Frequently Asked Questions

🗓️ Reunion Overview

Q. What’s the reunion schedule and dates?

2026 Shepherd Reunion Event Schedule

Thursday, July 16, 2026
🏡 Lodging Check-In @ Eagle Cottages in Gulf State Park | 4:00pm
20111 State Park Rd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542

🤝Meet-n-Greet @ Woodside Restaurant in Gulf State Park | 4:00 – 6:30pm
20249 State Park Rd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542

Thursday, July 16, 2026 | 7:00 – Until

🪑🍹Kickback @ Eagle Cottages Lawns (BYOB)

♠️Spades Tournament First Shuffle

20111 State Park Rd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542

Friday, July 17, 2026 | 5:00 – 9:00pm
🧺 Picnic @ Gulf State Park Pavilion
🃏 Championship Shuffle

22250 E Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542

Saturday, July 18, 2026 | 12:00 – 2:30pm
🍴 Luncheon @ Gulf State Park Learning Campus

🏆Crowning the Champions of Spades

20249A State Park Rd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542

Saturday, July 18, 2026 | 3:00pm - Until

🏖️📸Free Time - Enjoy Gulf Shores at your Leisure

🪑🍹Kickback @ Eagle Cottages Lawns (BYOB) - PM Time TBD

Sunday, July 19, 2026 | 9:00 – 11:00am
🍳 Brunch @ Woodside Grill in Gulf State Park
20249 State Park Rd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542

Q. Who’s Invited & Can We Bring a Guest?

We’re thrilled to welcome all family members connected to the Shepherd, Jones, Coleman, and Grove families to this year’s reunion! 💛

Guests are welcome too! If you’d like to bring someone special, please note that reunion fees apply if they plan to participate in any or all of the scheduled activities.

Just bringing a guest for one event? No problem! Reach out to the committee for a special one-event rate and payment link tailored to your plans.

🛍️ Welcome & Arrival

Q. When and where will we receive our Welcome Bags?

You have three convenient opportunities to pick up your reunion swag:

Early Bird Pickup – Thursday, July 16 4:00 PM – 6:30 PM
📍 Woodside Restaurant
The Host Cottage – Friday, July 17 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 Host Cottage
Picnic Check-In Table – Friday, July 17 Starting at 4:00 PM
📍 Gulf State Park Pavilion – Check-In Table

Q. Do I need to bring anything to the picnic?

🏖️ The Gulf State Pavilion is just steps from the sandy beach, so feel free to bring your lawn chairs, beach towels, umbrellas, and favorite seaside gear.

Q. What can I expect at the picnic?

Get ready for good vibes and great company! 🎶 We’ll have catered food, a lively DJ, a photographer capturing the fun, plus table games, card games, and family history trivia to keep everyone smiling. Come hungry, come curious, and come ready to play! 🧺

Q. What type of food is being served at the picnic & luncheon?

Picnic - Local Food truck serving fried fish, and other favorites.

Luncheon - Moe's Original BBQ will be serving their famous ribs and other fan favorites.

Q. Does the Park allow alcoholic beverages?

Yes—with a twist! 🍷 While alcohol is permitted, glass bottles are not. So, if you're planning to sip something special, leave the clinking bottles at home and bring out the flasks or cans instead. Let’s keep it classy and park-friendly! 🥂

📝 Registration & Payments

Q. Is registration mandatory for all attendees?

Yes, each individual (2+ YRS OLD) planning to attend must complete a registration form. Registration is
required to ensure accurate planning for activities, meals, and other arrangements.

Q. What activities are included in the reunion registration fee?

The Meet and Greet on Thursday, the Picnic on Friday evening and the Luncheon on Saturday afternoon. This leaves ample time to city site-see on your own or participate in a group activity or two.

Q. How does the registration work?

Go to the PAY HERE Page on the reunion website to complete your order:

Click the image of the package you need (Adult or Child).
A new checkout page will open where you select your t-shirt design.
Have your design number(s), sizes, and quantities ready—each design must be added separately.
After selecting one package, always hit the BACK button to return and add the next package.
Watch your basket count as you go! Your cart should reflect the total number of attendees.

Example:
If your family includes 2 adults and 2 children, you should add:

2 Adult Packages
2 Child Packages
Your cart should show: 🛒 4 items

Once your basket shows the correct number of packages, you’re ready to hit CHECKOUT and complete your registration! PLEASE NOTE: that your registration is not complete until payment has been processed.🎉

Q. What’s the registration deadline?

Registration deadline is May 31st. Contact your local host if you still need to register after that time.

Q. Can we make installment payments for the registration fees?

Yes—you’ve got options! 💳 We’re offering two flexible, interest-free payment plans to make things easier:

PayPal – Split your total into 4 interest-free payments
Afterpay – Also offers 4 interest-free payments

Whether you're budgeting ahead or spreading out the cost, we’ve got you covered. Just select your preferred method at checkout and you're good to go! 🙌

Q. Are there any payment options that don’t incur processing fees?

Yes! 🎉 You can avoid processing fees by choosing one of these two options:

Check – Mail your payment directly.
Zelle – Send your payment using the reunion email address.

👉 Important Notes for Zelle Users:

You must already be enrolled in Zelle through your bank’s online app.
Once you submit your order, you’ll receive an invoice.
When sending your Zelle payment, be sure to include your invoice number in the memo line so we can match it to your order.

📌 Example Flow:

Order Email: Confirms your registration and total amount.
Zelle Transaction Memo: “Invoice #2026-045 – Shepherd Reunion Registration”
Final Receipt: Sent once your payment is received and matched.

This option keeps things simple, secure, and fee-free! 💸 Let us know if you need help locating your invoice number.

🎉 Optional Activities & Extras

Q. How can I sign up for self-funded group activities?

You can select from the suggested activities on the sign-up sheet. Prices vary, so please review interested activities website for details.

Q. What types of T-shirts are available?
We have multiple Reunion T-shirt options with the 2026 Logo. All of the T-shirts are Double-Sided with a back image. PLEASE ENSURE WHEN PLACING YOUR ORDER, YOU MAKE THE CORRECT SELECTIONS ON THE REUNION LABELS, AS WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REFUND OR HAVE ADDITIONAL DOUBLE-SIDED PRINT T-SHIRTS ON HAND!!

Q. Why are we doing fundraisers and is participation Mandatory?

Fundraisers help us keep reunion costs manageable while adding extra fun, flair, and support for shared expenses. 🎉 While participation is not mandatory, it’s highly encouraged—every contribution makes a difference! Visit the Fundraiser Campaign page to explore upcoming efforts and discover how you can pitch in, whether it’s buying merch, sharing a link, or joining a challenge. Let’s build something beautiful together! 💛