Choosing a personalized family keepsake: names, wording and year

Agree on the exact wording before choosing a family keepsake. Check the surname, event name and year together, especially when several households are ordering the same design.

Read the words already in the artwork

A design that says “Family Reunion” will still say that unless the listing offers a change. Check which words are fixed and which you can personalize.

Our family reunion ornament uses reunion wording. Check its current options before choosing it for another occasion.

Check names together

Do not assume everyone shares a surname. For blended families or a gathering across several branches, a shared event name may fit better. Agree on spelling, accents, punctuation and capitalization before placing the order.

A character limit tells you how much text a field accepts. Long names may still need smaller lettering. Check the whole block of text at the intended print size, including the space around it and its alignment with the artwork. Shorten the wording if the name becomes hard to read.

Choose the year

Decide whether the year refers to the gathering, an anniversary or another milestone. If the year is optional, leaving it off may suit a keepsake you will use after the event. Follow the listing instructions rather than assuming the current year will be added.

Keep a copy of the approved wording

Use the wording-check sheet below to record:

• The exact name or shared event wording.
• Year and location, if the design supports them.
• Fixed words that will remain in the artwork.
• Accents or symbols you have checked with the seller.
• Who checked the spelling and the final order details.

Look at how the listing labels its images. An artwork preview shows the design; a photograph of the finished item can also show its material and print. Check what one purchase includes and what the listing says about proofs and edits.

ReunionGoods website examples do not transfer your choices to Etsy. Copy the checked wording into the Etsy order, then confirm the quantities and delivery details before paying.