Summer season is invariably a good time to think about picnics.
The warm weather is perfect for outdoor activities and trips.
Picnics are a great chance to spend quality time with your loved ones while enjoying the sunshine - with good food and fun activities.
However, know that planning for a picnic could be just as tedious.
In the process you will have many options on particular things and you have to make major decisions out of that.
One of the things you should first decide of is the kind of picnic you want, and importantly the number of people you're expecting.
Don't forget the head count, as this would be your main basis for the amount of food and things you'll be packing.
Adversely, it would also affect your budget.
Once that's settled, the next one to think about is what to use for the picnic - tables or blankets? Some people don't really treat this as such a big thing.
Thing is, seating arrangement is one detail that's commonly overlooked at.
What you may not know is that, your choice could actually have influence in the ambiance and feel of your picnic.
Either way, it would surely add to the whole experience.
The choice will depend largely on your preference.
But should you try one from the other, you should also consider your guests.
For example, you've been going to picnics with tables and chairs and you want to try to use blanket this time.
Consider if that setting would work for your guests too.
If you have lots of children around, picnic blankets may not be effective though.
If you intend to hold a picnic party, tables and chairs are more appropriately organized.
Picnic blankets are great for dates for two.
Picnic tables come in different materials and shapes and sizes.
There are round, square, and rectangular tables, each with different seating capacity.
The bigger the table, the more seats it can accommodate.
This is where the head count's importance becomes obvious.
You can easily estimate how many tables and chairs you'll need base on the expected number of guest.
Large picnics may need more than one table at the site.
You can buy extra tables and chairs or request your guests to bring some their own.
However tables and chairs would probably take some space within your van or pickup.
Choose the portable ones - foldable and lightweight.
Picnic blankets are obviously more convenient to carry around.
Even the heaviest fabric could still be lighter than tables.
You just need to fold them neatly and they won't take so much space in the car.
And they're cheaper too.
However, it's only applicable on dry ground.
And if it's especially windy, blankets may not be a good idea either.
Blankets are ideal for closer bonding, where people sit together in a rather limited space sharing the food.
No wonder they're popular for romantic dates and even gourmet picnics.
But practically most types of picnics will do as long as you're comfortable with that.