It's easy to get nostalgic about family, especially when yours is spread far and wide. Who else but your relatives would laugh at the story about Dad getting his head stuck between the banister railings or the disco routine your cousins boogied to at that summer talent show? Sure, we keep in touch through letters, phone calls and e-mail, but it's not the same as spending time in person. Fortunately, we've got a foolproof cure for the long-distance blues--an old-fashioned family reunion. A reunion lets family members gather at a neutral spot, under conditions far less stressful than the usual milestone events like funerals and weddings. Plus, if you get creative with the location, a reunion can be a vacation as well as an opportunity to reconnect.

Getting excited? We thought so. A little worried about how to make it and you've also got us. Whether your gathering is for 25 or 250, our step-by-step guide can help answer your questions, from what to include on the invitation to how to create a reunion T-shirt. We promise you good times, great food and unlimited fun.

Writer Jodi Picoult is a frequent contributor to FAMILYFUN.