Work is slow in the Summer so I decided to host a picnic party for the family one Sunday. It wasn’t perfect, but we had fun.
Invitation
Click here to download invitation template
We visited a few parks and settled with Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The park was huge, but beautiful. The park had a lot of trees spread out making it great for picnics and/or barbecues especially on sunny days.
We went to the park the weekend before the picnic to find a good spot and figure out how soon we need to get there to reserve it. We found the perfect spot with a view of the lake, and close to the parking lot and bathroom. We got there around 11:30am and luckily the spot was available!
We have set up a “Pack-Your-Own” picnic where guests get a basket each, fill their baskets with food, find a spot on the grass and enjoy their lunch. I have created a welcome poster describing the concept.
Click here to download poster template. Poster is 15″ x 21″ and can be printed on 4 letter-size paper. When printing, check the option to tile large pages.
I covered the table with red and white gingham tablecloth. I bought baskets from Paper Mart for guests to use. I lined the baskets with red and white gingham fabric that I bought at the garment district in NYC. I decided to use wooden forks and knives (I love them!) and tied them to Tekla dish towels from Ikea that I was using as napkins.
We served salad in white take-out containers from Paper Mart. We left the containers open so guests can add dressing, there were two to choose from. I printed 2×4 labels for sealing the salad containers. My mom cooked Sotanghon (Filipino noodle dish) and we served it in kraft take-out containers, sealed with 2×4 labels. Click here for template for the 2×4 labels.
I couldn’t find generic foil-lined bags that are not labeled, so I bought foil lined hot dog bags instead for the pork shish kabobs (pork bbq). I then printed labels to cover the “hot dog” text. I used the kraft take-out containers for the burgers. I ordered wood boats for the corn and bratwurst.
Here are photos of my cousins’ baskets filled with food.
I chose this spot in the park because of a small tree that I thought would be perfect for a “photo booth” I was thinking. And here was our set-up and one of our photos:
A few tips:
Visit the park ahead of time and figure out the best time to get there to reserve the spot you like. Summer is a very popular season for picnics.
Serve food that can be served lukewarm. This is one disadvantage of hosting a picnic in a park instead of your backyard.
If you can, pack the food in their individual containers at home. It is less stressful when you have the food all ready to be set up on the table when you get to the park.
Be prepared for guests to bring food. The original plan was to have all food in containers that can be sealed. But bring plates and extra flatware for food that guests may bring.
In the beginning, I thought a wedding emergency kit is not necessary. I mean what could possibly happen on my wedding day? It would be perfect. But of course nothing is perfect. We did end up needing the emergency kit on the wedding day after all.
Since I was putting together bathroom baskets for the reception, I thought I might as well put together an emergency kit. I mean they practically include the same things. Then I thought, what do I need an emergency kit for if the bathroom baskets include the same stuff? Answer… because there might not be anything left in the bathroom basket by the time you need something. Yup, there were only probably 2 to 3 items left in each bathroom basket even before our reception ended.
How-to make a bathroom basket and wedding emergency kit:
Measure the counter space in the restroom where you’re putting the bathroom basket. Learn from me, I bought bathroom baskets before looking at the restroom at our venue, and I had to return them coz they were too big for the counter.
Get containers. If you have bathroom baskets at home that you can spare, use those. There’s no use in buying new ones if you have perfectly good ones at home. You can take the bathroom baskets home after the wedding. I used fabric bins for the bathrooms and an art tool box for the emergency kit.
Get items to put in your bathroom basket and emergency kit. Remember to take into account the prices, the costs do add up.
Get samples, they’re free and they are perfectly sized for bathroom baskets.
Look around your house for items that you haven’t used and will not use. I did find a few at my home that I totally forgot and never used.
Make a sign for your bathroom baskets. I like it short - “Compliments of the Newlyweds.” But you can also use poems. I am not keen on long poems or instructions. If I were a guest, I wouldn’t stay that long to read the whole thing.Here are sample wordings for bathroom baskets:
Compliments of the newlyweds,
To help you feel your best!
Just use a little…freshen up,
And leave for other guests!
If your skin feels dry, your hair out of place,
Your throat is parched, or whatever the case.
We’ve put this together to help you along,
Now get yourself out there before the next song!
Here is a basket for all of our guests,
To make sure everyone feels their best!
We hope that you’ll find what you’re looking for.
Take a mint and now go hit the dance floor!
So happy you’re here to share in our special day!!!
But should something happen to go astray,
Please help yourself to the contents within,
Hair spray (or Wet wipe), hand lotion, gum and even aspirin,
Use only what you need and leave the rest,
It may be useful to another guest.
So repair the damage that may have been done,
Then hurry on back and join the fun!!!
