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Free Template

Family Reunion Vendor Confirmation Email Template

Confirm every detail before the day arrives - in writing.

The most common family reunion disasters trace back to one source: a vendor miscommunication that nobody caught until the day of the event. The caterer who showed up with the wrong headcount. The DJ who had the wrong end time. The photographer who thought setup was at 1 PM, not noon. A vendor confirmation email sent 1 to 2 weeks before the event closes these gaps. It creates a paper trail, surfaces discrepancies in time to fix them, and gives both parties a shared document to reference if anything goes wrong.

Template: Caterer Confirmation Email

Subject: Confirmation - [FAMILY NAME] Family Reunion, [DATE] Hi [CATERING CONTACT NAME], I'm writing to confirm the details for our event. Please review and reply to confirm everything looks correct on your end. EVENT DETAILS Date: [DAY, MONTH DATE, YEAR] Location: [VENUE NAME], [ADDRESS] Your arrival/setup time: [TIME] Service period: [START TIME] – [END TIME] Breakdown / departure: By [TIME] HEADCOUNT Confirmed guests: [NUMBER] adults, [NUMBER] children [Note: I will send a final confirmed count by [DATE - e.g., 72 hours before]] MENU CONFIRMED [MENU ITEM 1 - e.g., BBQ brisket (full tray)] [MENU ITEM 2 - e.g., Grilled chicken (full tray)] [MENU ITEM 3 - e.g., Corn on the cob (100 ears)] [MENU ITEM 4 - e.g., Baked beans, mac & cheese, coleslaw (half trays)] [MENU ITEM 5 - e.g., Rolls and butter] [MENU ITEM 6 - e.g., Lemonade and iced tea station] DIETARY ACCOMMODATIONS [X] guests require gluten-free options - please confirm how this is handled [X] guests are vegetarian - please confirm vegetarian protein option [SEVERE ALLERGY: e.g., 2 guests have nut allergies - please confirm no cross-contamination] WHAT YOU ARE PROVIDING [X] Serving utensils [X] Chafing dishes and sternos [X] Disposable plates, napkins, and cutlery - [CONFIRM: included or not?] [ANYTHING ELSE FROM CONTRACT] WHAT WE ARE PROVIDING [ANYTHING THE CLIENT IS HANDLING - e.g., Tables, linens, coolers for drinks] PAYMENT Agreed total: $[AMOUNT] Deposit paid: $[AMOUNT] on [DATE] Balance due: $[AMOUNT], by [DATE / upon completion / other] Payment method: [CHECK / CREDIT CARD / ZELLE / OTHER] Please reply to confirm these details are accurate. If anything has changed or if you have questions, please contact me at [PHONE] or [EMAIL]. Thank you - we're looking forward to working with you! [YOUR NAME] [YOUR EMAIL] [YOUR PHONE]

Template: Photographer / DJ Confirmation Email

Subject: Confirmation - [FAMILY NAME] Reunion Photography/DJ, [DATE] Hi [VENDOR NAME], Confirming details for our upcoming event. Please review and reply to confirm. EVENT DETAILS Date: [DAY, MONTH DATE, YEAR] Location: [VENUE NAME], [ADDRESS] Your arrival time: [TIME] (please arrive by this time for setup) Coverage / service period: [START TIME] – [END TIME] Breakdown / departure: By [TIME] YOUR DELIVERABLES [For photographer: e.g., 4-hour coverage, edited digital gallery within 3 weeks] [For DJ: e.g., 3-hour set, MC duties for group photo and dinner announcement] KEY MOMENTS TO CAPTURE/ANNOUNCE [TIME]: [e.g., Group family photo - the most important moment of the day] [TIME]: [e.g., Dinner opening announcement] [TIME]: [e.g., Awards / recognition ceremony] [TIME]: [e.g., Closing remarks] SPECIAL REQUESTS [SPECIAL REQUEST 1 - e.g., Song list / do-not-play list for DJ] [SPECIAL REQUEST 2 - e.g., Must-photograph family members for photographer] PAYMENT Agreed total: $[AMOUNT] Deposit paid: $[AMOUNT] on [DATE] Balance due: $[AMOUNT] on [DATE or occasion] Please reply to confirm these details. Contact me at [PHONE] or [EMAIL] with any questions. [YOUR NAME]

Critical Things to Confirm With Every Vendor

  • Exact arrival time - not 'around noon.' Specify the time they need to be on-site and set up.
  • What they are providing vs. what you are providing - equipment, supplies, tables, linens.
  • Cancellation and refund policy - confirm it matches what's in the contract.
  • Who to call on the day of the event if there's an emergency - get a cell number, not just the office.
  • Final payment amount and due date - confirm both parties agree on the balance.
  • Any access or parking requirements at the venue - do they need a loading dock, elevator, or special permit?

How Reunly Helps You Manage Vendors

Reunly keeps all your vendor information - contacts, contracts, confirmed details, and payment status - in one place. Instead of hunting through email threads to find what you agreed on, everything is organized in your Reunly dashboard and accessible to your full planning committee.

  • Vendor contact storage - caterer, photographer, DJ, venue all in one place
  • Budget tracking tied to vendor payments - know what's paid and what's outstanding
  • Dietary restriction aggregation from RSVP data - ready to share with your caterer
  • Final headcount pulled live from RSVPs - no manual counting
  • Co-planner access so your whole committee can see vendor status

🚀 With Reunly

Skip the template - let Reunly handle this automatically

Reunly manages your vendor details and tracks payment status so you don't have to copy and paste from a template.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When should I send vendor confirmation emails?

Send confirmation emails to all vendors 1 to 2 weeks before the event. This gives you time to resolve any discrepancies before it's too late. For caterers specifically, confirm the final headcount 72 hours before the event, and again the morning of if they need a final number for on-site setup.

What details should I confirm with a caterer?

Confirm: final headcount and per-head pricing, all dietary restrictions and allergy accommodations, setup and arrival time, what they're providing vs. what you need to provide (serving utensils, chafing dishes, tablecloths), breakdown and cleanup responsibilities, and payment due date and method.

Should I get vendor confirmations in writing?

Yes - always. Even if you talked on the phone, follow up with an email summarizing what was discussed and ask them to reply confirming the details are accurate. Email creates a record you can reference if anything goes wrong.

What if a vendor doesn't respond to my confirmation email?

Call them directly and then follow up with another email. If you cannot reach a vendor within 48 hours of a pre-event deadline, escalate - have a backup plan ready. A caterer who doesn't respond to a confirmation email a week before your event is a serious concern.

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