Whether it’s a first date, wedding anniversary, or in our case “just because,” picnics have always been considered a romantic gesture and the perfect way to spend some quality bonding time with your special someone. But if you are like me, the stress of pulling off the perfect picnic can get in the way of enjoying the date. Perhaps that was why Hubby and I never did one. I mean, preparing food, packing it all up (along with everything else needed), and traveling some place where you will spend more time laying it all out and cleaning it all up than reveling in each other’s company was just something we were not looking forward to. If only there was an affordable company who could come and do it for us! And guess what? THERE IS! Launched on Nov. 20, Hippie Teepee Picnic is a new small business that is ready to make your special date memorable.
Kathy Joglar always enjoyed hosting get-togethers, dinners, anniversaries, kid’s parties … you name it. But when COVID-19 happened, all her parties came to a stop. She was missing her friends and family and was looking for ways to be able to spend time together in the safest way possible. That’s when the idea of having an outdoor picnic came to mind. One thing led to another, and before she knew it, Hippie Teepee Picnic was born. But Kathy didn’t want to just offer memorable picnic experiences; she wanted it to remain affordable.
“Lots of families are struggling financially due to the situation we’re living in, so we wanted to give everyone an opportunity to enjoy a beautiful date or gathering at a fair cost,” Kathy explained.
The basic Picnic Bundle for two is $85 for two hours and includes a canvas teepee, the theme of your choice, pillows and floor cloth, a picnic basket, a small wooden table, tableware, decorative flowers, a water and ice bucket, a sanitizing station, games, a personalized letter board, and best of all … SET UP AND CLEAN UP! (You can book an extra hour for only $15, but we found two hours was perfect for us.) They also offer some extras for additional costs. We added mini cakes for $20, which included a mix of 16 vanilla, chocolate, and red velvet tiny, tasty delights. And we also decided to try a charcuterie made by Ana María Girotto from @brieme_cheeseboards, who Kathy partners with. Other extras include everything from sweet tea to a mini photo session with photographer Jalen Joglar. We opted out of that and went with having my daughter snap a few pictures with our iPhone, but after we saw how cute everything came out, we regretted not booking a mini session. Next time for sure.
We chose the Southern Comfort theme because I thought it would look best with our backyard and the rustic feel we created for it. It was perfect! Kathy texted me half an hour before our scheduled time to see if there were any special instructions about setting up. After directing her on how to get into our back alley, she and her husband, Omar, arrived, wearing masks and gloves, ready to set up. I couldn’t help but chat with the couple a bit as they worked. Kathy told me that Omar is her biggest supporter, and we saw firsthand how true that is. Besides being such a nice couple, they were so professional. EVERY detail was thought of, even bug spray and hand sanitizer! In almost no time, they transformed our backyard into a beautiful getaway, where Hubby and I were able to escape and enjoy each other’s company.
They left, and our date officially began. After trying all the food, we decided to add our names to a Jenga block set and then played a couple rounds of the game. It was so much fun reading the messages of past picnic guests on all the different blocks. But, not as much as beating Hubby THREE times – not that I was counting. Next, we brought out the lawn dominoes that were provided, and Hubby taught me how to play. It was all so relaxed that, at one point, we moved stuff around, laid back in the tent, and just enjoyed the moment. Seriously, how often do you just lay down in your own backyard?
Let’s face it, the past few months have been anything BUT a picnic! However, this date certainly was a reminder that, with someone special, any day can be one!
For more information or to book a picnic, contact Kathy at HippieTeepeePicnic@gmail.com or at (407) 202-9707. You can also find them on Instagram and Facebook: @HippeeTeepeePicnic.
