This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. #BestSummerMemories #CollectiveBias
Sometimes I see things on television and think it’d be so awesome to recreate them in real life. Besides eating lunch on the steps of The Met a la Blair Waldorf, I’ve always wanted to have a fabulous picnic. I’ve fantasized about having fabulous picnics in the park that are filled with sunshine, aesthetically pleasing watermelon slices and the picturesque tossing of frisbees. Sadly, the sun doesn’t like me very much, I hate watermelon and I suck at throwing frisbees and am scared of getting hit by them. I’m also terrified of bugs and, you know, bugs live outside and tend to gather near food.
As I thought about it more, I realized all of my dislikes and fears don’t need to kill my picnic fantasy. All I need is a shady spot, different foods and some alternative forms of entertainment. I don’t have a solution to the fear of bugs situation, but I’ve come to terms with occasionally sprinting away from bees and butterflies throughout the duration of the picnic. Anyway. These tips for planning the perfect summer picnic will help you create your perfect day in the sunshine (or shade). Plus, if you master them, you can have picnics with friends, families or even significant others whenever you so choose.
BEFORE
1. Send the invites out early.
No need for a super formal invitation, this can be as simple as a group text or! Remember, when you do send an early invite, be sure to send a follow-up reminder a day or two before for your particularly forgetful friends.
2. Create a Google Sheet to see who will bring what.
This is a dream for your Type A friends. Create a potluck style sign up sheet to see who can bring drinks, dessert, napkins, plates, sandwiches, etc. This will keep it budget-friendly for everyone involved.
3. Check the weather (and prepare).
We can’t always control the weather but we can prepare for it. If you anticipate rain, plan for a rain date or embrace it by bringing umbrellas and a waterproof picnic blanket. If it’s going to get a little chilly, bring blankets or remind your pals to bring their coats. If it’s going to be sunny (or even if it won’t), apply sunscreen before heading outside. As I type I am facing the consequences of not wearing sunscreen. It sucks. Wear it.
4. Pack some essential items.
Be sure to bring a stain remover stick, sunscreen, trash bags, and napkins or paper towels! These will definitely come in handy. Also be sure to pack utensils if you’re eating something that will require them. Sadly, for our picnic, we didn’t bring utensils so we ended up eating after the picnic at home. Don’t let that happen to you! Also, pack up as many of these essentials as you can the night before the picnic. It’ll save you a headache in the morning!
5. Create a picnic playlist.
Include some of your friends’ favorite songs and bands, current hits, and some classic throwbacks. You can also make it a collaborative playlist and have friends and guests add their own favorite songs to the list, this is a nice personal touch! Be sure to charge your speaker beforehand or to borrow a friend’s speaker in advance.
FUN & SPECIAL TOUCHES
1. Personalized drinks
While the big picture certainly is important, it’s all about the fine details. Before the picnic, pick up some Coca-Cola™ Share-A-Coke bottles! CVS even has a 2 for $3 deal when you use your CVS ExtraCare card, which is perfect for sharing! CVS also has a lot of great picnic essentials (I bought a cornhole game there!), so it’s a nice pre-picnic stop to visit up before you go.
There are over 1,000 names on Share-A-Coke bottles and, this year, there are even last names. These are also cool because who doesn’t love having their name on things?! Whenever I’m in any of those cliche souvenir shops I can’t help but scan the ugly flip flop key chains and shot glasses for my name, even when I have no intent of buying them. It’s just nice to know it’s there, you know? It’s even better when you’re name is on an ice cold Coca-Cola.
2. Bring pre-cut snacks and bring finger foods.
Let’s be honest–plastic knives can only cut through so much and you probably shouldn’t be hauling out a set of actual knives to a picnic. Try bite-size snacks or pre-cutting food in advance. I suggest bringing some healthy options like veggies or fruit and some more decadent ones, like some chocolate chip cookies!
3. Create a picnic hashtag.
Again, this is a perfect personalized touch. This will make it easy for everyone to find the photos in one place and easily look back on them! Try combining your friends’ names or initials or even an inside joke as a picnic name. I went simple for this picnic and did #BestSummerMemories. I found a small whiteboard to write it on to use almost as a picnic decoration.
4. Bring games.
Games are the best part of any picnic. You can bring some fun outdoor games like frisbee, ladder golf, corn hole or even badminton. Board games can also be a fun time, especially if your friends prefer the less athletic forms of entertainment (same here).
I like to always pack a deck of cards in my picnic bag, Bulls*** is one of my favorite card games to play with friends and it’s perfect for a picnic.
5. Spread a towel/tablecloth under your picnic blanket of choice.
If the picnic blanket you have (or the sheet you’re using as a blanket) is not waterproof, this will prevent any dew or rain from the night before from seeping through and creating a damp and unfortunate situation. Towels can be washed or a plastic tablecloth can be purchased and then tossed after the picnic.
After our picnic my blanket was pretty dirty, so be careful when using a blanket or sheet that you really love or one that is lightly colored!
AFTER
1. Instagram with the hashtag you created earlier!
While live-tweeting and spreading social media love during an event can be fun, it’s certainly more meaningful to do it after. Don’t be the person with their head buried in their phone on a sunny day with friends. Share your socials post-picnic or use them for next week’s #ThrowbackThursday.
2. Clean up!
Don’t be that guy. Toss any food that’s been sitting out all day. Recycle your empty bottles and cans. Throw your picnic blanket/towel in the laundry. Boom, it’s that easy!
P.S. Here’s where you can find the Share-A-Coke bottles at CVS!
What are some of your tips for planning the perfect summer picnic?
