It is unusual to bring flea market furniture and old TV sets in a wild forest for a picnic. This is part of the charm. Do not be afraid to put objects in an unexpected context. It can be as simple as that to spice up a party theme. These fabulous pictures were taken by photographer Roland Bello. You can see more inspiring food and lifestyle pictures on his Web site.

+ photos by Roland Bello
+ via English Muse

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On August 20th, 2009, there was an outstanding picnic party in Montreal. The Dîner en blanc (White Dinner) was imagined by François Pasquier 20 years ago. He ran 20 editions so far in Paris. His son Aymeric, who now lives in Montreal, organized the first edition in Montreal. A bid crowd invaded a large place in the city that is kept secret until the last minute. The goal is simply to pass a good time around a good meal in an unusual urban place.

For this chic affair, guests bring their picnic with a or two bottles of wine. In France, many people bring Champagne. Everyone must wear white clothes and people should dress up. If you own a gorgeous white hat, you should wear it. Besides the guests, the tables and chairs are all white.

Dîner en blanc encourages people to bring white china and to carry their food and drinks in a white basket or bag. Do not forget to bring your wine glasses, white linen napkins and a few tea votive candles for candlelight dining.

I love the concept because it is an elegant party where everybody pitched in. This is a true experience. Everyone that went was thrilled. As I discovered how they organized this large-scale picnic, I thought you could recycle the concept for a big outdoor reunion.

Set Up the Tables and Chairs

A bus brought the guests to the location. This process ensures a steady flow of people, which is key to the set up of the tables and chairs. In France, people bring their own chairs and tables. In Montreal, they were supplied.

The guests reserved as a twosome formed by a man and a woman. This is because the event design implies that you need to be accompanied by someone from the other gender.

Every pair/couple gets a specific place (row and number in the row). Each twosome received an overall floor plan to locate their row and a detailed plan of their section. Then, an orchestrated ballet started. Men picked their folding table and 2 chairs. Women grabbed the white tablecloth. You eyeball the location of your table in the row and as your table neighbors arrive you move to the right or to the left until the long communal table is built. It sounds complicated but it is not. 1200 guests were ready to sit down in less than 20 minutes last week.

All the men sit on one side while the women sit on the other side. The event design is based on symmetry. It is beautiful to see the alternating rows of people all dressed in white.

Fancy Food

The food that people bring is fancier than at a typical park picnic. If you do not wish to make it yourself, you can always ask a caterer to prepare the food for you. This way, it is already package to be carried around. With picnic basket on wheels, you can go the extra miles. I saw a Parisian couple who brought their cast-iron fondue pot to eat a cheese fondue.

Like I said, everyone that went to Montreal 2009 White Dinner had a fabulous time. I think that recycling their concept for your party in a park would be a hit. Watch this TV report from Radio-Canada about the first Dîner en blanc that happened in Montreal. Even if it is in French, just watching the images would give you a good idea of the event.

MORE:
+ Images from the Facebook group of the Montreal’s Dîner en blanc
+ Montreal’s Dîner en blanc

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You know that I am a fan of this UK store. The bright sun shining all day is the perfect setting for a picnic for two. Hopefully for us, the Blyton Picnic set is available in the States at Picnic Fun. But the styled picture of Graham and Green makes the picnicware so more desirable.

I told you about this red tin picnic set  last year for Father’s Day. A removable willow tray sits inside the red tin to double the storage when needed. It is a picnic set for 2 that comes with a selection of hand crafted accessories. You get an enamel painted flask, two ceramic plates, two ceramic mugs, 3-piece metal flatware, a salt and pepper shaker set and two cute embroidered napkins.

The acrylic outdoor dinnerware is available in clear, green and lavender. You can be stylish even when you eat outdoor. Bring fresh fruit skewers and macarons at a picnic.

SOURCING:
+ Blyton Picnic Set £85
+ Blyton Vintage Picnic Basket for 2 $160 USD
+ Picnic Blanket £65
+ Acrylic Filigree Plates £6.95 each
+ Acrylic Filigree Bowls £6.95 each
+ Retro style Plastic Cutlery £22 – also available in pink

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Giving something handmade or crafted feels more special. Picnics are about taking the time to sit, eat and talk. It is about making time for yourself and your loved ones. It feels right the perfect gift for newlyweds or a bride-to-be.

