How To Make Your Church Picnic Tables Beautiful On A Budget

~How To Make
Your Church Picnic Tables
Beautiful On A Budget~

How on earth do you make your church picnic tables beautiful on a budget? The secret is…carefully plan! Especially if there are lots of tables! I decorated thirty-three tables to be exact! It’s loads of fun and hard work, but totally worth the effort! Keep in mind, you will need to recruit some help if you have a lot of picnic tables!

1. Find Out
The Theme
Of The Picnic

Check out the invites going out! What colors are showing on it? You may or may not want to do an exact “picnic” color theme. Maybe you want to change it up or do something other than red and white checkered patterns. Feel free to think outside of the box! But don’t wander too far outside of the box, because it is still a picnic theme. Your guests need to feel at home and comfortable enough to roam around, chat and have fun!

2. Determine
How Many Tables
You Will Need

What kind of tables will you have? Are they round, rectangular or picnic tables? Will you have an assortment of these? Make sure you ask the person in charge of the event. Everything else is pretty much based off of the theme and table information. So, this is important to use for planning!

Once you find out about your tables, measure the length and width (thickness of the edge of the table) of all of your tables. Only measure…if you’re going with tablecloths or table runners. The “thickness” has to do with finding clips to hold your fabric down on the end of each table in case of wind.

3. Make A Visual Table Chart
For Your Reference

Usually, I draw my chart on a simple piece of paper and stick it in my purse while travelling to shop for table items. It’s easy to pull out and visualize: (1) how many tables I actually have to work with and (2) how I want to set everything up on those tables. (3) The chart also helps me visualize how many items I will need to set up on those tables.

I draw the chart exactly how the tables will be set up for the picnic. For example, six rows of five “long rectangular table” columns. Maybe some picnic tables are running perpendicular to the rows. Just jot all of this information down. It will greatly help you!

4. Browse Pinterest
For Seasonal Ideas

This step is one of my favorites on how to make your church picnic tables beautiful on a budget. There are so many ideas to look through, but don’t just do exactly what someone else did. Be a little creative and come up with some ideas of your own.

If you’re on a really tight budget, find ideas with some items your church already owns. Lanterns are very much a staple item in Spring, Summer and Fall decorations. If you don’t have any, it might be a great investment for your church. When you find an idea you like, take a screen shot of it on your phone and save it to your pictures. This will make it easier to find!

5. Start Shopping
For Picnic Items

Here comes the fun part! Plan a couple of months ahead if you have time, due to shipping rates. This will also give you time to browse through stores and price out items. On the other hand, shopping may inspire you with new ideas! Think about purchasing items you can use again. Buy multiple items in bulk: tablecloths, table runners, vases or tin buckets, flowers, and candy.

Usually it’s way cheaper to shop Costco, Sam’s Club, and Amazon for bulk items, especially if you have limited time. Ask around to see if any friends have memberships to any of these places to save money. Don’t forget tax exempt status for religious organizations!

Occasionally, I’ll find some vases in thrift stores. CV Linens and Tablecloths Factory have bulk table runners super cheap. However, someone should steam all of the wrinkles out of the fabric before using! Make it your mission to make your tables shine with love, joy and creativity!

6. Get Ready
For Set Up

It’s time to work! Setting up table decorations is never glamorous, but it’s all part of the fun! How to make your church picnic tables beautiful on a budget does become easier over time.

Be sure to head over to the event place the day before the picnic. This is best, if you’re still not sure how everything will look on the picnic tables. Sometimes an issue will arise while you’re doing a “trial run.” Maybe an extra table was added without you knowing or you need something more to fill an empty space. These things do happen!

Recruit some helpers ahead of time!! Set up and tear down can be really rough if there are a lot of tables and you’re the only one doing it. Watch that overbearing heat in the summertime! Try asking for some help! You’ll be amazed at those who really want to help you out.

Go to bed early and arrive early to tackle the project you worked so long and hard to make beautiful! Think about the time and place you want to tell your helpers to meet you for set up and tear down (time may vary). Also, where to place all of the tear down items after they’re used. Send thank you notes later and praise God for a smooth and blessed picnic day!