If your summer days have been less lazy and more crazy, you and your significant other are likely missing out on important time spent together. While dinner and a movie may be an easy option to rekindle the romance, it’s also a complete waste of the amazing warm weather that won’t last for long. Instead, to really set the scene for summer lovin’, pack up a picnic basket and make a date with Mother Nature.

Sweating over everything you’ll need to pull off picnic perfection? Chill out! An outdoor dinner date is meant to be big on natural beauty but small on stress. In fact, you might have everything you need right at home to dine deliciously alfresco. And if not, we found a quick Target run can easily elevate your dating game.

Skip the Sammies

Picnics are often synonymous with sandwiches, side salads, and sweet treats to attract plenty of ants. To savor more flavor and really make your picnic pop, consider fare with sophisticated flair. Here are a few of our Target-aisle found faves:

• Wrapped-up right: Thinly sliced mozzarella wrapped in salami offers the taste of sandwiches in easy-to-pack portions.
• Rosé all day: Match your wine to the summer sunset for a beverage that’s as beautiful as it is sweet to sip.
• Say cheese: What’s a Wisconsin picnic without a dairyland favorite to pair perfectly with wine.
• Get fresh: Finish off feast offerings with picks from the produce section. Pair delicious dips with a mix of berries and bite-size veggies for fun finger food.
• Go nuts: Pack some pistachios for a salty, crunchy treat you’ll love to eat.

 

Ditch the Disposables

Just because you’re outdoors doesn’t mean you need dishware and serving pieces made of paper and plastic. To really add an element of upscale style (without the matching price tag), go for serving pieces and utensils you can wash, dry, and use again. You’ll get lots of wear from these on-the-go or stay-at-home pieces, and the environment will thank you for creating less waste.

Add Effortless Decor

Want an Instagram-worthy picnic without appearing as though you’re trying too hard? Go for dishes, utensils, cups, and serving pieces in neutral colors of white, black, and natural wood tones. This palette won’t clash with the vibrant colors of your meal, while also allowing you to easily add other pops of color by way of blankets, pillows, and cloth napkins.  

Pack It Up

Yogi Bear might have been all about the picnic basket, but for a carrier you’ll carry more often, consider an oversized beach or tote bag. It often offers more space than a more traditional picnic basket and tends to be easier to carry than an awkward basket. We also love that some can even double as cute home decor for items such as magazine or craft supply storage.

Pick Your Picnic Plot

Now that you have everything packed and prepped for picnicking, the last thing to do is select your spot. Your backyard, local park, or any place with soft lawn or beach sand will do. However, when you want something more scenic, here are a few Madison musts not to miss:

• Concerts on the Square
• Picnic Point
• The Capitol Lawn
• James Madison Park
• Bascom Hill
• UW Arboretum
• Observatory Hill

The summer season is short but stunning. Take advantage of what nature has to offer and make a date to soak up the sun, moon, and stars…and a little romance, too. 

{Photography Credit: Caynay Photo}