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***Full Disclosure! What you are about to read is a very, very extensive and overall comprehensive guide on the inside track to navigating Dîner en Blanc . This isn’t your average event, and therefore planning is a must and I am so happy to provide you with all the details needed to successfully prepare and position yourself to enjoy your own Dîner en Blanc event for the future. Bookmark this article now so that you can always refer to it as a reference guide. ***
Another FYI: I’ve created a curated Dîner en Blanc /White Party shopping checklist for you HERE to help simplify your shopping experience when the time comes to buy all the things. This list was created on Amazon.com so shout out to them.
LET’S GET STARTED
Imagine this: Hundreds (or thousands) of people dressed in all white with style, grace and elegance meeting up for the largest picnic in a public space. Over the evening, guests can experience refined tastes, smells, and sounds while enjoying being brought together from diverse backgrounds by a love of art and culture.
I hadn’t heard about the existence of Dîner en Blanc until around Spring/Summer of 2018. At that time, quite a few acquaintances or general people I followed on social media were seen in Paris, France celebrating the event. Naturally, I was intrigued enough to check out the Instagram hashtags and spent some time scrolling through photos and videos of the Dîner en Blanc festivities. Imagine my surprise when shortly after, the announcement was made that Memphis would be hosting its first Dîner en Blanc event!
SO, WHAT IS DINER EN BLANC?
Dîner en Blanc is a French tradition shrouded in glorious mystery that was created in 1988 by Frenchman Francois Pasquier. This Paris gentleman thought it would be divine to invite a group of friends to an upscale outdoor dinner, but under special conditions that they dress in their best white attire in order to find one another and that the location would be kept secret. Who knew that over 20 years later, this tradition would span multiple continents all over the world?
Along with wearing white and being transported to a secret location, current Dîner en Blanc attendees are required to provide their own food & wine, tables and chairs, table cloths, silverware, and additional décor.
THE 2018 DINER EN BLANC TALE CONTINUES ….
Upon hearing that Memphis would be hosting, I realized how unprepared I really was because I registered super late and was unable to ‘network’ my way into Phase One or Phase Two (we’ll talk about that later). What sparked my curiosity was the social media commentary surrounding the event. This event brought about a lot of interesting dialogue surrounding the value (real or perceived) of attending Dîner en Blanc. There were some who teased and ridiculed people who were either going or desired to attend. There were some who were attending that felt the need to explain it to the masses (out of guilt?). And there were people who felt like the ‘chosen ones’ and shouted it out loud and proud online.
I was simply excited to see more conceptual events come to the Memphis area. As I’ve gotten older, I understand that good times are what you make them to be. Now true enough, I’ve paid bunches of money to attend events that were an utter BORE. And I’ve attended events for free or minimal admission and had the time of my life. But what were the other factors involved? I’d like to explore that someday, because I feel like it could really transform how all of us support or enjoy events in various spaces and places in the future.
Some have said that it’s indulgence for indulgence sake and I wholeheartedly agree. But, I could argue, what party isn’t? It’s all about point of view at this point
Let’s be honest. NO ONE (regardless of demographic) wants to dress to the nines and pay an excessive amount of money to stand around looking at their phone all night. Yet, I’m a living witness that this scenario sums up a big percentage of Memphis nightlife.
But, I digress lol. I was excited to attend and waited impatiently for Phase Three to open up. So at 8:00 AM that fateful morning, I (with my desktop, iPad, and cellphone at the ready) logged in to buy tickets to the 2018 Dîner en Blanc. Unfortunately for me, the event sold out within the hour. Bummer. I made sure to put my name on the list for 2019 and the rest is history.
I will say that quite a few of my Facebook friends and family attended the 2018 Dîner en Blanc: Memphis and had the best time! So that was all the encouragement I needed to try again for the future. The Dîner en Blanc Memphis is spearheaded by an amazing young woman named Victoria Young who is a new law graduate and entrepreneur in the Mid-South. Follow her, and give her your support because she is indeed an action taker.
Dîner en Blanc Tip: invite a guest that is aligned with your party goals. You do not want to experience this with someone who is complaining all the time (in planning or during the event), is not open minded to that experience, who feels they are above it, etc. This is so important. So, ensure that your guest is totally on board with going to Diner en Blanc. They don’t have to be as excited as you are LOL, but an upbeat attitude never hurts.
