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Updated: August 24, 2021
Ah, Le Diner en Blanc. One of the chicest, visually spectacular, and most exclusive events of the year! Chic high couture fashion, creative tablescapes, alfresco dining under the stars…all limited to a white pallet!? Count me IN!
The Calgary event is right around the corner. There is A LOT of information to take in, and a lot of prep to execute in a short amount of time!
If this is your first time at Diner en Blanc (or even it’s your 100th!), here is my guide to attending one of the bougiest events of all time (I say that with lots of adoration and love).
How It All Began
I can’t remember when or where I first heard of Diner en Blanc, but its origins lie in Paris, one of my absolute favourite places in the world.
In 1988, Francois Pasquier organized a small picnic to reconnect with his friends. His concept was simply, “bring your meal and bring a new friend”. His garden was too small, so he asked everyone to meet at the Bois de Boulogne.
So everyone could be easily spotted in the crowd, he asked all guests to dress in white. Such were the simple and humble beginnings of Diner en Blanc, an event that now draws over 130,000 participants annually across 80 cities and 30 countries.
The largest and most recognized Diner en Blanc event remains the original Paris event which Francois still organizes with his friends today. Pretty damn cool and tres chic!
How To Get In
There are 3 ways to get invited to Diner en Blanc.
- 1) receive a direct invite from someone who’s a host or table leader
- 2) get sponsored by someone who is able to register in Phase 1 so that you can register in Phase 2
- 3) sign up for the waitlist which will allow you to register in Phase 3 if there is still room left
Upon registration, you will be asked whether you want to take the group transport or get to the location yourself. Pick whatever you like, but I would suggest that if this is your first year, go for group transportation. It’s a lot of fun, you get to meet new people and the party begins a bit early as you take in all the good group vibes of a bunch of folks dressed head to toe in white all excited for the same thing!
If you have a bunch of friends attending Diner en Blanc and you want to sit together, then make sure everyone selects the same group and table leader.
Once you get to site, it’s a free-for-all where you end up setting up. So long as you stay within your assigned row under your table leader.
What To Expect
One of the charms about Diner en Blanc is that the location where this epic picnic takes place is a closely guarded secret. You’re not going to know where you’ll be setting up for your dinner until you get there by following your table leader.
Diner en Blanc is also hosted without authorization, therefore, guests are expected to display outstanding citizenship before, during and after the event.
What does “without authorization” mean? In most cases, no permits are obtained for use of the public space in which the event is to take place. It’s quite romantic, really.
Here are the main rules and expectations:
- commit to attend rain or shine. Tornado warning? You’re still expected to attend, otherwise, be prepared to be blacklisted. I’m kidding…sort of. I’m sure no good organizer would be so hardcore and expect that members attend in force majeur act of God type situations. But…if the event’s still on, be prepared to attend.
- dress in your best ALL white. No cream, no beige, no colourful floral print, absolutely no black shoes. White means white means white. No exceptions.
- bring your own table, chairs, dinnerware, cutlery, drink ware and linens. Do not bring disposables. Remember…we’re bougie over here.
- drink responsibly. Champagne and wine only. No hard liquor or beer.
- clean up after yourself, take all your garbage with you and leave the public space as you found it.
What To Bring
- a square table between 28″-32″. My recommendation is a roll top aluminum camping table like this one. We have this exact one and it is so lightweight and compact. Believe me, when you’re trekking a mile or so in an elegant dress and high heels, the less and lighter weight your furniture, the better.
- 2 white folding chairs
- 54″ square white tablecloth
- compact folding dolly
- something to hold your food. Could be a rolling cooler (white of course), a picnic basket, a white cooler bag. I recently fell in love with and purchased this amazing picnic tote!
- white appetizer-sized plates. You can certainly opt for dinner sized plates, but that just means you’re carrying more. I recommend going smaller.
- stemless wine glasses. I’m saying stemless because they are chic and so in, and there’s going to be less risk of breakage if you pack it right.
- white linen napkins. Not paper! Trust me, you absolutely need these so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not forget these.
- something to display your food. Think white marble cheese boards or tiered cake stands.
- some sort of centrepiece for your table to complete the look. I see lots of really crazy structures with twinkle lights and tulle, and while that’s fine, my recommendation is to keep it simple and chic. A small low arrangement of all white fresh flowers is perfect.
- an umbrella because there might be a chance of rain. To keep with the theme, definitely pick up this one. It is truly perfect for this event.
- a garbage bag. Remember to keep it white!
- a bbq lighter. To light your sparklers at the end of the night.
- insect repellent. I’ve been attending Diner en Blanc for 4 years, and this only came to mind this year! I leave every event wishing I had some bug spray.
- wet wipes and a roll of paper towels for clean up.
What To Eat
Some event organizers will provide meal options you can pre-purchase and pick up on site. I know if it’s your first time at Diner en Blanc you may be tempted to take this route. But cast those doubts aside I say!
Believe me, it’s so much more EXTRA to prepare your own meal (in themes of white of course) and bring it with you.
Bring easy to eat picnic foods such as charcuterie boards, biscuits, artisan sandwiches. This allows you to ditch the cutlery. I’ve put together a Pinterest Board of all-white foods for your inspiration.
Most Diner en Blanc events will have bottled water available, so there’s no need to lug around your own. But, if you want to skip the long line ups to grab a bottle of water, or you want to make sure that your water vessel matches your ultra chic tablescape, I suggest you bring your own. We put our water in these adorable glass stopper bottles from IKEA
Dinner Rituals
Once everyone is set up, there will be an announcement that dinner is starting. At this point, everyone grabs their crisp white linen napkins and waves it in the air. Told you that you want to remember your white linen napkins didn’t I!?
It’s such a festive and spectacular sight!
During dinner, there’s always beautiful displays, performers walking around and live music playing on stage. Lots to see and do, so make sure you get up from your table, walk around and mingle.
I can’t even begin to describe the amazing feels of being surrounded by so many people congregating in one place for the same reason – to let go and party all night after putting in maximum creative and physical effort to have a “simple” picnic under the stars.
You really do have to experience it for yourself…it’s quite something!
Once dinner concludes, your table leader will hand out large sparklers. An announcement will be made and everyone lights their sparklers to signal that the evening is over. It’s super romantic, and one of the best and most magical parts of the evening.
Bidding Adieu
Once the sparklers are lit and the dance portion of the evening begins, you can start to pack everything back up, toss your garbage into your bright white garbage bag and head on out.
If you opted for group transportation, the buses generally arrive around 10pm to take you back to the original meeting spot.
Some Diner en Blanc events will host an after party at a local club you can buy tickets to. I have never attended, because I draw the line at schlepping across grassy hills in a long evening gown and stiletto heels.
Once those sparklers light up, I’m ready to pack it in, get home to a hot bath and start planning for how I’m going to one-up myself at next year’s event!
I hope this post helped you prepare for your first time at Diner en Blanc!
If you’re interested in joining in on the Diner en Blanc movement and need a sponsor, feel free to reach out! I’m happy to connect and provide you with my sponsorship.
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