How to Have a Luxury Picnic or Pop-Up Picnic Date

Having a luxury picnic, whether it’s for a picnic date or another occasion, is a huge trend right now. These types of aesthetic picnics are planned for a birthday, a bridal shower, a proposal, a just plain get-together, or anything in between, popup picnics are a great way to get outside and have a luxury experience while feeling relaxed and enjoying some great bites. With the trend popping up heavily on the West Coast, it is not something that cannot be done on the East Coast, and in Philly, I had the pleasure of having a Philly popup picnic that made me feel luxurious and oh-so-special.

With so many options for pop up picnic vendors in the area, there are so many locations that you can have one. We had a family pop up picnic date when we took a family vacation to West Virginia, and it was absolutely amazing.

But with so many locations out there and so many vendors, you may sit there and be thinking, well, can I do this myself? And the answer is yes, you can. In this post, I’m going to share my experience with Philly Pop Up Picnic while also sharing some tips on how you can create your own aesthetic picnic.

Pick a Location FOR YOUR AESTHIC PICNIC

Location can really inspire a picnic. I’m always scouting locations in any place that I go, so as you are planning your own luxury picnic, take some time to scout out the area before planning your picnic date. This will give you the ability to see what days and times the location gets busy, and you’ll feel comfortable being able to drive right to a location instead of driving around and searching on the day of. Picnics can happy in a variety of places, so don’t always limit yourself to a park. Try searching public rooftops, or rooftops of your own building if they are safe, the beach if you live close to one, or some place that just feels unique and comfortable to you.

In Philly and the surrounding areas, you can find a variety of different backdrops. You can venture out into Valley Forge and be surrounded by trees and natural elements or you can go into the city and settle in a grassy area along Benjamin Franklin Parkway and find yourself with a more urban backdrop. But overall, when it comes to setting up your let the location inspire you, but let your personal aesthetic guide how your popup picnic goes.

What to Wear For Your Picnic

Plan Your Meal FOR YOUR LUXURY PICNIC

Like many popup picnics, you may be able to book a popup picnic that comes with a few bites and drinks, but many often tell you to bring your own food. They focus on the setup and the decor, but the food and drink is something that they’ll leave to you.

When it comes to planning your meal for your little popup picnic, I suggest getting fresh and light food. Start with some fresh fruit, precut so you don’t have to worry about much mess later. I am one that loves strawberries, grapefruit, and grapes. You can also see what unique fruits you can find in local markets around Philly and maybe even finding fruits that match your aesthetic – a dragonfruit would have gone great with this set-up. If you’re looking for something a little more substantial, sandwiches and/or charcuterie boards are always a great go-to. I suggest getting your board from Charcuterie Chic – a Philly & South Jersey business that creates immaculate boards for every occasion.

And of course, don’t forget dessert. I suggest smaller dessert options like brownies or cookies. I would stay away from anything that would melt since it won’t last long from putting it into the basket to making it out through the meal while laying out catching some sunrays.

Lastly, pack yourself a lot of water and some of your favorite drinks. For a luxury picnic that my husband and I had as a picnic date, we opted to bring some bourbon to drink on the rocks because it’s one of the spirits that we enjoy. But lemonade, wine, fresh juice, or another type of spirit works for a luxury picnic – it is all about what drink makes the aesthetic picnic luxurious for you. P.S. Don’t forgot to pack the bottle opener if you’re bringing some wine.

There’s so much fun that you can have when it comes to putting together your luxury picnic, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll enjoy having others do the heavy lifting when it comes to decor and putting it all together. But also keep in mind, there are some things that you’ll want to bring yourself. So here’s a list of things that you’ll want to bring for your popup picnic experience.

What To Pack For YOUR PRE-SET LUXURY PICNIC

A bottle of rosé or wine
Wine Opener
Cutlery for the Charcuterie Board
Picnic Basket (to pack up and bring your food and drinks!)
Cutting Board
Cheese (cheddar, pecorino, etc)
Biscuit / Crackers
Fresh Fruit (I suggest having it sliced ahead of time for less mess)
Sweets
Bluetooth Speaker
Portable Fan

What to Pack WHEN PLANNING YOUR AESTHIC PICNIC

PICNIC BASKET

There are a good amount of picnic baskets out there. You can easily find one on Amazon for under $20. And then depending on where you live, you can probably find an even cheaper one at a thrift store, HomeGoods, or TJMaxx.
BLANKET

Look at the blankets that you have before buying one that fits the aesthetic picnic you are trying to create. Sometimes a neutral blanket that you already have in your home is big enough and matches well enough. But if you’re looking for something else, try searching on a thrift store or an online boutique.
FLOWERS

Gather up a small vase and some flowers. I always advise seeing if you can find a local nursery and purchase some fresh flowers or wildflowers.
CLOTH NAPKINS

If you have a HomeGoods near you, I would first look for cloth napkins there. There are plenty of options and styles there that you can find to match your aesthetic. For a luxury picnic, you’ll want cloth napkins. Not only does it make the picnic look so chic, it always limits waste since often times those paper napkins can fly away.
GLASSWARE

You’ll want to bring water glasses and glasses that fit the drink that you are bringing. If you’re bringing wine, bring some wine glasses. If you’re going for different spirit, bring a glass that matches what you’re serving. My biggest suggestion is to find cups that look like glassware but they are actually plastic. Works wonders and eliminates the worry of breaking anything.
PLATES

You can find some plates that look like formal plates but are plastic at many stores. You can often get them in sets, but don’t always feel subject to getting them. Depending on what you are packing, you may be able to eat right out of those containers.
PILLOWS

Though many people don’t always think to bring pillows for a luxury picnic, I suggest it because it gives you the ability to comfortably lay down and enjoy the evening.