How to Plan a Picnic Wedding Reception
Wedding receptions don't need to be a bank-breaking, black tie affair. Imagine a charming picnic held in a park, a meadow, a clearing in the woods or on the beach. Guests can shoot the breeze, go hiking or simply kick off their shoes, stretch out on a blanket and stare up at the clouds. According to Costofwedding.com, the average wedding in 2010 totaled $19,581. Choose a picnic reception and you can cut that figure by half.
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Things You'll Need
- Raspberry iced tea
- Mint lemonade
- Cold fried chicken
- Potato salad
- Baked beans
- Jell-o
- Peanut butter cookies
- Double-layer frosted cake with lavender flowers
- Sheets cakes
- Tin cans
- Grosgrain ribbon
- Hot glue gun
- Assorted garden flowers
- Assorted seasonal fruit
- Checkered tablecloths or fleece blankets in wedding colors
- Lawn chairs or folding wooden chairs
- 6-foot long tables
- Music
- Card tables
- Checkboard games
- Dominoes
- Decks of playing cards
- Scarves or ropes
- Eggs
- Spoons
- Kites
- Bocci ball set
- Croquet set
Instructions
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Save tin cans and remove the labels several weeks before the big event. Glue grosgrain ribbon over the seams of the can and finish by tying the ribbon in a bow. Fill the cans with garden flowers such as zinnias, daisies and petunias and place them on every flat surface. Add more color and fresh, natural appeal to tabletops with bowls of whole peaches, strawberries, blueberries, apples or other seasonal fruit.
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Arrange for background music. Soft, classical music played by a small string ensemble is lovely for a more formal picnic. If the affair is strictly casual, a boom box playing a mix of contemporary music is easy to organize. For an authentic picnic experience, park a convertible car nearby and crank up the radio for background music.
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Roll up checkered tablecloths or big fleece blankets in your wedding colors, tie them with a ribbon and stack them in a visible location. Invite guests to spread them on the ground and get cozy. Some guests will be more comfortable seated at tables, so also set out lawn chairs or folding wooden chairs.
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Set up card tables with checkers, dominoes and decks of cards where senior guests can play and visit. Designate responsible teenagers to supervise the younger children in contests such as a three-legged race or a pass-the-egg-on-the-spoon relay. The kids will also enjoy flying kites and playing bocci ball or croquet. When the adults have finished meeting and greeting old friends, they can join in the fun, too.
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Set out big pitchers of raspberry iced tea or mint lemonade for guests to drink as they arrive. Serve big plates of cold fried chicken, bowls of potato salad, baked beans, jell-o, fresh fruit, and peanut butter cookies. A frosted double layer cake adorned with culinary grade lavender makes a charming wedding cake. Bake several sheet versions of the same cake depending on the number of invited guests.
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Tips & Warnings
If the weather forecast is for showers, don't let it rain on your picnic. Rent tent cloths in advance that can be set up the day of your wedding. Additionally, the picnic theme ends when it comes to using the restroom. Instead of requiring guests to ease nature in the woods, make sure ample facilities are available nearby, or rent a deluxe temporary restroom such as a Mr. John.
References
- Photo Credit picnic basket with wine and glasses image by Nikolay Okhitin from Fotolia.com
