How Much Does a Picnic Cost in Austin? Every Price, From $200

Most picnic companies answer the price question with "it depends — send us a message." It does depend a little, but not nearly as much as that makes it sound. Here are our prices, all of them, and what a real total looks like once you've added what you want.

One thing first: food isn't part of any package. We don't cook — bring what you love, and we'll lay it out so it looks like part of the setup.

• ✦A sunset picnic for two — from $200 (Golden Hour, one hour)
• ✦A tent of your own, two hours, an activity and photos — $500 (Pillow Talk)
• ✦The big romantic version with roses, petals and a little film — $950 (Daydream)
• ✦A group of five to sixteen — from $380 (The Gathering)
• ✦A creative afternoon for a group, with painting for everyone — from $500 (The Canvas)
• ✦A proposal with the heart arch — from $1100. Our guide to what a proposal costs has every number

$200 — Golden Hour

An hour for two right before sunset: a low table with cushions, a decorative umbrella, candles and string lights, a Bluetooth speaker, a basket with napkins and mosquito spray, and infused water or warm tea depending on the weather. We set it all up before you arrive and take it all away after. Up to six people can join, $15 for each guest after the first two. No tent and no photos — both can be added.

$500 — Pillow Talk

Everything in Golden Hour, plus a second hour, a tent of your own with pillows, silk ribbons and flowers, a creative activity (texture painting or a vision board), a 15-minute photo session and a chalkboard sign with your names. It's the one people choose most for birthdays and anniversaries.

$950 — Daydream

Everything in Pillow Talk, plus a little film of the moment, a fresh bouquet of 50 roses in the color you pick and two bags of fresh petals. There's no helper fee on Daydream: it stays $950 before tax.

From $380 — The Gathering

Two hours for a group: five guests included, $20 for each extra guest up to sixteen. Two table setups with cushions, two umbrellas, candles and string lights, a speaker, infused water or warm tea, and a 15-minute photo session. From eleven guests we add an extra table for $50. A vision board activity is $25 a person.

From $500 — The Canvas

Everything in The Gathering, plus texture painting for every guest — everyone leaves with a canvas they made. Five guests included, $45 for each extra; from eight guests the extra table is $50.

All of them are optional. Most people add one or two.

• ✦Glowing letters — $10 to $40 depending on the phrase: "Happy Birthday" and "Happy Anniversary" are $40, "Be My Girlfriend" $35, "Marry Me" $30
• ✦A chalkboard sign with your names or a short message — $10 (already in Pillow Talk and Daydream)
• ✦A photo session — $125 for 15 minutes. We shoot it ourselves, lightly edit it and send every good frame within 10 days
• ✦A little film of the moment — $80
• ✦Extra time — 15 minutes $25, 30 minutes $45, an hour $80
• ✦Fresh roses — a bouquet of 25 for $180 or 50 for $250, a keepsake box of 24 for $150 or 36 for $200, fresh petals $50 a bag
• ✦A tent with pillows for Golden Hour — $100
• ✦Texture painting or a vision board — $25 a person
• ✦A neon sign for a proposal or a "be my girlfriend" question — $80, with Pillow Talk and Daydream
• ✦A bakery cake for a birthday — $75 for 2–6 people, $120 for 8–12, writing on top included, chosen at least three days ahead
• ✦A drink of your choice — $10 a bottle. We don't bring alcohol; bring your own and we'll set out the glasses for free
• ✦An Instax camera — $35
• ✦Cozy blankets, November through February — $40 each
• ✦Cold sparks — $450, on our bigger setups and on any birthday

• ✦Texas sales tax — 8.25%, added at checkout
• ✦Short notice: inside three days there's a $30 rush fee, plus $30 more if the order includes fresh flowers or food
• ✦The $100 helper fee on orders over $800 — the bigger setups take two of us. Daydream and the proposal packages don't add it
• ✦Distance: beyond 15 miles from North Austin, $1 a mile
• ✦A spot you choose that's hard to reach — stairs, a hill, a long walk from parking: a $50 deposit toward a carry fee of up to $400, confirmed once we've seen it. Mueller Lake Park and Auditorium Shores never have it
• ✦Paying by card adds the processing fee, 2.9% + 30¢. Zelle has no fee
• ✦A private venue, if you want one — Sekrit Theater rents for about $300–$550 for two hours, paid to them

• ✦A sunset date for two: Golden Hour $200 + a photo session $125 = $325, deposit $150
• ✦A birthday for two: Pillow Talk $500 + "Happy Birthday" letters $40 + a small cake $75 = $615, deposit $300
• ✦A birthday with seven friends: The Gathering for eight, $380 + 3 × $20 = $440, plus "Happy Birthday" letters $40 = $480, deposit $150
• ✦A big anniversary: Daydream $950, deposit $400

All before tax. The booking form adds everything up — tax included — before you pay anything, so there are no surprises at the end.

A deposit holds your date: $100 on orders up to $300, then $150, $250, $300 and $400 as the order grows, and $500 once it's over $1000. The rest is due at least a day before your picnic, by card or by Zelle. And if rain shows up in the forecast on the day, you choose: your home that same day, another date within three months, or keep the date and take the chance.

• ✦Setup and cleanup — always included. You walk up to something finished and simply leave when you're done
• ✦Champagne flutes or wine glasses — free, just tick them in the form
• ✦Our own parks: Mueller Lake Park and Auditorium Shores have no rental and no access fee
• ✦Help choosing. Tell us what it's for, and we'll point you to the right picnic

Now you know every number. The only thing left to decide is the date.