A romantic picnic may be just the thing to help you celebrate your love this Valentine’s Day. It’s casual, fun, and gives you the opportunity to spend quality time with your date.
That’s why we’ve compiled the best romantic picnic ideas to help you create the perfect picnic. From picnic-friendly foods that are easy to make and take with you to drink ideas like pink rosé and sparkling champagne, these romantic ideas are sure to keep your love alive.
We’ve also included tips on how to create the perfect setting for your picnic, including how to choose the perfect location and how to decorate with romantic elements like fresh flowers. Fun picnic activities like hiking, camping, biking, or even an impromptu photoshoot are great ways to spend time with your sweetheart.
Check out our romantic picnic ideas below, we hope they will inspire you to get outside and enjoy some quality time with your Valentine. We also created a quick guide to help you get started!
Romantic picnic locations
When choosing a location for your romantic picnic, it’s all about finding a place where you and your lover can relax and enjoy each other’s company with minimal distractions. Perhaps the perfect location is the park where you first met, or maybe it’s your favorite beach where you’ve taken many long strolls together.
A botanical garden in the springtime can also create the perfect romantic setting amongst the beautiful blooms. For wine lovers, bring a picnic to your favorite vineyard and dine amongst the vines. If you’re an active couple, hiking along a scenic trail or to a waterfall may be just the right location for you.
Top Photo by: Darren Bester for The Pretty Blog and Food Styling by: Martha Who
Romantic picnic decor
Pulling off a romantic picnic is all about setting the scene to create the perfect atmosphere. A bouquet featuring romantic flowers like roses will certainly set the scene for an intimate picnic. A vintage bohemian rug makes for a great picnic blanket that’s both durable and stylish.
Hanging lanterns in the trees overhead add another dimension that’s both whimsical and unique. There’s also nothing more romantic than a candlelit dinner so bring along candles for a picnic that will last into the evening.
Other cute picnic ideas include hanging jars filled with flowers in trees tied to colorful ribbons. You can also get creative by hanging a wooden board to a branch for a makeshift picnic table. Also, a small arrangement of flowers is perfect for decorating your picnic basket.
Top Photo by: Daniel Kim Photography | Florals by: Posies Floral Bottom middle Photo by: Koman Photography
Romantic picnic food
No picnic is complete without delicious food and snacks! For a romantic picnic, choose foods that are portable that won’t make a mess. Finger foods such as nuts, olives, cured meats, gourmet cheese and dips like hummus are easy snacks that can be purchased from the store. Bring along a wood board or platter so that you can create your own antipasto or charcuterie plate on the spot.
Another romantic picnic food idea is to get creative with heart-shaped desserts. Fruits like watermelon and strawberries are refreshing for an outdoor picnic in the sun. Use cookie cutters to create heart shapes out of them!
Top Photo by: Half Baked Harvest | Middle Right and Bottom Right Photo by: Darren Bester for The Pretty Blog and Food Styling by: Martha Who
Romantic picnic drinks
Celebrate your love with a bottle of sparkling champagne! Rosé and white wines are also great choices for a daytime picnic. For non-wine lovers, bring a pack of your favorite craft beers.
Remember to stay hydrated and pack plenty of water, especially when spending a lot of time outdoors in the sun. Infuse water with fruits like strawberries and lemon along with mint for a refreshing twist.
Top left Photo by: Dana Fernandez Photography | Top right Photo by: Milou and Olin Photography for Design Sponge
Romantic picnic activities / games
A romantic picnic is all about spending quality time together. Therefore, it’s the perfect time to get together and partake in your favorite activities together. Has there been a hiking trail that’s been on your list you have yet to try? Or how about spending an afternoon riding bikes along the pier or to your favorite park and relaxing with a nice picnic spread? A boat ride can also be a nice romantic escape.
For a more relaxed vibe, maybe reading your favorite books together or playing music is more your speed. In addition, a picnic can be the perfect setting for a photography shoot. Spend the afternoon taking photos together and capture memories that you can keep forever.
Top left Photo by: Twig and Olive Photography
Planning A Romantic Picnic: A Quick Guide
Check out our quick guide to planning a romantic picnic including weather tips, activities, and things to bring to create a memorable picnic.
When it comes to celebrating Valentine’s Day, the thing that matters the most is spending quality time together with your date. With all the distractions life can throw at us these days, it’s nice to just get outside and enjoy the sunshine. So put down your phone and put away your computer and start planning a romantic picnic getaway for you and your loved one to enjoy.
Show your love by sending your Valentine a bouquet of romantic flowers just to let them know you’re thinking of them.
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