most Like Grandma/Grandpa).
Wooden spoon for Family Chef, tiny notebook for Historian, stopwatch for Best Storyteller, alarm clock for Loudest Laugh. Cheap, hilarious, memorable.
Run the awards mid-afternoon - after the main meal but before energy fades. Total runtime for 22 awards: 20–30 minutes.
Before guests arrive
Print one ballot per adult and older kid (free download below). Stack ballots and pens at check-in. Have award materials - ribbons, certificates, or trophies - sorted and labeled.
Check-in / morning
Hand each guest a ballot as they arrive. “Vote anytime today, drop it in the basket by lunch.” Place a labeled basket somewhere obvious.
Lunch (tally)
Two volunteers tally votes during the meal. For pre-set awards (Longest Distance Traveled, Newest Family Member), winners are already known - no tally needed.
Opening (2 min)
Emcee gathers everyone after dessert. “Before we wrap up the day - it’s time for the family reunion awards. We’ve got 22 to get through, so let’s go.”
Awards (15–20 min)
Read each award name, the one-sentence description, then announce the winner. Big applause, hand them their ribbon/trophy, quick photo, next award. Aim for 45–60 seconds each.
Closing (2 min)
“Give one more round of applause for everybody - and especially for [organizer name] for pulling this whole thing off.” That’s it.
“Next up - the Best Huggeraward. This goes to the relative whose hug lasts a beat longer than everyone else’s - and somehow that’s exactly what you needed. This year’s winner, by a landslide… Aunt Carol!”
🎉 With Reunly
Plan the awards ceremony and everything around it in Reunly
The best family reunion awards celebrate personalities, not achievements. Crowd favorites include Best Storyteller, Family Historian, Best Hugger, Funniest Family Member, Longest Distance Traveled, Most Like Grandma, Most Like Grandpa, Most Changed Since Last Reunion, The Family Chef, Best Dance Moves, The Connector, and Newest Family Member. The 22 in this guide are designed so almost every relative has a real shot at winning something.
Hand out printable ballots when guests arrive, collect them by lunch, then run the ceremony in the mid-afternoon (2–3pm). Appoint a warm, naturally funny emcee. Announce each award with a one-sentence intro, call the winner forward, and hand them a ribbon, certificate, or small trophy. Plan 30–60 seconds per award - the whole ceremony should run 20–30 minutes for 22 awards.
Print one ballot per adult (and older kid) with all 22 awards listed and a blank line beside each. Hand them out at check-in, collect by lunchtime in a shoebox or basket, and tally during the meal. For categories that don't need voting (Newest Family Member, Longest Distance Traveled), pre-select winners and skip the tally. Keep winners secret until the ceremony.
You don't need real trophies. Printed certificates ($0.50 each), ribbon rosettes ($1–3), and custom sashes ($4–8) all work beautifully. If you want a 'trophy' feel, mini plastic trophies from Amazon run $8–15 each. For a creative twist, theme the prize to the award - a wooden spoon for The Family Chef, a tiny notebook for Family Historian, a stopwatch for Best Storyteller.
From awards to RSVPs to budget - Reunly organizes every detail so nothing falls through the cracks.