Meet the Client: Seacoast Picnic | Visit Portsmouth, NH
I remember when my brother told me about the honeymoon package he booked with his first wife, and how everything was inclusive—meaning meals, hotel, drinks, and even tips for the waitstaff were all part of the price he paid for the trip. I thought, that’s the way to do it. You never have to stress about anything the rest of your time on vacation!
That’s what Seacoast Picnic reminds me of. All you have to do is book a picnic, and then show up—and everything else is taken care of for you.
That’s my favorite thing about this brand, even though there are so many other things about it to love. I just really appreciate that I could book a picnic and then not have to worry about a single detail—not the setup, not the breakdown, not making it beautiful and inviting; not even bringing food or utensils or flowers.
All of it is taken care of by the founder, Emily Huxtable, almost invisibly like she’s a house-elf, so you can be fully immersed and take a real break from your life and all the other things you have on your plate already.
And Emily leaves no detail overlooked. Apart from being versed on park guidelines if you want to host your event somewhere with plenty of space and parking (for example, did you know you’re not allowed to use glass in some parks?), she also personalizes every picnic to your preferences—from theme to color scheme. So whether it’s a Sweet Sixteen or a bridal shower, she’s got you covered.
Her picnics truly elevate the usual picnic experience, too. How many times have you set up a blanket, just to have the corners fly up at the slight breeze? Or how many times have you set plates on the ground, only to attract dozens of ants within minutes?
Emily has found solutions to all these picnic woes, from tarps and weighted blankets, to low tables and Moroccan-style seating.
Up to this point, Emily has relied for her website and social channels on photos she’s captured from her phone—usually of her luxurious picnic setups before any of the guests arrive—and a few photos her clients have tagged her in.
But she wanted to take her brand to the next level, which is why she brought me in for two picnic shoots: First a summer-themed shoot, then an autumn one.
Emily actually consulted with me beforehand, asking what I’d recommend if she wanted to be the leader in these kinds of events for the seacoast.
My thought was that we capture the joy that comes with hosting and being a participant in one of these elevated picnics. Sure, what gal doesn’t love a cute curation of flowers and throw-pillows? But that alone won’t make people want to book! They have to be able to imagine themselves there, laughing with friends and making real memories.
So that’s what we did. Emily pulled together two picnics, we filled the seats with creative women from the seacoast, and then we got right to it!
The biggest obstacle we ended up hitting was weather. It was hard to distinguish the two picnics because the summer one looked chillier than we would have liked because of the overcast skies. So it was up to me in the editing room to make the summer picnic feel warm and summery, and the autumn picnic as fall-like as possible!
Here are some shots from the fall scene… Doesn’t it give you all the autumn vibes? (Click or tap the arrows to scroll)
Looking forward to my next sesh with Seacoast Picnic for sure!
What do you think? Would you host a picnic like this? Where would you host it—in your home, in your yard, or at a park like these?
