Steps for Planning an Elegant Beach Picnic Wedding Reception
I can’t wait to share with you these Steps for Planning an Elegant Beach Picnic Wedding Reception! There’s something so laid back and refreshing about a gathering on the coast. Embrace nature and the salty life by choosing to host your elopement reception on the beach!
But what exactly might a day like this be like? Having a Beach Picnic Wedding Reception isn’t exactly traditional so what is possible?
Pause for a moment and imagine this day with me: You started off bright and early at a small beach cottage with a brunch surrounded by immediate family members and a few best friends. Since waffles are both of your favorites, your mom has planned the most spectacular waffle bar! You give her a hug as you load on your favorite toppings. Stories of childhood are shared as the families come together to start celebrating you today.
After waving goodbye to your family for a little while, the two of you set off on a short kayaking adventure along the sound or inlet area a short drive nearby. It’s a way to include some adventure even on your wedding day! You keep your eyes peeled for animals to spot together and can't believe it when a pod of dolphins swim past. You look over at your photographer who’s been with you since brunch and say, “You got that on camera, right?!” They laugh and confirm the dolphins and your reactions were captured.
Soon you return back to the house to start getting ready for your ceremony. Since you’ll be surrounded by friends and family for most of the rest of the day, you’ve decided to get ready together. Helping each other into your beautiful wedding attire makes the day start to feel real and a tear is wiped away from your eye by your partner. You share some kisses and exchange gifts to wrap up these intimate moments together before doing a dual “first look” with both sets of parents. More tears are shed but of the happiest kind!
The whole group heads to the beach where your ceremony will take place. You’ve only invited about 25 people and as you exchange vows, you pause to look around together at the people surrounding you with love today. Congratulations are shared as the sun slips behind clouds to provide the dreamiest, soft lighting.
Everyone can’t wait to get to the reception. Your wedding planner and their team has set up the most Elegant Beach Picnic Wedding Reception you could ever imagine. Candles are lit, hors d'oeuvre are being served, and the two of you keep exchanging glances as if to confirm that this is all real and not some dream from a novel! The whole reception is a bit of a mix and mingle time as you’re able to spend quality time with each of your guests.
A bonfire is made to close the evening with toasts as your amazing live musician continues to play classical guitar music to complement the sound of the waves crashing against the sand. There’s no fancy send-off as simply saying goodnight to everyone seems the most authentic. You and your spouse have an early morning as your photographer is meeting you for sunrise photos at a local state park. You know that experience is going to be epic, too, but these final moments of taking in your wedding day surrounded by those you love most is the feeling that will last with you the longest.
Oh wow, I don’t know about you but I’m 100% ready to start Planning an Elegant Beach Picnic Wedding Reception! Here’s some easy to follow Steps to help bring the day described above to life!
Step 1.
Decide On a Date.
Picnic receptions are best planned for seasons where the weather hovers in the 70s. If you’re in North or South Carolina, April and May are the best months during spring and late September and October are best in the fall. Don’t write off a picnic at other times of the year but from the get-go consider what you will need to include to make sure your guests are comfortable (blanket throws for picnics in colder months and lots of shade and water if during warmer months.)
Step 2.
Find Your Team
Depending on how complicated you’re envisioning your reception picnic, hiring a wedding planner or coordinator is a must. And even if you’re wanting to keep it simple, I still highly encourage hiring a planner or coordinator. On your elopement day, you don’t want to be running around setting everything up. Additionally, if spending time with family is important to you, shifting the responsibility to them isn’t the best option either. Planners and coordinators can help connect you with rental companies, wait staff, etc. to add a truly elevated feel to your day so you really can’t go wrong with hiring one.
Booking your photographer now is great, too. As you’ll notice, picking a specific location is next, and that’s a step an elopement photographer like myself can help with! I love brainstorming possible locations with clients to help them find the perfect spot for their wedding!
Step 3.
Pick Your Specific Location and a Backup Location
In some ways, your location could be anywhere but we do need to keep rules and regulations in mind. If you’re choosing a state or national park, research whether you need a permit and double check that your planned picnic is allowed if you’re bringing in any large items (like tables and chairs.) Research any regulations that might affect your gathering such as town noise ordinances, beach fire regulations, or curfew rules.
