Picnics are not just an awesome opportunity for families to spend an afternoon. Couples find that a picnic meal made for two can be quite romantic. Here are some suggestions for spending a few hours with that special someone in your life.

When planning a romantic picnic, atmosphere is key. The right environment can express to your significant other exactly how you are feeling. If you are lucky enough to live near water, the evening sunset from the beach or a pier can set things in motion. For city dwellers, the setting sun against the skyline is also beautiful.

The location for your romantic rendezvous doesn’t have to be a venue that you must drive to reach. The comfort of your own backyard can be cozy and inviting. On a warm spring night, lighting tiki torches around the back patio or stringing white lights around the patio umbrella gives your home the feeling of a foreign atmosphere. They can take you from the suburbs to somewhere exotic in little time at all.

Nothing says romance like a bottle of bubbly. Another benefit of a backyard romantic picnic is that you don’t have to worry about driving home after consuming all of that champagne. Let the champagne or wine chill in an ice bucket. Cover the table with a lacy tablecloth for an elegant meal together.

This is supposed to be a romantic occasion so do away with the plastic cups and other disposable items. Use real plates, silverware, napkins, and champagne flutes. Set up a CD player or mp3 player with speakers to drown the evening in sweet music. Candles on the table are a classic romantic touch.

Depending on the time of year, choose the food accordingly. In the spring or summer, a cold meal can beat the heat. Choose chocolate covered strawberries that have been well chilled to complement the champagne. Cheese and crackers are light and easy to fix. A seafood or chicken salad on a bed of romaine lettuce is ideal on a warm evening.

When evenings are cooler in the fall and winter months, prepare a warm seafood bisque or chowder to provide warmth. Serve with warm toast points or oyster crackers. A creamy dessert, preferably warm, can make a well rounded meal.

You may want something other than champagne when the weather turns cool. Consume your dessert with an Irish coffee or an after dinner cognac to take the chill off. Use your imagination. If you can pack it, you can enjoy it picnic style.

Romance comes in many forms—even a picnic basket. Surprise your significant other with a few hours away from it all in dreamy bliss. A picnic may be just what they need.