Create an extraordinary picnic

If the thought of a picnic conjures images of gingham blankets, wicker baskets and plastic cutlery in your mind, you need to think again about the glamorous and spectacular opportunities for hosting an extraordinary picnic. As luxury party planners, we are often asked to create extraordinary picnic style experiences (see Lunch on a Hill). The days of getting grass in your cucumber sandwiches are long gone and in its place are epic possibilities for extravagance and decadence.

Set the scene right from the start by arriving in style; this is not the time to prop open the boot and use the parcel shelf as a buffet table. Instead, turn up to your destination in a Bentley where a footman dressed in full livery will welcome and escort you towards the festivities.

Forget any misconceptions about folding furniture or cup holders because for an extraordinary picnic, you need a beautiful raj style tent to house your alfresco banquet. These stylish alternatives to marquees can hold as few as six of your closest friends or up to 100 of your entourage, making them perfect for intimate dining or lavish afternoon revelries.

Your guests will be able to recline in style on the plethora of Bedouin furniture dotted around, from pouffes and cushions to carved stools and sofas. At the centre of it all, a table laden with the finest gilded plates and crystal glasses will scream alfresco glamour, with seats around the table looking more like thrones than flat-pick furniture.

Because this is an extraordinary picnic, you won’t be serving soggy quiche on paper plates, but rather a three-course meal waited on by your personal footmen. Fresh, local ingredients are the key to creating the most sumptuous of banquets and with your catering facilities concealed from your guests in a series of supplementary raj tents, your fellow diners will be pleasantly delighted to be plied with the finest food and wine served on real crockery with genuine silver cutlery.

Tepid tea served from a flask is simply not acceptable at an extraordinary picnic, so conclude your meal with real Turkish coffee served from traditional bronze coffee pots.

Photo credits: Coutts – Raj Tent Club, Timeless Tents, Housetohome, PushPR, Pinterest