Picture Perfect Summer Picnic Ideas

These Picture Perfect Summer Picnic Ideas will make it easy for you to create a beautiful outdoor meal or celebratory moment.

I don’t know what the weather is like where you live, but here in Pennsylvania we seem to have skipped spring and now summer is in full swing. For me, that means taking advantage of every opportunity to spend time outside.

This post is sponsored by Oyster Bay Wines. As always, all opinions are my own.

That’s why I’ve partnered with my friends down under at Oyster Bay Wines to share ideas for setting up and styling a beautiful summer picnic.

New Zealand wines are some of my favorites, and Oyster Bay is always a go-to for me. Their wines capture the special character of New Zealand – elegant and assertive with glorious fruit flavors. Love them! You may remember that this past winter I served up their Pinot Noir; this summer I’m enjoying their refreshing Sauvignon Blanc.

With wine in hand and these five ideas for putting together the perfect picnic, I think we’re all ready to celebrate summer!

Picture Perfect Summer Picnic Ideas:

1. Set Down a Blanket

It’s a picnic, so bring a blanket! Whether you’re setting up your picnic on the ground or using a table, it’s nice to have a clean and fresh surface to dine on.

Being outdoors it’s likely that your blanket will get dirty, so I recommend using something that you can toss in the washing machine without much worry. I chose a blanket with a large gingham print because it suits the occasion.

2. Bring Wine

If you’re looking for a winning picnic libation, pick wine. Here I’m serving Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc.

White wine, specifically Sauvignon Blanc, is one of my favorites for summer. This particular variety is very fresh with a lingering zesty finish. With its magical combination of passion fruit, bright citrus, and tropical flavors, Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc is a fragrant, vibrant wine. It thrives alone but also pairs beautifully with a range of cuisines, making it perfect for any summer picnic.

I also love that the bottle features a screw-off top which makes it easy to serve at a picnic. Keep your Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc on ice in your cooler for an especially crisp sip!

3. Pack Easy Snacks

In thinking about food for a picnic, let me recommend a few things. First, handheld items always seem to work well. Think sandwiches and single-serving containers.

Second, offer a spread of snacks where people can pick what they like. One example: a big cheese plate with crackers and crusty bread paired with fresh summer fruit. That’s what I did here.

I also couldn’t resist serving jars of my Southwest Pasta Salad. It’s my new go-to pasta salad recipe. I think you’re going to love it too!

More Picture Perfect Summer Picnic Ideas:

4. Mix Luxe with Casual

When styling a picnic, I like mixing luxe with casual. If I use disposable cutlery, I pair it with something a bit fancier such as linen napkins.

Because I’m not a big fan of plastic drinkware, I use an array of inexpensive wine glasses. If you’re like me, you probably have a random assortment of wine glasses that don’t match your best stemware. Take along those singletons, and if one gets broken at the picnic, no worries.

To protect the glasses during transit to and from the picnic site, I pack them in the napkins used at the picnic.

5. Add Pretty Details

Finally, don’t forget the pretty details. Use a stylish cooler, a pretty picnic basket, and / or snip a few seasonal flowers from your garden and add them to a jar. Even a sprinkle of fresh herbs on your snacks makes them special.

Be intentional about how everything looks together to make a wow-worthy picnic set-up.

With the official beginning of summer almost here, I hope these picnic ideas inspire you to create your own casual dining experience al fresco!

Don’t wait for the moment. Make it!