Virtual & Hybrid
Platform comparison, 7 virtual activities that actually work (not just video chatting), technical tips, how to run breakout rooms, hybrid reunion planning, and how to collect photos from a virtual event.
Recommendation for most families: Zoom. It's the most familiar, has the most features, and elderly relatives are most likely to have already used it. Upgrade to a paid plan for your event if you have more than a handful of attendees.
Best for: Most families
Pros
Most familiar platform, breakout rooms, screen sharing, recording, waiting room
Cons
40-minute limit on free tier, some elders need technical help
Best for: Google-centric families
Pros
No time limit on free tier, easy to join via browser, no download required
Cons
Breakout rooms require paid plan, less feature-rich than Zoom
Best for: All-Apple families
Pros
Seamless for iPhone/Mac users, no account needed
Cons
Apple only, limited to 32 participants
Best for: Large, tech-comfortable families
Pros
Virtual space with moving avatars, join/leave conversations naturally, feels social not like a work call
Cons
Steeper learning curve, not ideal for elderly relatives
Best for: Tech-savvy younger families
Pros
Persistent server, voice channels, text chat, video
Cons
Very unfamiliar to older family members, not suitable for multi-generational use
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Reunly helps you coordinate virtual and in-person reunions from one simple dashboard.
Structure is the difference between a virtual reunion that people remember and one that feels like a work meeting. Each activity below has been tested and works for multi-generational groups.
Use Kahoot (free) or a shared Google Form for a live trivia game. The host reads questions, family teams submit answers via chat or a form. Prepare 20 family-specific questions in advance. See our icebreaker games guide for 20 sample family trivia questions.
Agree on a family recipe in advance and cook it together on camera. Choose something simple — a signature dessert, a classic side dish. Walk through each step together. Everyone ends up with the same dish, and the parallel cooking is surprisingly intimate.
The host shares their screen and plays a slideshow of old family photos while narrating. Pause for family members to share memories attached to specific photos. Prepare the slideshow in advance using Google Photos, Canva, or iMovie.
Each family or person gets 2 minutes to share something meaningful: a family heirloom, a recent project, a pet, their view from the window, or a family photo on their wall. Gives everyone a moment of focus and generates genuine conversation.
Survey family members in advance using a Google Form, then run a Family Feud game using the responses. Use a shared screen to show the 'board.' Divide into teams and let them compete. The same format as in-person, but with a screen-shared scoreboard.
Send family branches into Zoom breakout rooms for 15–20 minutes of branch-only conversation, then return to the main room to share highlights. Each breakout group gets a prompt: 'What's the best thing that's happened in your family since we last gathered?'
A family member gives a video tour of a meaningful location: the family home, their town, a family cemetery or historical site. Works especially well for families with roots in another country or city that others can't visit easily.
The emcee should not also manage mutes, admit people, and share screens. Assign a second person to handle all technical tasks so the program host can focus on the family.
Send the Zoom link in advance and encourage elderly relatives to test it. Offer to get on a practice call with anyone who is unsure.
Background noise from 50 family members destroys audio quality. Mute all on entry, then unmute for activities. Ask everyone to mute themselves when not speaking.
If the host loses their connection, who takes over? Designate a backup host in advance and give them co-host permissions.
Video call fatigue is real. A 90-minute virtual reunion with a structured program is more enjoyable than a 3-hour unstructured call where half the family has zoned out.
A printed schedule with the Zoom link written out in large text (include the meeting ID and password) dramatically helps older relatives participate successfully.
Hybrid events — where most family members gather in person while some join virtually — are challenging but worthwhile when travel is impossible for some relatives. The biggest mistake is treating virtual attendees as an afterthought.
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Organize Your Virtual Reunion — From Zoom Link to Guest List
Reunly keeps the Zoom details, the schedule, and the RSVP list in one place.
Hosting a virtual family reunion requires: (1) choosing the right platform (Zoom works for most families), (2) keeping it to 60–90 minutes maximum — longer sessions lose attention, (3) having a structured program rather than unstructured talking, (4) using breakout rooms for smaller family group conversations, (5) including at least one activity (virtual trivia, a slideshow watch party, or cooking together), and (6) designating a technical host who manages mutes, admits people, and handles screen sharing while the emcee focuses on the program.
Zoom is the most widely supported and easiest for multi-generational families. It allows breakout rooms, has a reliable free tier (40-minute limit for free accounts; upgrade for $15/month for the event), and most older relatives have now used it. Google Meet is a good second choice if your family is Google-heavy. Gather.town works well for larger reunions that want an interactive virtual space where avatars can move and join different conversation groups. Avoid Discord for multi-generational use — it's unfamiliar to older relatives.
The key to a fun virtual family reunion is structure and activity — not just video chatting. Include: a structured icebreaker activity, at least one game (virtual trivia, Family Feud, or Kahoot), a planned program segment (family history video, slideshow, or special guest), breakout rooms for smaller family conversations, and a clear start and end time. The biggest mistake is setting up a Zoom call and hoping conversation happens naturally — it rarely does without facilitation.
Breakout rooms let you split a large Zoom call into smaller groups for more intimate conversation. Assign breakout rooms by family branch — each branch gets 15–20 minutes in their own room to catch up, then everyone returns to the main room. Give each breakout group a conversation prompt to use if conversation stalls. Zoom allows the host to visit any breakout room, which is helpful for checking on groups. Pre-assign rooms in Zoom settings so you don't have to sort people manually during the call.
Reunly keeps guest lists, RSVPs, and schedules organized whether your reunion is in a park or on Zoom.