If you have never been to a Diner En Blanc event before, this first timer’s guide is for you!
Dìner en Blanc is a unique pop-up event. It was started nearly 30 years ago by François Pasquier and a handful of friends in Paris, France; and it has grown to over 10000 people every year with events being held in multiple cities in the US and countries around the world. The location is a SECRET! You will find out once you arrive at the destination.
#1 YOU MUST PURCHASE TICKETS TO ATTEND
AND DO NOT ASK THE LOCATION
No one will tell you! The group nor table leaders can nor will tell you. Don’t ask! It’s a secret! That’s the premise behind the WHOLE EVENT!
The ticketing process is as follows:
- You go to Diner En Blanc website and locate your city and sign up for the waiting list. If you know someone who has been, you can give them your email address and ask them to send you an invite for phase 2 registration.
- The ticketing is done in three phases:
- Phase 1 is members who attended last year
- Phase 2 is friends who were invited by members of Phase 1
- Phase 3 is open to anyone and everyone who has signed up on the waiting list
- Table Seatings: There are multiple meeting locations around every city and for every meeting location there is 1 group leader and 1-5 table leaders: The table leader is responsible for 50 guests and will be your main point of contact throughout the before and during diner en blanc.
- Pay very close attention to this detail! If you are going with friends, make sure you discuss what meeting location/table leader you all want to be at so that you select it at the time of registration and payment. In order to sit next to your friends you must be under the same meeting location, group leader, and table leader.
- Once you have registered you can request to be seated next to them via the diner en blanc portal.
- Pay very close attention to this detail! If you are going with friends, make sure you discuss what meeting location/table leader you all want to be at so that you select it at the time of registration and payment. In order to sit next to your friends you must be under the same meeting location, group leader, and table leader.
- Price: The cost per person ranges from $30-45 which covers transportation plus $8 for membership. You must purchase the tickets as a pair. This is a pair event and it is MANDATORY to bring a guest.
- Once you have purchased your ticket you will receive an email confirmation.
#2 YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN TABLE,CHAIRS & FOOD
Diner en Blanc is similar to a picnic, where you bring everything with you. You are required to bring:
- A SQUARE folding table (2′ x 2′ or 3′ x 3′) [Can be rented]
- WHITE folding chairs (can be covered in a white cloth if not white)[Can be rented]
- I purchased white chair covers for my black chairs 4 pack/$12.99 from party city
- WHITE Table cloth and white napkins
- I got both from walmart. Tablecloth was about $12 and napkins were $2
- White Plates and cutlery
- Got my white plates from my local dollar tree! for $1/Apeice!
- Glasses (Wine/Water)
- Food (1 whole meal: 1st course:salad;2nd course:main entree;3rd course: cheese or dessert) & Drink (Bottle of Wine, Alcohol of Choice, and/or Bottled Water/Juice)
- I ordered my food from a restaurant close to my bus location, it came prepackaged and took the stress out of cooking. I picked it up on my way to the bus.
- You can order food and wine through Diner En Blanc as well, the options will vary from city to city.
- Basket/Bag/Cooler to carry food and drink in
- Table Decorations: At minimum, you want to have a vase with flowers and a few led lights to light your table once it gets dark. This is wear you can add some color!
- My first diner en blanc we brought the bare minimum table decor, just 2 led candles. My friend and I were looking around people really went all out on their table decor! We had to step our game up the next year and we did (see pictures below).
- Lagniappe: Bottle Opener, Condiments, Trash Bag, Matches/Lighter (for sparklers)
Optional: Dolly: I got one last year for $25 bucks at home depot and it was a godsend! Don’t forget to order cords too! It’s not very hard carrying all of that between two people but depending on the location there may be stairs, hills, etc. The dolly made the transport much easier!
Remember this is an elegant affair, no paper or plastic allowed!! Do a trial run of your table set up before the event!
DEB NOLA 2015 Custom Table Decor
#3: You must wear ALL WHITE! No exceptions
Your attire should be summer elegant and ALL WHITE. Not off white, not cream, not eggshell, but WHITE!
Your attire includes hat, shirt, pants, dress, shoes, accessories, etc. Everything you have on should be white! Except ladies feel free to wear any lipstick color you choose! Last year I wore Fuchsia!
Ladies – While your heels may be cute, bring a pair of flats! You will be dancing and you never know if the location will be in a field somewhere where your heels will constantly sink into the grass.
#4 DAY OF EVENT
BE ON TIME! I REPEAT BE ON TIME!
It is very important that you show up ON TIME! The table leaders will not wait for you and you won’t know or be told the location.
Create a checklist for all the items listed under #2 and make sure you have everything BEFORE traveling to your meeting location.
Once you arrive at your meeting location, await instructions from your table leaders, load the bus (or walk depending on your location) and get ready for an exciting evening!
Your table leader should have given you a table number and once you arrive you and your guest should be able to quickly set up your table, chairs, decor and food and be ready for the NAPKIN WAVE, which is the signaling of the start of the event!
Then you eat, drink, dance, have fun and at the end of the night, you clean up and pack up, get back on the bus and head back to your meeting locations!
Here are a few pictures from my experience in New Orleans the last several years!
2015 Diner En Blanc New Orleans
On the Bus – 2015 DEB NOLA
DEB NOLA 2015
DEB NOLA 2015
2014 Diner En Blanc New Orleans
For inspiration on what to wear, table decor etc; check out Diner En Blanc’s Pinterest Page and for any other questions regarding Diner En Blanc check out these FAQ’s
Now you should be ready to take on your first Diner En Blanc!
I'm Ready for #DinerEnBlanc after reading this First Timer's Guide!
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If you are in New Orleans, Louisiana – I’ll see you there!
Have you been to Diner En Blanc before? If so, where? Do you have any additional tips? Let me know in the comments below
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