Custom Family Shirt Ideas for Every Occasion
Every great family shirt follows the same simple formula. Here it is, with ideas and sayings for fourteen occasions and the practical details that make a whole family match.
By the MatchingTee team4 min read
Matching family shirts look complicated from the outside: a dozen sizes, three generations, one group chat. But every good one follows the same short formula, and once you have it, the only question left is the occasion.
The formula
- The occasion, big and clear: "Cruise Squad", "Family Reunion", "Christmas Crew".
- The family name, so strangers know whose party it is.
- The year, so the shirt becomes a souvenir.
- One personal line per person: a name, a role or a joke.
Keep the personal line short so it reads in a photo; most of our designs take 19 to 99 characters, depending on the design.
Ideas and sayings by occasion
Christmas
The biggest matching-shirt season of the year. Pick a joke theme or a classic crew design and personalize each shirt.
- Christmas Crew [year]
- The [Family name] Family Christmas
- Most likely to eat all the cookies
- Santa's favorite
- Official cookie taste tester
Shop matching family Christmas shirts, funny Christmas shirts and Christmas pajama shirts.
Halloween
- The Boo Crew
- Big Boo / Little Boo
- Spooky season squad
- Here for the candy
- Boo Boo Crew (for nurses)
Shop matching family Halloween shirts.
Cruises
- Cruise Squad [year]
- The [Family name] Family at Sea
- Vitamin sea, all week
- Most likely to miss the port
- Birthday Cruise Crew (for a birthday at sea)
Shop family cruise shirts and read our family cruise shirt ideas.
Family vacations
Frequently asked questions
What should I put on a custom family shirt?
Should family shirts have names or roles?
How do we get sizes right for a whole family?
How long do custom family shirts take?
Shop the look
Family Reunion designs to personalize
Round Tree Family Reunion 2026 Shirt
FromOriginal price $21.29
Written by the MatchingTee team
We design, print, embroider and pack every order at our studio in Stafford, Texas, and we write about what we learn from helping families and groups match. Questions? Email info@matchingtee.com.
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