{"id":8665,"date":"2021-01-04T01:18:44","date_gmt":"2021-01-04T07:18:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenvelope.com\/blog\/?p=8665"},"modified":"2021-01-04T02:21:19","modified_gmt":"2021-01-04T08:21:19","slug":"backyard-picnic-ideas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenvelope.com\/blog\/backyard-picnic-ideas","title":{"rendered":"Backyard Picnic Ideas That Go Way Beyond Gingham"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A backyard picnic\u00a0is an adventure waiting just outside your backdoor. And with a little bit of preparation (and these backyard picnic ideas), picnicking in your own backyard\u00a0can be just as fun as picnicking in a park or at the beach. In fact, it can be even better because if you forget anything \u2014 guess what! \u2014 you only have to walk to the kitchen to get it.<\/p>\n

Backyard picnics\u00a0are also a great way to stay social and safe during the pandemic<\/a>. The outdoor setting means germs will spread less and guests can spread out more. We’ve rounded up our favorite backyard picnic ideas\u00a0from planning to decorating to picking out your picnic menu. Your backyard will be gingham-clad and ready to go in no time.
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Planning Your Picnic <\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Even if you’re picnicking at home, you’ll need supplies. You may be able to forgo the classic tote\u00a0or picnic basket\u00a0\u2014 after all, you can just carry your food and drinks out from the kitchen \u2014 but a picnic basket\u00a0will still make for adorable decor. We’ll put it in the “optional” supplies category. Having a comfy place to eat is less optional.<\/p>\n

Seating Arrangements<\/strong><\/h3>\n

For picnic seating, you’ll need to decide between a picnic blanket\u00a0and a picnic table. A picnic blanket\u00a0will feel more festive, which can help make your backyard feel even more like a picnic destination. But a picnic table\u00a0can be more practical. If any furry friends will be attending your picnic, you may want to keep your food off the ground (unless you have perfectly trained pups).<\/p>\n

Still torn between a picnic blanket\u00a0and a picnic table? There is a third option, and it’s one of our favorite backyard picnic ideas. Place a coffee table in the middle of your picnic blankets. That way, you’ll keep the food off the grass, but guests will still be able to sit on the ground like at a classic picnic.<\/p>\n

Guest List<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As you plan your seating, consider how many guests you’ll have at your outdoor picnic. If you’re having a backyard picnic in the time of coronavirus, make sure your yard has enough room for everyone to stay six feet apart. Provide hand sanitizer and ask guests to wear masks. To make food service safer, consider having one person serve everyone so that guests don’t have to touch the same set of servingware.<\/p>\n

Invitations<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Design: PrettyMeJoy<\/p><\/div>\n

Once you’ve decided on how many guests your backyard can accommodate, think about how you’ll invite them. If your backyard picnic\u00a0is more than a family affair, you can invite friends and neighbors with online invitations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Online picnic invitations<\/a>\u00a0not only announce your event but they also allow you to collect RSVPs so you know exactly how much food to prepare. You can even include survey questions<\/a>\u00a0for your guests. Surveys can help you keep track of guests’ food allergies or organize a potluck. This brings us to the next thing you’ll need to plan: food.<\/p>\n

Types of Picnic Food<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Think about the food you’ll serve at your picnic. You don’t need an exact menu yet \u2014 we’ll give you plenty of picnic food ideas\u00a0below! But consider whether you want to stick with cold picnic food (advantage: you can make it ahead and simply set it out at picnic time) or have a picnic BBQ\u00a0(advantage: hot food is often heartier). You should also decide if you’ll provide all the food or if you’d prefer each guest bring something.<\/p>\n

Pest Control<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Whenever you’re dining al fresco, you should expect to attract some uninvited insect friends. Many bug repellents shouldn’t be used near food. (It’s actually safer to eat the ants!) But you can create natural bug repellents<\/a>\u00a0by placing sliced citrus on your table or setting up a diversion, like a dish of sugar water, to attract flies to a different area in your backyard.<\/p>\n

Yard Games<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Decide if you want to make backyard games part of the fun.\u00a0There are lots of outdoor party games<\/a>\u00a0from croquet to corn hole that will keep your guests entertained before and after the food. An easy game that allows everyone to keep their distance is a hula hoop contest. Give everyone a hula hoop and see who can go the longest without their hoop falling. Don’t forget prizes for the winners!<\/p>\n

Weather<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One final thing to consider before you begin your backyard makeover\u00a0is the weather. For a 4th of July\u00a0BBQ\u00a0or a summer backyard picnic, you may want to create shady spots where guests can escape the sun. For a fall or winter picnic, you may need a fire pit to stay warm.<\/p>\n

Decorating Your Backyard <\/strong><\/h2>\n

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The picnic table\u00a0or picnic blankets\u00a0will provide a lot of your decor. If you’re using a picnic table, you can cover it in a cute gingham tablecloth, but beware of the wind! Consider clamping down your tablecloth on a windy day. For the same reason, think about adding weights to the corners of your picnic blankets\u00a0or staking the corners into the ground.<\/p>\n

At a picnic table, you can create beautiful table settings\u00a0with plates, silverware, and folded napkins. For picnic blankets, display the food in pretty servingware in the center of the blanket and give everyone paper or plastic plates that are light enough to hold while eating.<\/p>\n

The food is usually the centerpiece\u00a0of any picnic, but if you want to decorate a bit more, put some wildflowers in mason jars\u00a0and display them on the center of your picnic table. Or, create a practical DIY\u00a0centerpiece\u00a0by filling vases or crates with citrus. Not only does this look beautiful, but it also helps keep bugs away. Placing mint or rosemary in vases will also help deter those wily insects.<\/p>\n

A backyard picnic\u00a0will put your whole yard on display, not just the picnic area, so this is a great time to turn an eye toward your landscaping. Mow your lawn before the big event and think about whether you’d like to plant fresh flowers or hang potted plants or other decorations on your fence<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you want to add shade to your backyard<\/a>, a simple sun umbrella can help everyone stay cool. For boho backyard picnic ideas, add some tassels to the edges of your umbrella, hang bunting flags across your yard, and have floor pillows for everyone to sit on in addition to blankets.<\/p>\n

Choosing Your Picnic Foods<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Finally the most important (and most delicious!) of all our party ideas\u00a0\u2014 the food. Here are our favorite picnic food ideas\u00a0for the different courses of your outdoor meal.<\/p>\n

Appetizers\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

From the true classics to the new classics, these appetizers\u00a0will look beautiful on your picnic blanket:<\/p>\n