A private venue or location can also be an option. If working with a wedding planner, they may know of venues around that specialize in small weddings such as yours. Consider booking an event friendly VRBO (rental house) on the beach and hosting your reception on the beach below the home.
Although it might not be fun to think about, be sure to have a backup location in mind, too. A transparent tent, canopy, or an elegant covered patio nearby can be good options to have.. While it might not be exactly how you imagined, having a backup location will help keep stress down if you notice rain in the forecast as your wedding day approaches because you know you have a good second option ready to go.
As you’re thinking through all of this, don’t forget to consider the bathroom situation. If you are planning for a multiple hour reception or including children on your guest list, choose a location with bathrooms less than a 10 minute walk away.
Step 4.
Style your Picnic
Now comes the fun part! While you’ve probably already started envisioning what this picnic will look like, it’s time to begin to put your plans in action. White beach umbrellas or canopy with fringe for helping with shade, comfortable pillows for lounging, and a low table may be some furniture pieces you consider thrifting or renting. Blankets and rugs can also be used to provide a place for people to relax as they eat.
Using neutral colors in your decor will help complement the beach around you. Embrace natural weave fabric and materials. Accenting with blue, blush, or a sea green can be perfect to add a bit of color to your set up without distracting from the natural beauty around you.
Want to add an elegant touch to your picnic? Since many parks only allow live music, consider hiring a string quartet or other small acoustic music group to provide entertainment for the evening!
If your location requires a hike and you’re DIYing your picnic setup, hiking backpacks can help transport all your picnic gear. In this case, think through how you can create a simple but elegant setup. A blanket, some pillows, a picnic basket, candles, a charcuterie board, a few vintage dishes, and your bouquet may be all you need if it’s just a picnic for 2!
Step 5.
Send Out Your Invites (skip this step if you’re eloping with just the two of you)
If you’re planning to invite guests, this is a great time to go ahead and let them know what kind of attire you will be expecting. Embrace cocktail dresses and linen suits if you’re wanting a sophisticated feel or allow guests to dress down by inviting them to wear summer dresses and button down shirts with khakis if more chill vibes is what you’re going for. Encourage sensible practical footwear no matter what the dress code (once guests arrive at the picnic spot, they’ll likely be ditching their shoes anyways.)
Step 6
Decide On Your Menu
It’s time to focus on the good stuff: food! Serving hors d'oeuvres arranged on a charcuterie board filled with fruit, cheese, spreads, crackers, and nuts is a great place to start. Follow it up with picnic salads, caprese sandwiches, and your favorite cocktail or mocktail to continue impressing your guests. Talking with your caterers to consider unique ways to have the food plated to elevate it beyond a typical picnic spread is a great step (if you’re DIYing food, use Pinterest as inspiration for how you can instruct someone to arrange the food.) A dessert bar could be a perfect way to end the meal. If you want to end your day casually, consider including a bonfire to toast marshmallows on.
If hiking will be involved and hauling in picnic supplies is needed, start to think through the logistics of this. I only suggest beach picnics that will require hiking for elopements with less than 20 people. Packing individual picnic baskets for each group attending can be a great way to divide the supplies while also creating adorable props! Provide a small picnic blanket for each group of guests to sit on and even a charcuterie board for them to arrange the food packed within the basket.
Step 7.
Don’t Forget These Last Minute Items!
A pack of wet wipes can be great for cleaning sticky fingers, cleaning up a spill, or just helping you cool off (if they’ve been stored in a cooler.)
Bring extra sunscreen and bug spray to help keep everyone feeling their best.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate! Even on the days leading up to your elopement, drink lots of water so your body is ready to go. Drink little sips throughout the day (especially during the middle hours) to help your body stay hydrated.
I hope these Steps for Planning an Elegant Beach Picnic Wedding Reception helps make your ideas become reality. Stylized picnic receptions are some of my favorite elopements to photograph because of the close-knit feelings they produce for you and your guests. Picnics bring out the best in people so including one to celebrate your marriage is one of the best planning decisions you can make!