Compliments of the Newlyweds
Personalize your wine glasses with a word or two… a great way to add a personal touch to your party. Be creative with your words and it can be a conversation piece.
This is not your regular stenciling, it’s edible! All you need are stencils, corn syrup and cinnamon. Head on to The City Cradle for the instructions. It’s pretty easy!
In the beginning, I was planning to DIY my centerpieces. Recently, our plans changed and decided to hire a florist instead. But I totally forgot to show you the mock-up I did when I was still planning to DIY the centerpieces. So here they are…
I love decorative boxes. They’re great to keep little stuff in like photos, little trinkets, letters, etc. So I set out to find DIY instructions to create them and I found a great video from The Scrapbook Lounge via Elizabeth Anne Designs.
I just don’t do a project just because. I’m doing it actually for the wedding. Well, I’m not gonna say what it is for yet. Just stay tuned .
All of our guests including us are from out of town. So in the guest welcome bags, we decided to include a map of key places including room blocks and where we’re staying. The rehearsal dinner location will only be included on maps for those who are invited to the rehearsal dinner.
Our wedding map
As we get closer to the wedding, I will be adding places/sites to see in Newport. If you have any suggestions of nice places/sites to see, please leave a comment.
Now, on to the template…
Template The Newport map template measures 8.5″ x 11″ and can be reduced. It is in PDF format and can be used with image/graphic editors such as Photoshop and Illustrator. The basic template (see image below) is $10. To purchase, click Buy Now below.
Basic Newport Map template (no additional streets):
Click image to enlarge
For additional streets or customized map, please contact me. Click here for instructions on how to create your own map.
The template in Word (doc) format will be available soon. But note that it won’t be as crisp as the PDF above. Stay tuned…
Template The card measures 4″ x 5.5″ and contains 4 pieces wrapped together with the belly wrap.
Click image below to download template
Directions Print and cut on solid lines. Assemble with top-left card at the top, then the top-right card right below, then the bottom-left card, then the bottom-right card at the very bottom. Wrap them together with the belly wrap.
If you want a crisper image (bridesmaid), print this file first on paper that you plan to use for your card. Personalize this 2nd file, then print it using the paper you’ve printed the first file on. Make sure you print on the side where the image is printed.
Insert assembled card into envelope and you’re all set!
I have tried Hydrangeas, now it’s time to try Carnations. They’re very affordable and I love the fullness of the blooms. Please pardon the visible rubber bands. I ran out of floral tape and I didn’t get to wrap the bouquet handle with ribbon before I did the corset-type wrapping.
Unfortunately, to get the bouquet size I wanted, I had to use a lot of carnations which ended up being more expensive than the Hydrangeas I used earlier. I spent $15 for 50 carnations.
The biggest advantage of using Carnations is that they last long. They lasted more than a week just being in a vase with water (no flower food).
To save money, we’re planning to DIY bouquets… kinda like “create your own bouquet” thing . I think my bridesmaids are willing to do their own . I don’t know exactly what flowers I like to use, but I’m definitely using white ones.
First up is hydrangea. I got the hydrangeas from the NYC flower district for $10/6 bunches. I only used 5 which was about a foot in diameter altogether, 6 bunches were too big for me. Of course I had to use the knot on the handle too!
I love the fullness of the hydrangeas. But since a bunch is too big, the stem is too thin. I like my bouquet to have a thicker handle. Maybe I could just wrap it more with the knot to thicken it. However, I’m still not sure what style I like to use for the ribbons/knots for the handle.
It cost me just a little less than $11 including tax to create this bouquet:
Hydrangeas (5 bunches) = $10 / 6 bunches
1 1/2″ Satin ribbon (1 yard) = $15.99 / 50 yards – you can get this cheaper at PaperMart.com
Knot (2 yards) = $5.50 / 10 yards
Next up, I’ll be trying on carnations. They’re inexpensive and when bunched together, they somehow create the same effect and fullness.
Template The save-the-date measures 4″ x 5.5″. Page 2 and 3 contains the main save-the-date template that creates 4 save-the-dates. Page contains the vellum wrap template that creates 2 vellum wraps. Blue sailboat image is included in the template.
Click image below to download template
Directions Print page 3 on the back of page 2. Cut on gray solid lines. Print page 4 on vellum. Cut on gray solid lines. Score vellum in the middle. Wrap vellum on save-the-date. Hole punch on gray circles.
Cut 11″ of knot. Using a lighter or stove top, melt the ends of the knot to avoid fraying. Insert knot into the holes and make a square knot. Click here for instructions on how to make a square knot.
Insert completed save-the-date into envelope and you’re all set!
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. I don’t know exactly what flowers I like to use, but I’m definitely using white ones.
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