Labor Day weekend is the unofficial end of summer, but that doesn’t mean the beach picnics are also coming to an end. In fact, now that the weather is starting to cool off, it is the perfect time to host a beach picnic. During Miami Swim Week, a few of my girlfriends and I had the beach picnic of our Pinterest-loving dreams. Today I’ll be sharing some tips with you all on how to pull off the beach picnic of YOUR dreams!
#1: Choose a simple color scheme.
The girls and I decided with a blue and pink color scheme with natural accents. Very nautical and not too over the top, which was great because South Beach is colorful enough on its own. The key is to work with pieces you may already own; next time you’re about to impulse purchase some kitchenware, think about all of the possible uses you’ll be able to get with whichever color scheme you choose. Everything you see in our spread is a combination of things we already own for the most part.
#2: Support small businesses.
It’s easy to pick up your picnic needs from Target or WalMart, but if you really want to make your picnic unique, buy things from small businesses. They’ll be more unique, and in terms of food, they’ll taste a lot better. They are also good conversation starters – everyone will ask you where you got things from, and how they can help support those businesses! For our South Beach picnic, we graciously teamed up with South Pointe Tavern, Janette and Co, and Goldfinch Blankets.
South Pointe Tavern provided their crudité, mezze, burrata, and SPT tray. Everything was delicious (so good that we went back for more during happy hour), and really feasible if your group splits the cost. The best part about South Pointe Tavern is that they are located practically on the beach, so if you’re already going to grab lunch or dinner there, you can just bring a blanket with you and eat it on the beach! Janette and Co provided the yummy macarons which perfectly pair with Rosé if you ask me.
Goldfinch Blankets sent over their Namibia Linen Throw which was hand-woven and hand-spun in Nepal. The throw is 52″ x 72″ and is lightweight enough to throw in a tote bag. In addition to using the throw as a picnic blanket, it’ll look good in any home! What really captured my attention was the fact that Goldfinch directly helps the weavers in Nepal they work with earn a sustainable wage, which you won’t find with most retailers.
#3 Choose the time of year (and day) wisely.
While summer beach picnics are tempting, in Florida they’re almost impossible to enjoy because it gets so hot, and the sunlight is very intense. It’s easy to get sunburnt and/or dehydrated, so choosing sometime in the Fall or Spring to have a beach picnic would be most ideal. In our case, taking pictures was getting tough because the direct sunlight was starting to make the cameras overheat!
The time of day also matters. The girls and I opted for a morning picnic, but it was still too hot at 8-9 AM. I would recommend having a sunrise or sunset picnic. The views will be so much better, too.
#4 Bring cameras, music, and games.
As long as the beach you’re at permits it, go ahead and bring fun things to do! For me, no picnic is complete without my Instax camera. I love taking candid instant photos of (and with) my friends at the beach. A lot of beaches don’t permit loud music on the beach, but if you’re at a beach that permits small bluetooth speakers, I would definitely put together a good vibes playlist to play while having fun with your crew. I also think it would be fun to play Cards Against Humanity or What do You Meme? 🙂
#5 Have fun!
The biggest thing to keep in mind is to have fun with your picnic. If the decor doesn’t turn out exactly how you want it to be, no worries! You’re there for fun times and friendships with your friends/family, not to obsess over how everything looks on the outside. As long as everyone is having a good time, that’s all I can ask for in a picnic. Maybe you’ll even make your own picnic traditions!
Have you hosted a beach picnic this summer? Feel free to share your own tips below!
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