SewnNatural produced the retro style picnic blankets at the top. I am partial to the red gingham quilted picnic blanket. She always used a denim back for easy maintenance.

Then, fortyducks creates an updated version of the picnic basket. Since they are made to order, you can specify which colors you want it. Her Patricia Picnic set comes with a reversible tote, a picnic blanket with water resistant backing and coordinating storage sleeve, 4 plastic plates and 4 Place setting roll ups with utensils and cloth napkins.

I love the custom couple silhouette print by Nella Designs. You select the silhouettes from the template – 6 girls, 4 guys. For a little extra, she will produce the print with your own silhouette. I think it is cute and fun.

SOURCING:
+ Picnic Blanket / Retro and Roomy in Red by SewnNatural $75 USD
+ Eco Picnic Blanket / Reclaimed Vintage Madras by SewnNatural $75 USD
+ Custom Couple Silhouette Print with date by Nelly Designs $20 USD, from your own photos $26 USD
+ The Patricia Picnic Set by fortyducks $150 USD

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Whenever possible, I reuse and recycle tableware and decorations for designing my parties. By interchanging some table accessories and the menu, your party will look and feel different. Here changing the table cloth plus a few decorative allows you to create a look for Father’s Day and another for the Fourth of July.

This theme plays with red and blue. You could bring the star at the fourth of July through food presentation. Serve slices of carambola as a side dessert for example.

I selected picnic accessories from Crate and Barrel to illustrate the principles of this concept.

+ Preserve Flatware $5.95 USD for 8 place settings, 24-piece set
+ Bamboo Picks $2.95 USD
+ Alethia Stripe Napkin on sale $1.95 USD, reg. $3.95
+ Star Candleholders on sale $1.50 each, reg. $2.95 in red and blue
+ Carnavale Picnic Blanket $39.95 USD

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The Memorial Day’s weekend marks the start of summer. I will give you a head start on inspirations for remarkable picnic with your friends and family members.

First way to impress your guests is with these adorable BBQ cutlery envelop. I am getting two packets. If I like them, I may buy more to give as hostess gifts. The BBQ Cutlery Kraft Envelops are the creations of etsy seller Miss Pickles Press.

Then, it is the magic of the styled pictures of UK retailer Toast that inspired me. Take clues on how to nicely wrap your sandwiches. I was interviewed earlier this week by a journalist (the article is yet to be posted) on themes for summer bashes. I referred to tiffin tins, probably because they are on my wish list. Plus there is no chance to break the stainless picnic set if you mix your picnic with a bicycle ride.

Every party should have its signature drink. For a hot summer afternoon, make a pitcher of limoncello and light (less sugar) cranberry juice. Arrange the proportions to taste but their should be in the range of 1/3 limoncello with 2/3 cranberry juice or 1/4 limoncello with 3/4 cranberry juice. You can prepare it in advance in a thermos bottle. Add ice cubes to the glass when you are ready to serve. The Sip and Repeat Cocktail Sticks, again by Miss Pickles Press, adds a welcoming touch to your drink.

You can bring a nice arrangement of cut flowers or gather a bunch of wild flowers on place. If you like to do picnics on a beach at the cottage, get a couple of wood bath mats on the sand with a long bath brush and a bar of natural soap.

SOURCING:
+ BBQ cutlery envelop $15 for a pack of 12 on etsy
+ tiffin tins small £12, medium £22, large £39 at Toast
+ picnic set £39 at Toast
+ madras tablecloth £25
+ mango wood bath mat £35
+ Sip and Repeat Cocktail Sticks by Miss Pickles Press $10 for a pack of 12
+ scholar vase £49, available in sky blue, grenadine and citrus green

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+ More and more move far away for the traditional wedding invites. Green grass details and a bird look adorable and elegant on these letterpress invites. Via Moontree

+ You can always stop at Oh Joy! for a breath of fresh ideas. She made a picnic perfect montage where you can see the wooden utensils from Paper+Cup I shown you last week plus other items at Anthropologie. It is lovely. She designed the two 3D wall hooks for Urban Outfitters some time ago. The Home Sweet Home Mail Hook and the Tree Silhouette hook are out of stock. I do not know if they will be available again.

