Casual Chic Picnicware

Source: atozebracelebrations.blogspot.com via Tressy on Pinterest

Looking for a way to combine drink glasses with silverware and napkins and make it look like part of your decor? Try using mason jars (STOP GROANING! I know... mason jars are everywhere!) lined with a scarf or napkin, and filled with silverware. Perfect for an outdoor wedding where you want to give it a 'casual but chic ' designer look.

And if you're not getting married use it for your favorite 4th of July picnic or other picnic get together with friends and family.

Party Punch, Bright and Sweet

Photo and recipe from Tastebook

Looking for a non-alcoholic option for a picnic wedding? One that will be thirst quenching without adding alcohol? Try this bright punch from Tastebook. Pineapple juice, pink lemonade, gingerale and strawberry ice cream are the primary flavors. For the exact recipe head to Tastebook where you'll find other recipes for alfresco weddings or just backyard picnics.

Red and Aqua Inspiration Board

Getting married outside, near the pool? Or just on your back lawn? This color combination is perfect for outdoor weddings and picnic like receptions.  

The Jones Soda carries through the aqua scheme with the addition of a small red tag as an accent. Ribbon wands to wave as the bride and groom walk down the aisle after the bride has been thoroughly kissed  make another great accent.  

Centerpieces are easy to make and pull together in a hurry.  It's easy to find picnic table covers in aqua, just hit your local Party Store.  

This inspiration board is great for the bride who's doing a lot of it herself with her friends and family.

Caramel Apple Grapes?

Yes, you've seen caramel apples for wedding sweet tables.  But I am positive few of you have seen caramel apple grapes.  These are large red seedless grapes first dipper in a caramel sauce, and then in some chopped nuts that are easy to eat and easy to make. 

Grapes are easier to make than apples, not much prep work, you can use Mazetti's Caramel Apple Dip (you can even go the low cal route) and add some sour cream, crushed nuts, crushed M&Ms or other crushed candies.  My mouth is watering!  Put grapes on lollipop sticks, toothpicks or skewers.  Dip, leaving some extra caramel on the bottom so the grapes will stand up.  Let cool in the frig and serve. 

You can decorate the sticks with ribbons or use coordinating colors for your wedding.  Perfect to polish off the end of your day!  No apple cores to deal with--seedless grapes have their uses!

All photos courtesy of Busy Mommy Blog

For complete recipe visit Busy Mommy at this link.  She'll give you all the details of how much sour cream to use and how long to heat your caramel dip.  Some bloggers have fabulous ideas, this is one of them!  Oops! Our grapes are ready to eat! Gotta run!  Have to personally taste test them! (Which means my husband at the whole first tray! Needless to say they are gone!)

Citrus Centerpieces

Looking for a cool and relaxing looking centerpiece for your picnic wedding? Try this simple, inexpensive, fruit centerpiece.  A combination of melons, citrus and mango or pineapples with a few calla lilies and you have a simple and easy summer centerpiece.

Looking for a different color combination? Just change out the fruit to suit your color scheme.  Be sure to add some lemon, lime, orange or pineapple juice to keep the fruit from browning.

Picnics Caprese Appetizers

Like all things caprese? Just grab a glass and make these great 'shooters.'  Mozzarella, tomato, some basil, and Caesar or Asiago cheese croutons with red wine vinaigrette.  A great marriage of flavors.  What better thing to serve at a wedding?  Cool, tasty, and easy to serve (and consume!)

If you're doing this outdoors consider using tiny plastic 'glasses' I used some tiny glasses I had at home but plastic is certainly doable. 

These are easy for your caterer (or Aunt Mary) to set up quickly, and don't have to be served but can be displayed on a picnic table with some crisp white napery showing off the colors and textures.

S'More Cups

Photo and recipe from Cookie Sheets and Cake Pans

OK, I don't know anyone who doesn't absolutely love the taste of S'Mores--do you?  So what could be more perfect for a sweet table at your wedding than these easy to make S'More Cups for Cookie Sheets and Cake Pans?  Previously posted from Pinterest and Texas Cottage believed to originally be from Pampered Chef's Recipes.

Photo from Pampered Chef Recipe Link

S'More Cups Recipe

7 whole graham crackers (1 cup finely crushed)

1/4 c powdered sugar

6 TBSP butter, melted

3 (1.55 oz) Hershey bars

12 large marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350°. Crush graham crackers in plastic bag, and mix with powdered sugar and melted butter in small bowl.

Place 1 TBSP of crumb mixture into the bottom of mini muffin pans (makes enough for 24). Press crumbs down with back of measuring spoon to create a shallow cup. Bake 4-5 minutes or until edges are bubbling.

In the meantime, break 2 of the Hershey bars into rectangles. Remove pan from oven and place one rectangle into each cup.

Cut large marshmallows in half crosswise using kitchen shears and dipping them in cold water. Place one marshmallow half, cut-side down, into each cup. Return to oven for 1-2 minutes, or until marshmallows start to puff up.

Remove from oven to cooling rack. Allow to cool for 15 minutes, then remove s'more cups from pan. Cool completely for 40-60 minutes.

Melt remaining Hershey bar in microwavable bowl (melt for about 1 minute, stirring every 30 seconds). Dip tops of s'more cups in chocolate and allow to cool.

Makes 24.

Comments from the cook: It was less expensive to buy one jumbo Hershey bar, so that's what I used. I cut each rectangle in half, and used small squares in each s'more cup...and they didn't seem short on chocolate at all :) I also chose to flick the chocolate across the top instead of dipping them.

These were amazing right after baking/cooling, and were also pretty good the next day (after being rewarmed in the oven for a few minutes).



If you use the Pampered Chef Link it will take you to all the products necessary to make these bites of heaven if you can't find them at home or at your local store.