With summer fast approaching, it’s finally time to emerge from our homes and enjoy the beauty of nature. If you have a backyard, you can use your outdoor space for an adorable picnic celebration. A picnic is the perfect way to commemorate anything from the start of a new season to holidays such as Memorial Day or Mother’s and Father’s Day. You could also use a picnic to celebrate a graduation, birthday, promotion, or any other exciting life event. Here are some tips to help you throw a charming backyard picnic.
Provide comfortable places for guests to sit.
Your guests will need places to relax while enjoying their food outdoors. Don’t invest in expensive furniture for your backyard party – you can find many things to use at a local garden, homeware, or hardware store. Try taking the furniture you have and accessorizing it with cute pillows and blankets, and then get some extra cushions and throws that your guests can lay out. Be sure to mow the lawn, too – many guests won’t mind relaxing on a well-trimmed lawn.
Fill up some classic picnic baskets.
The fun of a picnic is packing your basket full of food, so by presenting your meal in a classic wicker basket, your guests will be instantly charmed. The fun of a picnic is that the food doesn’t need to be complicated – go for easy snacks like fruit, cheese, crackers, and sandwiches. If your guests are of age, be sure to include some wine; if kids are attending, include lemonade or cider. If you have a grill or outdoor kitchen, you can make the menu more exciting by adding burgers, hot dogs, or grilled chicken.
Set the mood with some music.
Having some music playing in the background of your gathering will make the event feel special and encourage guests to socialize. You can opt for any genre you know your guests will like, but classical, jazz, soul, or light pop music all fit the charming theme of a picnic. Top everything off with music. Bluetooth speakers are an added feature and are very easy to install when connecting to your phone.
I have a few party games on hand.
After eating, you’ll likely want to have fun playing some games. There are tons of great casual backyard games that you can set up with minimal effort. A game of tag or catch is the simplest, but if you want to make things a bit more exciting, you could set up horseshoes, Twister, or a bean bag toss. Games are particularly vital to having children and adults at your picnic party; this will allow kids to let off some steam while the adults relax and socialize.
Keep your guests cool.
If it gets hot where you live, be sure to have some ways for your guests to stay cooled off. Set up seating under a tree in your backyard, or put up some umbrellas if you don’t have any backyard foliage. You can also buy some affordable paper fans, which help guests cool off and make excellent party favors. If the temperature starts to get sweltering, keep some ice packs around, and be sure to follow the cold drinks flowing.
A picnic is the perfect backyard event to celebrate any occasion this summer. Not only is it a truly charming idea, but it is also effortless and affordable to set up. Picnics are fun for both kids and adults and allow you to enjoy the weather and your surroundings.