Picnic Reception Ideas

friendlypeanut

So I am thinking of a picnic reception. I want the food packed in sacks or boxes. I'm not sure if I want ground seating or tables and chairs. The blankets on the ground might seem too casual or look messy. The tables and chairs might not seem  picnic-y enough. Does anyone have any ideas? The Theme is a fall, bohemian, rustic, vintage kind of thing. Lots of natural elements like wood and twine, earthy colors. It's at a victorian farm house. The entrance will have curtains infront, then guests will walk over a bridge with butterflies and twigs and wooden balls hanging and on trees if that gives you any invisions. Browns, burnt oranges, mustards,olive green.

AmoroAgain

I would check with BecW2be.  She posts on Etiquette and had a picnic reception.

Sue-n-Kevin

I think your idea sounds lovely.

I'd think you could do a mix of tables & chairs and blankets. Those that are comfortable sitting on the ground will do so. You could place small mason jars of flowers in the middle of the blankets, as well as the tables .

Many of our local restaurants have boxed food for catering purposes. I've attended business lunches where this is served. If you don't already have anyone, check around. If you want to carry your theme, see if you can find boxes in colors or styles you like, and provide them to the caterer beforehand.

As for the table tops, in the fall I've often seen plastic table covers that have fall leaves in fall colors. You might want to do some googling for plastic table covers in fall colors with leaves. If you don't want plastic, I'd think you could find some burlap, or inexpensive off-white vintagey lace by the yard, and cut it to fit the tabletops to cover them. Also check into renting wooden slat chairs instead of standard chairs.  

Good luck. Your ideas sound romantic and great.

pandasquishy

I like the idea of renting picnic tables/benches instead of tables/chairs.  I don't think too many people would actually want to sit on the ground, not in their wedding clothes.  I know if I'm wearing a skirt/dress I do not want to sit on the ground, so it's likely none of your female guests will go for that.

Or if you'd rather have table/chairs you could make it picnic-y with some gingham table cloths, like this:

cukimerrydoll

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_reception-ideas_picnic-reception-ideas?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:5Discussion:17505b8c-9037-405e-bb73-7dfd0ff16855Post:00b9d25b-5a68-4d50-93e3-dc2c276fdf07">Re: Picnic Reception Ideas</a>:
[QUOTE]What about renting picnic tables with benches as opposed to chairs? Not sure if it's possible, depending on your guestlist size, but that would make it more picnic-y without forcing guests to sit on the ground.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]
That's what I was thinking.  That way if people are fancy (or in skirts), they won't have to worry about it as much.

mewebster59

I love the renting a picnic table idea.  My soon to be sister in law did a reception similar.  She had long rectangle tables (couldn't find picnic ones to rent) and on them she had pinic baskets with wine and grapes and flowers hanging out.  Then she had little mason jars with candles and flowers in them.  Red gingham tablecloths.  Wood planks hung on the bride and groom chairs, and wooden signs everywhere describing what was going on (food this way, reception this way, etc.)  She also did box lunches, they had a sandwich (roast beef or turkey) in each box along with your "fixins'".  Sides and apps were seperate and everything was set up buffet style.  Lots of lemonade and water, all served in larger mason jars (with handles).  Love the theme!

somelikeitrh69

We're having a picnic themed reception as well. While looking into ideas, I realized that there needs to be tables and chairs (just think of grandma trying to get up and down off of the ground). Also, if you scatter picnic blankets around also, it turns out being a great photo opportunity with kids sitting on the blankets.
On our tables, we're putting picnic baskets, and we asked my soon to be mil to sew together mini picnic blankets to cover the goodies inside.