Picnic essentials

5 Decide on the tableware you'll need
Cutlery may or may not be necessary; it depends on what you're serving (though our advice is to try to make something that doesn't require knives and forks). If you're bringing wine, then you'll need drinking glasses - it doesn't have to be stemware, tumblers are fine. However, if you're going with soft drinks and small water bottles, you won't need them. Also useful: a small cutting board and knife that come in handy for cutting cheese and bread. Moist towelettes are also handy for wiping hands before eating, and don't forget the package of pretty paper napkins! Shown: Syntes Konst 50-pack napkins from IKEA (ikea.ca), $2.99.

6 Fill up your cooler or mini-fridge
Unless it's red wine, you'll want to chill it. Bring more than one drink per person and lots of extra water. There are lots of options for keeping your drinks cold, from good old-fashioned Colemans to collapsible coolers. Or, get this new technology that'll have your pals oohing and ahhing...a cute mini-fridge on wheels! This Mobicool wheeled 18-litre fridge is available at Canadian Tire (canadiantire.ca), $149.99. Happy picnicking!

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