What Are Picnic Etiquette Rules? The Do’s and Don’ts To Have the Best Time Ever

There is an etiquette to follo for everything: which cutlery to use during various courses of a meal, how to welcome guests into your home, how to set the table and even how to behave in a Japanese restaurant. And yes, there is also a picnic etiquette to follow. Now that the good weather has arrived, the days are longer and the climate is milder, there is nothing nicer than organizing a lunch or a snack under the trees, to be enjoyed while lying on the lawn. A tradition, that of the picnic, born in the most noble courts of Europe and still much loved today: did you know that July is the National Picnic Month?

It is certainly a more informa type of meal compared to other events, but even in this case you must not forget the bon ton. Eating outdoors, in fact, is not synonymous with a lack of good manners and etiquette offers for this very reason precise indications for organizing a perfect picnic according to the rules of etiquette.

Food and Beverages' Do's and Don'ts

The first rule to follow, in any part of the picnic, is to make sure the guest is comfortable since he or she is already in the unusual situation of eating on the floor. For this reason, the very first thing to do is to think of a type of food that is quite easy to eat without sitting at the table and with your hands (even if there should never be a lack of small plates to put the food on).

Avoid bringing foods that are too greasy, full of sauces or gravy, and opt instead for drier and simpler dishes to consume. The ideas are endless and range from sandwiches and rustic pies to couscous and pasta salads, fruit salads or even fruit skewers.

Obviously, there must be enough food for everyone, so it is better to have plenty of both food and drinks. Make sure there are enough and that everyone can find something to their taste, and make sure you have enough water for the whole day.

Remember to think about having some remedies to keep insects and ants away – even better if natural ones – and make sure you have enough napkins, plates, glasses and cutlery (if you have any dishes that require them):  you can choose the ecological disposable ones or opt for some beautiful picnic baskets.

In any case, a fundamental rule of picnicking is to leave the place exactly as you found it. So, bring several bags to throw away the waste properly separated and make sure you do not leave any type of waste lying around.

Make Your Guests Feel At Ease

In addition to food, there are many other precautions you can take to make your guest feel at ease and have a great experience. In addition to blankets to put on the floor to be able to sit comfortably, remember to also bring some folding chairs: they can be useful if there are people who have difficulty sitting on the floor for various reasons, perhaps health-related.

Don't forget sunscreen for particularly hot days, mosquito repellent and a small first aid kit, especially if there are children, as well as a series of accessories that can make the day more comfortable and convenient.

When setting up the picnic, try to choose a place that will please everyone. There will always be those who prefer the sun and those who want the shade, so the best location should offer both options. The ideal solution would be to sit near the trees, which with their branches are perfect natural umbrellas.

Finally, in addition to eating and drinking, it is good to think of some activities to pass the time and have fun together, which could be, depending on the tastes of the guests, a ball, a deck of cards, a guitar, etc. Always remember, however, that your fun must not bother others, etiquette is very careful about this. Since the picnic takes place in a public place, take care to be generally unobtrusive and respect the other guests.

Is There a Dress Code for Picnics?

In general, etiquette says that picnic clothing should be functional, so it should include comfortable clothes that allow you to be comfortable in nature. So avoid tight or short clothes and high heels and opt (in addition to suggesting to your guests) for wide skirts or trousers and flat shoes.

Remind your guests that the right accessories are essential, especially a sun hat and a jacket in case it clouds or the wind picks up; if the day is uncertain, remind everyone to bring a raincoat for emergencies.

These are general rules for a “normal” picnic, but the beauty of these events is that they leave a lot of room for imagination: a fun idea could be to choose a theme for your event and invite guests to show up with a dress code that recalls it.

Do Guests Have to Follow a Certain Etiquette?

Always remember that the rules of etiquette do not only apply to those who organize the event but also to those who participate. The picnic is no different and therefore even in this case, if you are the guest and not the organizer, you still need to follow some small precautions.

First of all, remember that this is an informal event and therefore it is good manners to ask how you can contribute, perhaps by bringing something to eat or drink, or by helping with the sheets to be laid out on the ground or anything else that may be useful for the event.

Once at the picnic, you should pay attention to how you sit. Etiquette dictates that before sitting on the blanket, it is good manners to take off your shoes and leave them on the grass. Once seated, never point your feet toward the food and be careful about the position you assume.

The rules of good manners say that ladies can sit with their heels under their bottoms and vary the pose by keeping their legs folded behind them or to the side, while gentlemen can sit with one leg folded to their chest and the other on the grass, or with their legs crossed Indian style.