Summer will be here ANY day now, and I can’t hardly wait! I’m normally a fall and winter girl, but this year, I’m really feeling the summer vibes, coconut sunscreen smelling air, and sunshine (once the June gloom has burned off). I’m feeling inspired by the warm weather to go on more adventures, visit new places, and explore all that the California Central Coast has to offer.
Picnics have been popping up everywhere! They’re a great way to get outside and enjoy the fresh air alongside some good company, especially in the summertime. Personally, I love the aesthetic that all of these picnics have. They always look so romantic, whimsical, and inviting. The greatest part of it all? You can host a picnic for a casual or special occasion. I’ve even seen a lot of people incorporating a romantic picnic during their engagement!
Betsy (@livingthebetslife) and I hosted a picnic in the park with some of our friends who are also local influencers and bloggers from the Santa Barbara area who feature travel, lifestyle, and fashion. A picnic was the best way to kick-off the start of summer early and spend time with one another after being cooped up in our houses during 2020. When we reached out to Xochilt, founder of Picnics and Posies, about hosting a picnic, she proposed a citrus theme! This wasn’t a theme that we had seen done before, but we knew citrus was currently *trending*, so we were fully on board and loved the idea.
The citrus theme turned out AMAZING! Xochilt was so detail-oriented, creative, and communicative, which made it so easy to collaborate with her. The citrus theme allowed for a vibrant color scheme, focusing on orange, green, yellow, and pink, which made it quite easy to ensure the florals, food, and dessert were all cohesive. We had various citrus on the wooden table, which also helped the colors in the floral arrangement pop, such as grapefruit, red oranges, and lemons, which were an ode to our historic local farming. The floral arrangement by ella & louie flowers really stole the show and were the main focal point and complemented every detail that Xochilt and Betsy planned out.
Charcuterie, wine, and cake are must-haves at any picnic! In addition to their luxury wine tour, Villa Wine Bar has a wonderful wine collection for you to enjoy and they just launched their own charcuterie business named Travessa. Andersen’s Restaurant and Bakery, a long-time Santa Barbara bakery, made the beautiful marzipan Princess Cake for us to enjoy, which is made with Bavarian cream, spread of raspberry, between layers of sponge cake with Grand Marnier syrup drizzle, and a marzipan cover.
Whether you’re a Central Coast local looking to host an event or visiting from out of town, I highly recommend reaching out to Xochilt at Picnics and Posies to plan a picnic!
Local Businesses:
Picnics and Posies: Website | Instagram
Kristine Cramer Photography: Website | Instagram
ella & louie flowers: Website | Instagram
Villa Wine Bar: Website | Instagram
Travessa: Instagram
Andersen’s Restaurant and Bakery: Website | Instagram
Local Influencers and Bloggers:
Central Coasting California: Website | Instagram
The Bets Life: Website | Instagram
Michelle: Instagram
Monse: Instagram
