6 Tips For Planning The Perfect Picnic

I’m always down for a fun twist on date nights. While I love checking out a new dinner spot any chance I can get, planning an “activity” for a date is always my favorite. From outdoor concerts to evenings at the arboretum, spending time outdoors with a special someone is always so romantic.

Planning a picnic is super fun and easy, but today I want to share some of my favorite tips to plan the perfect picnic. From packing a portable picnic table for preventing wine spills to wearing the right outfit to sit comfortably, keep reading for my favorite date night picnic tips!

1 – Bring A Portable Picnic Table

Ever since my mom introduced us to the portable picnic table, this has been essential for all of our outings. There’s nothing worse than knocking a wine glass all over your blanket due to uneven ground, so the picnic table is clutch! I recently found the perfect table, and I’m so excited to share it with you all! This gorgeous mango wood table by Harpel is my absolute favorite. It’s foldable and fits perfectly in my Neverfull tote bag, but the quality design makes it so study and durable! Plus it fits one bottle of wine, four wine or champagne glasses, and plenty of snacks too! By keeping your plates lifted, you’re also preventing annoying bugs from discovering your food. Not only is it practical, but it’s so pretty too! (Note: I’m currently giving away TWO of these beautiful picnic tables on my IG feed today. Click here to enter to win one for yourself OR wrap it up and give it to a friend for Christmas!)

2 – Pack Light Bites To Eat

If I’m having a picnic, the last thing I want to do is dive into a messy meal or something that requires a fork and knife. My typical picnic includes a savory cheese plate, chicken salad, a couple sides of fruit, and something sweet like cookies or brownies. Occasionally I’ll toss in a couple sandwiches, but I’ve found I always buy too much food and it usually goes to waste – so a smaller menu is always best! Of course I always add in a bottle of wine (don’t forget the wine opener) or champagne, plus a bottle of Pellegrino too.

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3 – Choose A Thick And Waterproof Blanket 

Though any blanket will serve its purpose, I like choosing a thicker blanket to add extra cushion and keep grass from poking through. My sister got the perfect blanket for the Veuve Clicquot Polo classic that’s padded on one side and waterproof on the other. Game changer!

4 – Don’t Forget The Essentials

If you’re serving wine or champagne, don’t forget to pack the right glasses to avoid sipping bubbly out of solo cups. There are so many cute plastic wine and champagne glasses for sale these days, so stock up on those for outdoor outings! I also love finding pretty enamel plates to use for picnics that are light and easy to carry. Lastly, switch up your boring paper napkins with some pretty cloth napkins for an extra touch.

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5 – Choose The Right Outfit 

If you’re spending the evening outside on the ground, this isn’t the occasion to  pull out your favorite mini dress. Choosing a maxi/midi dress, romper, or comfy jeans will make the night much more comfortable! Also, I love packing a pashmina or light jacket for when the sun starts to set.

6 – Bring A Portable Speaker 

Unless you’re heading to an outdoor concert, don’t forget a portable speaker to set the mood. The Jawbone JAMBOX speaker is my personal favorite, but you can’t go wrong with any!

Do you guys have any favorite picnic essentials that we need to try? If so, let us know in the comments below!

While this post was sponsored by Harpel, the opinions expressed are my own.