A practical guide to family reunion shirts: surname and family tree designs, color coding each branch, collecting sizes from relatives, a budget per person and when to order.
Family reunion shirts work best with the family name large on the front, the year and place underneath, and one shirt color per branch of the family so relatives can find each other in a crowd. You can order them with no minimum, so a reunion of 12 or 120 gets the same price per shirt. This guide is for the cousin who volunteered to handle shirts: design ideas, color coding, collecting sizes and a realistic budget per person. You can build and preview the design on our design your own family reunion shirt page.
What should go on family reunion shirts?
Family reunion shirts usually include four things: the family surname, the word "Reunion" or a phrase like "Family Strong," the year, and the city or park where everyone meets. Optional extras include a family tree graphic, a photo of the grandparents who started it all, or a short motto that the family repeats every year.
The surname should be the biggest element. Relatives in the back row of the group photo should still be readable, which means letters at least 2 inches tall on the front. The year and location go smaller underneath. If the family has a saying, like "Together Since 1962" or a blessing from grandma, it fits nicely on the back where it has room to breathe.
Two practical tips from the families we print for. First, check the spelling of the surname with the oldest relatives, because some branches spell it differently and that becomes a debate at the picnic table. Second, avoid putting a specific age on the shirt for a grandparent unless they are proud of it.
How do you design a family tree or surname reunion shirt?
A family tree reunion shirt works when the tree is simple: one trunk with the founding couple's names, and five to eight main branches labeled with their children's names. More levels than that shrink the text below a readable size. Full color printing lets you add leaves, gradients or a photo in the trunk without any extra cost.
A surname design is easier to read and fits more families. Popular layouts we see:
- Arched surname: "The Delgado Family" curved over an oak tree, with "Reunion 2027" below.
- Badge or crest: an original crest shape with the surname, the year the family settled in Florida, and two small symbols that matter to them, like a palm and a cooking pot.
- Photo centered: the grandparents' wedding photo in a circle with the surname around it. Our guide on how to put a photo on a shirt covers scanning and cropping old prints.
- Roots theme: a tree whose roots spell out the country or island the family came from.
Send a draft to two or three relatives before you order. Somebody always notices a missing branch or a name spelled wrong, and it is far easier to fix a file than to explain the omission at the reunion.
How do you color code family reunion shirts by branch?
Color coding family reunion shirts by branch means each of the founding couple's children and their descendants wear one shirt color, while every shirt carries the same front design. Relatives can spot their own branch instantly, younger cousins learn who belongs where, and the group photo turns into a colorful family map.
| Branch | Shirt color | Back print idea | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grandparents | White | "Where It All Began" | Stands out in the center of the photo |
| Branch 1: Maria's family | Royal blue | "Team Maria" | Bold color reads well at a park |
| Branch 2: Jose's family | Red | "Team Jose" | Strong contrast against blue |
| Branch 3: Carmen's family | Kelly green | "Team Carmen" | Distinct from the other two |
| Branch 4: Luis's family | Gold or yellow | "Team Luis" | Bright and cheerful on camera |
| Married in relatives | Same as their branch | Their own first name | Keeps them part of the branch |
Check that your design looks good on every color you plan to use. Black artwork disappears on navy, and yellow artwork fades into a gold shirt. The live preview in our reunion shirt designer shows the design on each real shirt color, so cycle through them before choosing. A design with a white outline around the text usually works across all branch colors.
How do you collect shirt sizes from relatives?
Collect shirt sizes from relatives with one shared online form or spreadsheet that lists every household, then assign one contact person per branch to fill in their branch. That person chases their own brothers, sisters and kids, which works far better than one organizer texting fifty cousins individually and keeping track of the replies.
- List every household first. Start from last year's invite list or the family group chat.
- Name a branch captain. One person per branch collects names, sizes and payment for their group.
- Ask people to measure. Have each relative lay a shirt they already like flat and compare it to the size options, so they pick a size instead of guessing.
- Set a deadline with a reason. "Sizes by May 1 so shirts arrive in time" gets a better response than "as soon as you can."
- Order a few extras. Two or three spare shirts in medium and large cover the cousin who shows up unannounced.
