How To Plan, Prep and Pack For Diner En Blanc

What is Diner en Blanc? Dîner en Blanc was born in Paris. This all-white chic picnic is no ordinary picnic. You must get invited by someone who is already a member or you can join the Houston Waiting List to receive an invitation. Guests must wear white, bring a table, chairs, decor, and food. Ç'est Magnifique!

I had a MEMORABLE time! The vibe was strong and stimulating. Looking over the crowd, all you see is an ocean of white. The tabletop designs were very stylish and the various menu items prepared looked so enticing against the white place settings.

Being a professional in the party industry made planning for this event fun and exciting. I used the same steps as if I were planning a cocktail party for a client. You may think this is going to be a lot of work having to bring EVERYTHING, but it doesn't have to be if you are organized. I'm going to walk you through the steps on how to plan, prep & pack for a fancy picnic for two.

STEP 1 - REGISTRATION

These tickets go really fast, so don't PROCRASTINATE! ��

What are the key rules of the event?

1. In order to participate, guests must be a member or be sponsored by a member from the previous year, OR they must sign up on the official website's waiting list.
2. Once confirmed, each guests' participation in the event becomes mandatory, regardless of weather conditions, as Dîner en Blanc is a rain or shine event.
3. Participants arrive and then depart in unison by chartered bus or organized public transportation.
4. They take all of their belongings with them at the end of the night.

Must-bring items?

1. A table and two white chairs.
2. A picnic basket including a white tablecloth and napkins, gourmet meal items, cutlery, dishware, and glassware.
3. Wine or Champagne must be purchased through Diner en Blanc wine sponsor. Beer and hard alcohol are prohibited.

Dress Code

1. Participants must wear white (and white only) and be dressed elegantly.
2. Originality is always encouraged as long as it stays stylish and denotes taste.

DEB encourages participants to get creative with their tabletop designs. Every year you can expect to see over-the-top table decorations. REMEMBER, you have to carry these things to and from the picnic site and you won't know how far you have to walk, so less is more. if it's your time, I would suggest keeping it minimal and simple. You don't want to get overwhelmed. Visit my Pinterest board, All White Dinner Party, for a little inspiration.

Dinner is in the evening, so lighting can really set the mood. You can incorporate strings of battery-powered white lights, table lanterns, or white battery-operated candles. When deciding your tabletop design, create a mock-up at home. This will help you to stay organized, plus set-up time at the venue is short, so you must be able to move quickly with confidence. It will save you time and frustration.

Below is a gallery of photos from around the web that demonstrate fabulous tabletop designs created for Diner en Blanc:

TIP: Set up a mock setting to get an idea of what works and what won't work.