How can I avoid awkward situations at family reunions with family members that don't know I'm IN the family?

I was adopted in 5th grade.
My extended family aunts/uncles and cousins are cool with me.
But once it gets more extended than that, nobody seems to remember that I’m in the family. Sometimes, they haven’t even HEARD of me.

Last year’s reunion was very awkward. I got called my cousin’s wife numerous times.

I felt like I was being judged after they heard the “She was adopted into the family a few years ago” story.

How can I avoid that this year? Or am I doomed to suffer through another weekend?