The Perfect Luxury DIY Picnic

Currently everyone’s favourite thing to do whether it’s a warm spring day or a crisp fall morning getting down to “earth” and enjoying a picnic with loved ones is always so special. Now while recently there has been a boom for picnic proposals and picnic setup companies and they are doing amazing things it’s not always feasible to invest in something so grand when you just want to enjoy a Sunday. So here is my guide to curating a luxury DIY picnic that is totally dreamy and completely instagrammable!

The Picnic Basket
The holy grail and signature of any good picnic is the quintessential picnic basket. Today, however, these baskets are functional and have so many features it’s worth the investment. My current picnic basket was just off Amazon and has been my favourite Sunday accessory. From the exterior, it’s a traditional weave with leather straps for easy portability. The interiors have a classic striped base and come with a set of four plates, cutlery, napkins and 4 wine glasses! There is also an insulated zip compartment for hot food. For the price this picnic basket does it all but there also some great options from the Beach People and SunnyLife worth checking out!

The Blanket
Honestly this will be dependent on the weather and the location of your picnic. My suggestion is use something inexpensive because you will end up dropping something on it! For the grass and harder terrains or winter use a thicker cotton blend rug easily available at Kmart and Target (or probably somewhere in your mum’s linen closet). For the beach and softer terrain I end up using an old linen table cloth and sometimes some cushions if i’m feeling extra fancy. My suggestion: stick to neutrals if you’re going for a luxury aesthetic.

The Food
Picnic food is one of the wondrous terms that can cover literally anything. I highly recommend finger foods with an assortment of savoury and sweet that can be easily packed and distributed. Some of my picnic favourites are

-Cheeseboards: Really can you ever go wrong with a cheeseboard? Make sure to add a lot colourful fruit to keep it bright and fresh!

-Croissants and Mini Pastries: Add a few toppings like jam, ricotta and figs so everyone can make their own
-Cookies and Macarons:-Always a crowd pleaser and are sweet treats that look pretty but aren’t messy!

-Sandwiches: If you’re going to be out at lunch time, want something hearty and don’t have a bbq near you you really can’t go wrong with sandwiches! Because they can be made in advance switch them up with different flavours like a satay panini or a lamb curry jaffle to give you some variety!

-Something Fresh: While we all love a carb load of croissant and cookies it’s important to balance it with something green. I love to do little mason charges with carrots/cucumber and dips. Recently, my friend made the most amazing kale and potato salad with mustard that was such a perfect complement to the rest of the food!

The Drinks
You really can’t go wrong with a good rosé or champagne if you’re a little extra. However, if you want a non-alcoholic option I highly recommend Belvoir Farms Rose and Elderflower Cordial. This was one of my random finds and has now become a staple with all of my friends. Mix it with some soda or sparkling water and you’ve got yourself a fruity mock glass of rosé that I can guarantee everyone will love!

The Extras
To really take your picnic game to the next level don’t forget these extras to make your day all the more memorable!
-Speaker: A portable speaker for music is great to set the tone of your picnic.
-Camera/Polaroid: Yess I know you have your phone but you’ve put in the hardwork to make this picnic capture it!
-Cards: I love taking a deck of cards to play games with my friends while you soak in the sun.
-Football: If you are the sporty/active kind have something to kick around just keep it away from the wine.
-Flowers: Purely for the aesthetic but adding flowers to your picnic basket is always so luxurious.
-A Book: If you’re going solo on this picnic a good book you can sink into is always lovely.

Take it from me-
Follow this guide and I am sure you’ll have a most memorable picnic!