Everything You Need To Know About Diner en Blanc

You should have seen us the first time we went to Diner en Blanc.  We had absolutely NO idea what to expect and I made all sorts of avoidable mistakes.  We overpacked (as in I brought charger plates AND a glass cake stand – eek) and I spent WAY too much money on new items.  We made enough food for at least 10 people and then had to drag it back home.  We didn’t think of an efficient system for transporting our items, and, I may or may not have consumed an entire bottle of Sauv Blanc to myself, got high school drunk, and was off white wine for 6 months afterwards.  But, that’s neither here nor there.

I recently had a few people request that I put together my tips for DeB, so that’s exactly what I’ve done!  If you’re wondering what the heck happens when you arrive, what you should wear, how you should pack, and what I’d recommend for food, then please, read on!  Hope this helps, and as always, if you have any questions, leave them in the comments below:

WHAT IT IS

Diner en Blanc started in Paris in 1988, when some genius Frenchman arranged a dinner with friends and told them to wear all white so they could find each other.  It’s a chic pop-up style outdoor dinner that now happens all over the world!  Spots are limited, so this makes your local Diner en Blanc a bit exclusive.  In fact, Adam and I have never gone by purchasing our own tickets.  Our friends Jen and Remo are kind enough to bring us every single year and it’s now a really fun double date tradition that we look forward to each summer!

WHAT TO WEAR

Dress code is often scattered.  I would honestly stay simple and fancy things up with accessories.  Adam always rocks a button up and white trousers.  Avoid shorts or similar casual wear, and of course, no colour!  In fact, try to make sure your white is more of a true white than a cream or ivory.  It looks rather dirty amongst the fresh white.  Some people go for more of a costume look with wigs, white gloves, big white hats, etc., so if you have the imagination and resources, I say go for it!  It can  get chilly in the evening, so I would suggest packing a light white sweater or jacket.  If you’d like, I made a list of my favourite white dresses under $125 on ASOS right now.  You can find that list here.

The #1 MOST important Diner en Blanc rule is: COMFORTABLE FOOTWEAR.  Ladies and gentlemen, I cannot stress this enough.  You might be walking quite far WITH all of your supplies.  I always wear flats and bring my heels (or just stay in my flats).  Adam once wore new white shoes and completely cut up his feet and he was so miserable.  Acutally, maybe bring a few bandaids, just in case!

Also, if you are wanting to avoid the sun, I’d suggest a white parasol and definitely be sure to have some sunscreen on.  There can sometimes be a bit of waiting around and there’s certainly no shade until the sun goes down if it’s a clear day!

WHAT TO PACK

The first year, I packed all our dinnerware and table top decor in that plastic bin pictured above.  Adam was cursing me all night for how heavy it was and how awkward it was to carry.  I’ve since learned, and now wheel our stuff in this shopping cart which has been just perfect!  We also carry these two Ikea chairs and I wear a small cross-body white purse.  We are incredibly spoiled because Jen and Remo actually MADE their own table to the Diner en Blanc specifications.  It’s on wheels, seats 4, and folds up for easy transport.  Honestly, I can’t even fathom being so handy, we had to call in backup to hang a few shelves in our place last week!

As for what to bring for your set up, here’s a great checklist:
– White table cloth
– White dinner plates
– White cloth napkins
– Wine glasses
– Cutlery (NOT plastic – and/or serving spoons and knives if your meal requires it)
– Garbage bag
– Paper Towel
– Flameless candles
– Vase + flowers if you wish (I highly recommend)
– Any other table top decor that you think would work (as light as possible)
– Matches (for sparklers, see below)
– Your meal, of course!

WHAT TO EAT

That first DeB, we packed giant family style portions including an entire pie – so not necessary.  We now pack much lighter and divide the courses.

There is also an option to pre-purchase their dinner service so that you don’t have to worry about your own meal.  Some people love it, but for us, we try to save a bit of money and pack our own appetizer style meal.  Think charcuterie, caprese salad, fresh bread, etc.  Another great idea is sushi or a similar takeaway meal if you don’t have time to prep.  They do suggest a full meal, but if you want to keep things simple, no one is there to tell you otherwise.

For dessert, I now go to Whole Foods and pick up a container of their bit size desserts.  Anything small and easy to pack is key.  Last year, Remo brought us some espresso in a Swell container.  When things got chilly, we cracked open the bottle and enjoyed a nice shot of espresso by candle light and it was perfect!

WHAT TO EXPECT

Once you’re all dressed in white and have your supplies in tow, you head to your meeting spot.  Remember that everyone going has a different meeting spot around the city so that guests arrive to the secret Diner en Blanc location from all directions.  We usually try to pack the car and park nearby, but a taxi or evo/Car2Go would work well too, depending on your meeting location.  It’s key to get there a bit early or at least on time, as your group leader will be waiting for you!  This group will be the people at your table, so remember to be nice 🙂  You then set off to the Diner en Blanc event together, which might require public transportation, a boat, a bus, and/or walking – be prepared!  That’s why packing light and being relatively comfortable is a necessity!

Walking into Diner en Blanc is magical.  Seeing a sea of all white, music playing, and a beautiful city view, it’s almost too much to take in!  Your group will find their marking (don’t worry, the leader takes care of that) and then they will give the okay to start setting up.  DeB provides specific table measurements because everyone sets up their table side by side to create the look of one long table.  You then quickly set the table and enjoy taking in the general splendour aka go crazy with snapchat and photos.  This is also when I would suggest sending someone from your group to go pick up the wine and water for the table (pre-ordered when you buy your ticket).

Before dinner starts, there is usually a short welcome speech and then everyone waves their white cloth napkin in the air.  Very cool photo-op.  You eat dinner and drink wine while enjoying a glorious evening with strangers.  We usually go for a bit of a walk after we eat to go see friends and just do a lap of the premise.  Once it gets dark, your table leader will hand everyone a sparkler and everyone lights them up at the same time.  This is also a fun tradition.  Once you finish your drinks and dessert, you are required to clean up after yourself and pack your things up.

Diner en Blanc is always a wonderful experience, but it has a LOT to do with your attitude about the evening.  If you go in knowing that you’ll have to bring all your own stuff and that it’s a slightly pricier event, then you’re golden!  Also, be open to making new friends with those seated around you.  I’ve had some really great interactions with people beside us and still stay in touch with some of them.

Hope you have an AMAZING time at Diner en Blanc and on’t forget to head on over to Prairie Girl In The City for her helpful Diner en Blanc survival tips.  As always, your super Pinnable image is below if you want to bookmark this for later!