Enhanced Outdoor Gatherings Introduce Facilities in NYC Parks
In the heart of the bustling city, a unique trend is taking root - luxury picnics. These are not your typical park outings, but carefully curated experiences that blend aesthetics, comfort, and culinary variety.
Annie Seddington, the founder and president of PikNYC Luxury Events, a Manhattan-based company, is at the forefront of this trend. PikNYC offers stylish setups, complete with low tables, plush pillows, elegant place settings, flowers, candles, and even heated transparent igloos for winter picnics. This allows for year-round experiences despite weather challenges.
Locations for these luxury picnics are as diverse as the city itself. Prime park locations include Cherry Hill, near the Plaza Hotel and near the Gapstow Bridge, as well as popular city rooftops and exclusive venues like the 620 Loft & Garden at Rockefeller Center. PikNYC also caters to picnics all over the tri-state area, with the majority in Manhattan.
Customers hire PikNYC for various reasons, such as birthdays, anniversaries, team building, wedding proposals, and even girlfriend proposals. For those seeking an extra special touch, Posh Picnics NYC offers the "Posh Proposal" package. Picnic proposals seem to be catching on as a growing trend.
Charcuterie boards are a popular addition at these luxury picnics, designed for Instagram-worthy photos. PikNYC's picnic setup prices start at $199, including tables, décor, battery-operated candles, pillows, and faux florals. Customers can choose colors, custom messages on a letter board, and upgrade to glassware, clothe napkins, fresh floral arrangements, and floral arches.
PikNYC does as many as 10 picnics a day and up to 40 a week in the busy season, with spring as the peak, followed by summer and fall. Centralpark.com offers online reservation and pick-up of ready-to-go picnic bags and baskets.
Wendy Weston, founder of Perfect Picnic, was inspired by picnicking in Italy and entered the market in 2011. Both PikNYC and Perfect Picnic have served high-end picnics for celebrities, with NDAs often involved.
This micro-venture trend aligns with a broader experience economy preference among millennials and Gen Z, who prioritize memorable moments over material goods. Luxury picnics in NYC combine lifestyle, convenience, and exclusivity, adapting to seasonal weather and various customer segments, from romantic couples to corporate teams, making them a trendy and profitable niche in the city's experience economy.
[1] [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/23/style/luxury-picnics-new-york-city.html] [2] [https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesluxurycouncil/2021/05/21/the-ultimate-guide-to-luxury-picnics-in-new-york-city/?sh=699b087345f0]
- Luxury picnics in New York City, offered by PikNYC and Perfect Picnic, extend beyond fashion-and-beauty and food-and-drink, also incorporating elements of home-and-garden, creating a unique lifestyle experience.
- The trend of luxury picnics in the city, supported by companies like PikNYC Luxury Events, propels the experience economy, catering to millennials and Gen Z's preference for memorable moments over material goods, thereby blending lifestyle, convenience, and exclusivity.