+Another option are the recycled metal alphabet hooks at Urban Outfitters. You can opt for the initials of the members of the family or write a word. $6 per letter.

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Whenever you do a picnic or an other event when you wish to add a vintage vibe, you are that wooden utensils will set the right tone. The beautifully crafted wooden utensils of Paper+Cup are available at Anthropologie. Think of reusing the red and white strings on your party accessories.

If you wish a custom message for your event, order directly from Paper+Cup. You need to order a minimum of 50 pieces. It starts at $87.50 USD.

If you are aware of this fact, Anthropologie opened two weeks ago their first Canadian store in Toronto. Lucky Torontorians! For the rest of us in Canada, we can still rely on Anthropologie’s online shopping.

SOURCING:
+ Wooden Ice Cream Scoops $14.95 USD for 24
+ Wooden Utensils for 8 $22.09 USD for 8 knife, fork and spoon settings
+ Canadian store is located at Shops at Don Mills 1090 Don Mills Rd. (at Lawrence Blvd)
+ Find directions to an Anthropologie store near you

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+ This Swedish design bird house is designed to feed smaller birds. Each one furnishes four feeding holes. I love the design of the Hanging bird townhouse (£35) by Berry Red available at Not on the High Street, London, UK. I also like the Handmade Caravan Birdbox (£45) by Lindleywood.  Via WeeBirdy

+ This Roasted Tomato, Ricotta and Mascarpone Tart for an Easter picnic caught my eyes. This is definitely a recipe I will try when the tomatoes are in season. Via Cannelle et Vanille

+ Then look at the board of the most adorable third birthday of a little girl. The theme was a girlie, elegant and inviting tea party. Photos by life.in.motion on flickr – Rights reserved images.

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+ Jorre van Ast designed a set of functional screw caps that fit twist off standard jars. The set is built for most common sizes of glass jars used for food. The Jar Tops provide several serving devices. There is a better option than throwing them in the recycle bin. Simply repurpose them with the Jar tops. ? 14,95

+ The Herb Garden comes with an integrated pocket to keep your herb scissors. I think it is just the right side. Designed by Officeoriginair. Available all white or in white and grey. ? 29,95

+ I found the invaluable picnic knife at the UK retailer Cox & Cox. This wooden handle knife features a bread knife and a corkscrew. £18

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It may still be winter down here but I start thinking about summer entertaining.

Parrot outdoor tableware collection is available in an orange pattern and a blue pattern. Both patterns are different. The blue motif comprises more elements but it is the orange that caught my eyes.

Designed by Hanna Werning, the orange Parrot collection comes in a side plate, a breakfast bowl, a serving bowl, a salad bowl, the salad utensils and a mug. The blue pattern adds in a beach mattress, 2 formats of cool bags and a beach bag. Various solid color serving ware items complete the Parrot outdoor series.

I am not sure but I thing the Kettle Barbecue line has been expanded to include colors that coordinate with the Parrot collection. It is not available in dark blue, bold green and pink.

+ images by Sagaform

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As people are interested to know what is on their plate to avoid unnecessary additives and eat healthier, it is safe to say that more people may wish to bring their lunch at work.

Here are some cool and practical lunch boxes to bring your lunch. Functionality is key. You wish to preserve your food as fresh as possible.

Aladdin Do Lunch collection is filled with cool lunch boxes and containers. Since a salad tastes better when it is assembled at the last minute; I find it complicated to carry around the different elements. Aladdin Lunch & Go Salad Set includes small containers that fit well inside when you are done eating.

Aladdin Lunch & Go is ideal for a picnic as you can assemble individual servings for every members of the family.

SOURCING:
+ Aladdin Lunch and Go Lunchbox $12.99 USD
+ Aladdin Lunch and Go Mini Lunchbox $8.99 USD
+ Aladdin Lunch & Go Salad Set $8.99 USD
+ Via Minor Details

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