Organising a tennis-themed picnic is an excellent way to bring people together for an outdoor celebration with food and decor in common interest. Our experts have all the tips needed for hosting an unforgettable tennis-inspired gathering!
Use yellow, green and white decor items like table covers with tennis ball designs printed onto them or drinkware decorated with rackets or tennis balls painted onto it to add pops of yellow, green and white hues to your room.
1. Decorate with tennis balls
Attain a tennis theme in your party decorations with simple yellow, green and white accessories easily available at most retail outlets. Utilize yellow tablecloths, Ping-Pong table covers or green felt table cloths to set the scene and then complete it by purchasing tennis-themed paper plates, napkins and cups adorned with tennis ball designs that coordinate perfectly with your party theme.
Create your own table accessories using items already around the house. For instance, old tennis balls can be cut open and filled with cardboard to form unique bracelets or necklaces for guests as a special memento from your party.
Other simple ways to decorate with tennis balls include using them as centerpiece decorations. Simply fill a large glass vase or multiple vases and surround them with several racquets for an eye-catching centerpiece display. Or you could try crafting a tennis ball wreath – Dukes & Duchesses have a fantastic tutorial for this project, while Polka Dot Made has one as well that can turn an ordinary vase into a hanging planter!
As party favors, give each of your guests an inexpensive tennis-themed trophy as a party favor. Consider stocking a bag with Chap Stick, sunscreen, colorful Band-Aids and mini deodorants; wrap each item individually in green cellophane bags tied with decorative tennis racket ribbons for a special finishing touch!
2. Set up a ping pong table
An appealing aspect of hosting a tennis-themed party is its variety of fun activities built right into its theme. Encourage competitive spirits among your guests with a beer pong tournament where players must toss ping-pong balls into cups filled with beer organized into triangular cups; or switch it out for soda instead, swapping out ping-pong balls for small toys like toy racquets for kids.
At any tennis-themed party, adding a table is an effective way to ensure everyone can participate and enjoy themselves – but if you need an easier set-up option or don’t already own one, try one of these DIY ping-pong tables instead! Designed with quick net attachment systems that make assembly a snap; many also include paddles and balls so there’s no need to buy extra accessories separately!
Food buffets are an integral component of any party, and an easy way to add tennis flair is with these 3-tier food serving trays in tennis colors and shapes. Perfect for holding appetizers, desserts and finger foods; each tray also features a hole at its base to store drinks or ice for your beverages! For added flair decorate your food table with these tennis-themed cupcake toppers that add flair!
If you have access to a projector, use it to project onto a large screen or TV and show your guests some classic tennis matches from past Wimbledon tournaments. Or you could highlight one that was especially gripping such as Bjorn Borg versus John McEnroe in 1980 or Roger Federer vs Rafael Nadal in 2008. As an added treat, serve some Pimm’s to mark this momentous event, as well as non-alcoholic Wimbledon mocktails for those with allergies and children alike!
3. Serve up a gourmet picnic
As your guests enjoy their picnic meal, the right picnic food can leave an unforgettable impression on them. A gourmet spread can include finger foods, summer salads and heartier options like sandwiches or wraps. Incorporate yellow and green hued foods that complement the tennis theme like cucumber sandwiches with melon slices or macaroni cheese as part of the spread, or serve up some sweet fruit as dessert.
When serving up a bowl of fruit, aim to include popular varieties, like strawberries, bananas and pineapple. That way, everyone will have something they enjoy eating! For extra color on your platter you could add in some colorful skewers of berries, cherries and grapes – it would also look beautiful.
Online retailers offer many opulent picnic accessories, such as 3-tier food trays, sets of 4 white ceramic cups and reusable Tupperware containers to keep snacks and desserts organized. As outdoor picnics can be quite cumbersome when it comes to handing out flatware, opt for items that easily slip into your picnic bag like takeout boxes as these make life simpler when making plans on the fly!
Your picnic’s location should provide endless entertainment. If it takes place near a tennis court, play doubles with guests or run through basic drills to teach beginners the ropes; bring kids along, try organizing a mini tournament and award the winner with something like a new tennis bag; if it takes place in your backyard setting you could set up badminton courts or play catch!
4. Decorate with tennis rackets
Decorate your tablesscapes with yellow, green and white party supplies in order to achieve a consistent theme. Consider tennis balls, tennis rackets and wrist sweatbands as these will add fun touches to your event. Additionally, tennis themed food may help fit in well – use a tennis racquet-shaped cookie cutter for making sandwiches using peanut butter and jelly ingredients, spear melon slices into balls using Popsicle sticks as tennis balls or serve strawberries and cream at Wimbledon-themed picnics!
Vintage tennis rackets make ideal garden decor when repurposed as whimsical garden decor. Hang them from trees or lean them up against walls to add whimsical accents. Or turn their racket heads into memo boards by stitching an American flag out of red and blue ribbon onto a wooden racket head – an easy way to display important notes or reminders in a creative manner!
Make the experience memorable by providing your guests with an interactive tennis racquet game! Cover a table in vibrant green tablecloth or construction paper, draw lines of a tennis court with white masking tape, give each guest their own paper plate and use their “tennis racquets” to hit balloons back and forth using paper plates as “tennis racquets”, until one guest keeps all their balloons off of the ground! Whoever has more stay-up balloons will win!
If you’re marking an important occasion, give your guests a parting gift to remember the party by. This is an easy and meaningful way of thanking them for attending, while leaving them with something they’ll treasure forever. Simply cut a circle out of an old tennis ball and fill it with candy; add ribbon and name tags if necessary for an additional personal touch!
5. Set up a photo booth
Photo booths can add an extra fun element to any picnic by helping capture memories and creating memories for all attendees. DIY options exist using simple digital cameras with props; or purchase ready-made versions to simplify the process. It is important to plan in advance, taking into consideration lighting conditions and backdrop preferences as well as whether printed copies will be needed or digital delivery is sufficient for guests.
Make sure that guests can easily see the photo booth and any instructions or requirements necessary for taking photographs, by placing signs near it or even using directional arrows. Also consider having a table equipped with guest book and glue near it so people can leave pictures or comments easily.
Props such as hats, glasses, silly signs, feather boas and blow up items will inspire guests to be creative and playful with their poses. You can easily access these from both home or dollar store. Tennis balls in bright colours also add flair as do face towels, wrist sweat bands and cheap visors for additional accessories.
Add ambience and create an inviting space by stringing vintage light bulbs around the area, especially if your picnic will take place during night time when it may be darker and guests less willing to bare their faces for photos. Consider including fairy or string lights too for added magic and creating an inviting and enjoyable setting for your guests.