It’s the epitome of class and sophistication – a luxurious setting for a champagne picnic with friends. Having started 25 years ago in Paris (mais, bien sûr), Diner en Blanc is now a global phenomenon and this summer it’s coming to Stockholm.
An elegant evening en blanc in Paris. Photo: http://paris.dinerenblanc.info
Dîner en Blanc will take over Stockholm’s public space for the first time this summer on the 8th of August 2013. This très chic picnic, imported from Paris, is part mystery tour, part pop-up feast and part je ne sais quoi.
Part Mystery?
On the special day, over 1000 foodies and cultural enthusiasts dressed in white will descend upon a secret location that will be revealed at the very last minute for an unforgettable evening of elegance, beauty and magic. Unsuspecting bystanders will witness groups of 100 to 300 people gathering at specific rallying points all across the city. These groups will then converge at one of the most beautiful settings in Stockholm. When it’s time to leave, guests pack up their crystal, dinnerware and tables, pick up all their litter and head into the night, leaving no trace of their elegant revelry behind.
Part pop-up feast?
Everyone is asked to dress elegantly in white, from head to toe, bring their own epicurean feasts, tables, chairs, fine china, silverware and white tablecloth. Over the course of the evening, the diners eat and celebrate amid live music and dancing, complete with festive white balloons. There is a required fee of guests, which goes to cover the inherent costs of the organization (electricity, sound systems, lighting, security, photo and video services and other little surprises for Stockholm…).
And what about that ‘je ne sais quoi’?
Part of this has to do with the location – aside from being a secret, it’s held in a gorgeous public place that was not designed for such a purpose. To mark the beginning of the dinner, the entire crowd will wave their cloth napkins whilst sparklers are lit to let participants know when they are free to circulate, mingle and dance. It’ll be a magical experience for any Stockholmer.
Oh and of course part of it will be about THE dress, darling. Click here for some inspiration….
Sounds fabulous, but how does it work?
Le Dîner en Blanc® is quite different from other special events and must necessarily be very controlled in order for future editions to be held.
- Seats are allotted on-site in a very specific manner.
- Once confirmed, the presence of each guest thus becomes mandatory, regardless of weather conditions, as the event is held come rain or shine.
- Colour of attire and table setting: white only.
- Table seating is symmetrical with men seated on one side and women on the other.
- Participants arrive and depart at the same time by chartered bus or organized public transportation.
- Depart with one’s belongings, leftovers and trash, leaving the place as clean as it was upon arrival.
What must guests bring?
- A table, two (white) chairs.
- A picnic basket comprised of quality menu items and a china dinner service including proper stemware and flatware.
- Wine or Champagne, if allowed. Beer and hard alcohol is prohibited.
- Participants must wear white and be dressed elegantly.
- Originality is encouraged as long as it stays stylish and denotes taste.
To better understand the reasoning behind the event’s rules and regulations, we encourage you to visit the official website and Facebook page.
Those interested in joining Dîner en Blanc’s guests in Stockholm are encouraged to sign up quickly since space is limited.
More about Dîner en Blanc
The worldwide phenomenon known as Dîner en Blanc will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year! Launched by François Pasquier and a handful of friends in 1988, the Paris Dîner en Blanc now attracts more than 10,000 people each year. What began as a “friends and word-of-mouth only” event has grown into an international epicurean phenomenon on five continents. While the technology behind the event may have changed over the years, the principles fuelling this fantastic event have not; diners continue to gather at a secret location for the sole purpose of sharing a high-quality meal with good friends in one of their city’s most beautiful locations. Dîner en Blanc International, based in Montreal, is responsible for developing this secret posh picnic in over 40 cities by the end of 2013. Each event is headed by passionate local organizers who fell in love with the concept and wanted to bring it to their city, giving this rendezvous a local flair.
Bon Appétit!
Farrah Gillani
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