Being invited to a wedding picnic won’t be an unusual trend this year with everyone celebrating outdoors. Make the most of the sunshine and the easing of lockdown by hosting a holiday-worthy picnic for your wedding party with our wedding picnic planning guide and shopping edit of everything you need for dining al fresco…
Summer wedding ideas can range from a BBQ wedding breakfast and outdoor drinks to a full-on festival-themed wedding but whether you’re planning an outdoor wedding or just want to know what you need to pack for a picnic, you’ll need to get organised. You can host a picnic wedding in pretty much any outdoor space from your local park or campground to the beach or even your backyard.
But before you settle on an outdoor wedding location or picnic for your wedding party, consider the logistics: Are there permits you’ll need to acquire? Your local borough’s website will have information on how to apply for and obtain the right permissions – think noise ordinances, alcohol restrictions and night-time curfews too. Likewise, if you’re having your wedding at home or hosting a garden party, be sure to inform your neighbours well in advance.
A wedding picnic or backyard wedding doesn’t have to include food trucks and caterers, you can keep your wedding cheap with DIY details. Here’s our shopping edit all the best outdoor dining accessories you need for the perfect summer wedding picnic…
Best Picnic Bags
Fortnum’s Backpacker’s Picnic Bag
Fortnum’s Backpacker’s Picnic Bag is for the true connoisseurs of outdoor feasting. This fully-insulated carryall has internal pockets and elastic loops for your favourite beverages. It also features a flat pocket on the front – perfect for storing plates and cutlery – and side pockets for bottles.
Made from recycled materials, the eco-friendly picnic bag also comes with a waterproof cover in case you get caught in an unpredictable British shower. Whilst it’s quite an investment, it’s the kind of picnic bag you’ll use summer after summer.
Selfridges Selection Cooler Bag
No matter where you’re taking that snack pack or light lunch, you’ll need something to keep your food fresh. The Selfridges Selection Cooler Bag is a picnic bag in the style of the store’s iconic brown and yellow bag, and the perfect cooler bag to transport your goodies from A to B. Although this isn’t the biggest picnic bag, it’s perfect for essential snacks and drinks for your wedding party.
Best Picnic Blankets
The White Company Lindos Outdoor Blanket
The White Company’s family-size woven outdoor blanket is the perfect choice for a wedding picnic. Made from pure Turkish cotton, it features a stylish nautical-inspired stripe and is finished with a tassel edge. It is soft and comfortable to sit on, but easy to roll up compactly with the accompanying removable strap.
Fox & Ivy Bumblebee Knitted Throw
This super-soft knitted throw can double-up as a blanket to add warmth to your wedding picnic as the evening nears whether it’s used to sit on or draped over your legs or shoulders.
Other Picnic Essentials
Setting Pretty Gingham Napkins
Made from 100% cotton, these Gingham napkins in Amalfi yellow brighten any table dressing.
Peacock Gin Glasses
Mouth-blown and handmade by skilled craftsmen, these peacock gin glasses are perfect for garden parties and drinking al fresco.
Groov-e Venice Portable DAB Radio with Bluetooth Speaker
Built for the traveller in mind, this portable bluetooth speaker is splash-proof and water-resistant so you won’t have to worry about the unpredictable English weather. With up to eight hours of battery life, this is by far the best cheap portable speaker for a last-minute rendezvous with nature.
Aqua Optima Liscia Water Filter Jug
For those on a budget, the Liscia 2.5 litre water filter jug offers great value for money. Featuring fast flow 5-step filtration technology to reduce impurities from tap water, this filter jug provides purer water for any garden party.
