Today on the blog, I am sharing tips for how to create the perfect summer picnic. I’m covering picnic essentials, picnic food ideas, what to wear, and how to make your picnic more sustainable. Whether you’re taking your picnic to your local park, a beach, or your own backyard, these ideas will definitely inspire you to grab your picnic basket and dine al fresco.
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The essentials
First things first, the essentials. Make sure you stock up on the essentials before heading out. There’s nothing worse than arriving to your destination and realizing you forgot forks or something else important.
- Picnic basket – there are so many adorable vintage picnic baskets you can find secondhand. I got mine from Facebook marketplace! You can also check Etsy for great vintage options.
- Picnic blanket – Personally, I don’t think you have to go out and get anything special for a picnic blanket. I just used a regular cotton throw blanket from Target. However, just be careful to make sure that the ground isn’t wet, you don’t want the water soaking the blanket while you’re trying to enjoy your snacks! This will take some planning ahead. Or, you can opt for a waterproof blanket (like this one) if you don’t want to worry about it.
- Portable speaker – make sure to pack a portable speaker and queue up a great playlist to make sure the vibes are immaculate.
- Cups, flatware, plates, and napkins.
- SPF – Yes, you need SPF. My favorite is from Cocokind (affiliate link).
Picnic food ideas
The food is obviously the main attraction here. No picnic is complete without some good food, snacks, and drinks.
Sandwiches – we had Caprese sandwiches, my fav. Sandwiches are the ultimate picnic food because they’re simple, easy to make and transport and eat.
Snacks – If you’re like me and you can’t resist a cheese board, go for it! All you need is some cheese, grapes, nuts, jam, crackers, etc. You could also pack fresh fruit, pasta salad, crudités, and fresh bread. The grocery store is your oyster. I am planning another picnic with a couple of my friends soon and we are planning on ordering a pizza!
Dessert – Macarons are a nice touch for dessert. You could also bring cookies, pastries, or even a cake if you’re feeling fancy.
Drinks – Don’t forget your beverages! Water is a must for obvious reasons, especially in hot weather. You could also bring juice, sparkling water, wine, or lemonade.
What to wear
For a feminine look, opt for a lightweight midi dress for your outdoor picnic date, like my Hill House nap dress (affiliate link). But whatever it is you choose to wear, the most important thing is that you are comfortable.
Tips to make your picnic less trashy
You’re outside your home on a picnic, but that doesn’t mean you have to create a bunch of waste with single-use disposables! No shame here if you do, but here are some tips if you want to create less waste while picnic-ing al fresco.
- Go for beeswax wrap instead of plastic saran wrap.
- Bring reusable napkins, straws, flatware, and plates instead of disposable ones.
- Bring reusable snack bags like Stasher bags instead of plastic baggies.
- Consider purchasing some of your food from your local farmers market.
- Make sure you clean up before heading out – littering is not tolerated!
That’s all! I hope you enjoyed this post on how to curate the perfect summer picnic. Hopefully this guide was helpful – if I missed any crucial tips please let me know!
xoxo,
Kyndal
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