Elderly relatives often do not use forms, so the branch captain should call them directly. If anyone is unsure about sizing, call us at (954) 280 0627 before ordering so we can talk it through.
How much do family reunion shirts cost per person?
Family reunion shirts from Imperial Custom Apparel start at $25 per person with a full color front print. There is no minimum order, so the price per shirt stays the same whether 8 or 80 relatives order. Adding a back design with branch names raises the per shirt price, and the designer shows your exact total before you pay.
Here is illustrative math with a front print only, before shipping:
| Reunion size | Price per shirt | Illustrative total |
|---|---|---|
| A small gathering of 12 | $25 | $300 |
| A typical reunion of 40 | $25 | $1,000 |
| A big reunion of 80 | $25 | $2,000 |
Many families charge each household the cost of their shirts and have the reunion fund cover the grandparents. To get the real number for your family, build the shirt in the online design tool and check the price before checkout. If you want the bigger picture on what drives the total up or down, read how much a custom shirt costs.
When should the reunion organizer lock in the shirt design?
The reunion organizer should lock in the shirt design about a month before the reunion and place the order a couple of weeks ahead. Orders ship within 2 business days, but transit time is extra, and family size collection always takes longer than planned. A locked design stops last minute edits from delaying everyone.
A schedule that works for most families:
- Six weeks out: mock up two or three options in the shirt designer, screenshot the previews and let the family chat vote.
- Four weeks out: lock the design and open the size form.
- Two to three weeks out: close sizes, collect money, place one combined order.
- Reunion week: hand out shirts by branch in labeled bags.
If the reunion is in South Florida, local pickup in Hollywood, FL avoids transit time entirely. Families flying in from other states can still receive their shirts at home, since we ship anywhere in the US.
Where can families order reunion shirts with no minimum?
Families can order reunion shirts with no minimum from Imperial Custom Apparel, a full color print shop in Hollywood, FL, in the Miami area. You design online, see the shirt in each color before paying, and a real person checks the file before it prints on industrial Kornit machines.
- Pick your shirt, color and size for each branch in the designer, from $25 with a full color front print.
- Branch names or a family motto can go on a back design in the same order.
- No minimum, so a cousin who signs up late can order a single shirt at the same price.
- Orders ship within 2 business days or can be picked up locally, and shirts are reprinted or refunded if they arrive damaged or misprinted.
When the family agrees on the design, start the order on our design your own shirt page. First time using a shirt designer? Read our guide to designing a shirt online.
Frequently asked questions
How many family reunion shirts do I have to order?
There is no minimum for family reunion shirts at Imperial Custom Apparel. You can order one shirt or a hundred, and the price per shirt stays the same, starting at $25 with a full color front print. Different branch colors and back names can all go in the same order.
Can family reunion shirts come in different colors for each branch?
Yes, family reunion shirts can come in a different color for each branch with the same front design. Choose each shirt color in the designer and check the live preview to make sure the artwork reads well on every color, especially dark artwork on navy or yellow artwork on gold.
Can I print an old family photo on reunion shirts?
Yes, an old family photo prints well on reunion shirts when the scan is large and sharp. Scan the original print at 600 dpi or higher and aim for a file near 4500 x 5400 pixels. A real person checks every file and will flag a photo that is too small before printing.
How far ahead should we order family reunion shirts?
Order family reunion shirts two to three weeks before the event when possible. Imperial Custom Apparel ships within 2 business days, but transit time is extra and collecting sizes from relatives usually takes longer than expected. Local pickup in Hollywood, FL removes transit time for South Florida reunions.
Where can I order family reunion shirts near Miami?
Imperial Custom Apparel prints family reunion shirts in Hollywood, FL, about 20 minutes from downtown Miami. Design online with no minimum, from $25 per shirt, then ship anywhere in the US or pick up locally. Call or text (954) 280 0627 for help planning a large family order.
One design, every branch of the family, no minimum
Full color family reunion shirts from $25 on 100% cotton, previewed on each shirt color before you pay and shipped within 2 business days. Text or call (954) 280 0627 to plan a big family order.
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