When the sun is shining and the weather is beautiful, the tendency can be to make every date a bit of an outdoor adventure. A hike through the woods. A bike ride. Watching a baseball game. But just because you want to be outside doesn't mean you can't be romantic. In fact, some of the most romantic dates you can plan take place right under the stars.
Met somebody on an internet dating site that you'd really like to impress? One of my very favorite dates is a French-style picnic. Beautiful weather, wonderful food, wine, fresh air, and good company. How much more romantic can you get?
Want to plan the perfect romantic French picnic? It's just about as easy as any date could be. Read on for tips on where to eat and what to bring along.
Planning Your Menu
The easiest part of planning a French picnic? The food. For me, the best thing about this kind of picnic menu is its simplicity: with a good variety of French cheeses, some sliced apples and grapes, olives, and a baguette, you can really impress without making any real effort. Sure, you could toss in some other items if you wanted to do something a bit fancier, but a simple spread is really all you need. As long as you accompany it with pretty glasses and a bottle or two of French wine (I like a red Bordeaux or a light and fruity Beaujolais), it'll all taste wonderful. And look very fancy and elegant while you're at it.
Choosing a Location
With the right attitude and a good bottle of wine, just about any location can be made romantic. For instance, just because you live in the middle of a busy city doesn't mean you can't have a romantic evening outdoors. Have your picnic in a public park, at an outdoor movie theatre or concert, on a terrace or rooftop, or if all else fails (including the weather) on your living room floor.
Have more space to roam? Then plan your picnic on the beach or in the countryside, or even string up some fairy lights and set up your picnic in your back yard. Just remember, though, if you've just met this person on an internet dating site, you don't want to take them anywhere too remote. If they aren't around other people, they may begin to worry a bit about their safety.
Packing up Your Supplies
What you bring along to your picnic depends, of course, on where you'll be going. If you're having a traditional French picnic, you'll need cheese knives and plates and forks and glasses and all that jazz, of course. But if you're going to be in the countryside or even in a public park you'll need to bring along a few extra items.
If the weather is wet, look to pack a moisture-proof barrier to lay down under your picnic blanket. Then pack up a few things like insect repellant, sunscreen, a shade umbrella, and even little comfy pillows to lean on. Want to make the evening feel ultra romantic? Pack your iPod and a little speaker set and a few windproof candles, as well. They'll help create a wonderful soft ambiance.
Keeping Entertained
If you're planning this kind of romantic picnic with your long-time partner, conversation alone should be enough to keep you entertained. But if, say, you met this person on an internet dating site and have only been out on a couple of dates, you might be nervous about lulls in the conversation. In that case, you may want to bring along something to keep you both entertained, just in case. Pack a frisbee, a kite, some playing cards, or even something as simple as a book of Mad Libs for a perfect afternoon out with your date.