DINER EN BLANC ADMISSION: THE PROCESS
EVENT PHASES: The tickets are sold in phases that spans several weeks. Those in Phase One are reserved for special friends of the hosts, core planning team, a group or table leader friend, members of the previous year, or volunteers. Perks of being in Phase One also come with the privilege to sponsor a new member. Phase Two invitations went out to those who were sponsored by a Phase One registrant. Phase Three is open to the public and who registered for that particular phase.
Invites receive their letter via email with a unique registration code and tickets are available until they are sold out. The tickets are $43/per person plus an additional membership fee, transaction costs, and tax. Tickets are sold in pairs and on a first come, first served basis.
Word of Advice: Do not miss out on emails, social media notifications, or anything related to the event if you are set on going. I regularly checked the IG or Facebook and was also friends with a few former table leaders so I was always aware of the event details or updates. Make sure your debit/credit is up-to-date and ready. Have the name, email address, and phone number of your guest ready. Know who your table leader and bus leader is ahead of time. All of these details will keep you prepared.
I was a Phase Three registrant and received an email with the registration code. I was mentally prepared to possibly miss out again because the first two phases sold out quickly but luck was on my side. The Phase Three registration opened up at 8:00 AM and by 8:03 AM I was fully registered for 2019 Dîner en Blanc Memphis!!
DINER EN BLANC: THE ATTIRE
Wear all white. The End.
HA!
Dîner en Blanc rules are specific in that attendees should wear all white from head to toe, no exceptions. In recent years, a bit of a modification has stated that metallic accessories and shoes are permitted. Men also have rules which prohibit baseball caps and shorts among other details.
I will say that the choosing what to wear for Dîner en Blanc had easily been my greatest headache to date. Possibly because I am not a size 4, 6 or 8, but mainly because all of the stores I browsed had little to no selections of white blouses, dresses, or pants. It’s one of those things where when you aren’t looking you can find ALL THE THINGS, and when you need them they are NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. I kept wondering, where does everyone else find their outfits for white parties?
I began looking at all the online boutiques (and even Amazon) for some sort of inspiration. I wasn’t sure what I was looking for in an outfit. I knew I wanted to be comfortable but still stylish. I took to social media and joked that choosing an all-white ensemble could be tricky because you end up looking like an usher board member, a jilted, bride, a vixen, or an old maid.
I bought three different pieces (I know, I know overkill lol). One dress from an online boutique, a white blouse from Amazon, and a dress from a local department store. I decided to embrace more of a boho vibe since I hardly have the figure to wear the scandalous pieces I really wanted to wear. Dillard’s was having a sale and I caught these marvelous white sandals with a rose gold heel to complete the look. Word to the wise…walking will be involved so ladies, please bring flats and switch to heels after set-up.
DINER EN BLANC: DÉCOR
Since I had a full year to consume information (articles, videos, social media posts) about Dîner en Blanc , I knew that I wanted to make my experience as stress free as possible. If I hadn’t already mentioned, attendees are required to bring EVERYTHING – a table, chairs, décor, and food with them to the secret location. So, you’ll see dolly’s with picnic baskets and all the fixings along the way. I’m all about the work smart and not hard life so I opted for a different alternative.
Within the Dîner en Blanc portal, they make it possible for attendees to rent out table and chairs as well as purchase ready-made meals, desserts, and bottles of wine. All of these options are available for pickup AT the venue. Perfecto!! I immediately ordered a table/chair rental and my guest and I decided to ordered a catered meal from a local chef here in Memphis. All that was left to do was decide on décor.
Once again, finding white décor (that is stylish but reasonably priced) can be a hit or miss situation. I will forever advise you to choose Amazon.com for the ease of getting everything sent to you. You can also do as I did and make a secret wishlist so that you can curate your whole event and make it easier to track. But I still managed to find some things while out doing errands from places like Pier 1, Ross, Kroger, Dollar Tree, and Marshalls.
Dîner en Blanc TIP 1: Bring LED lights!!! It will get dark at some point and you don’t want to be eating or mingling at a dim-lit table. Real candles are prohibited so invest in some quality LED lights. My vision was to highlight our table, so imagine my excitement when I came across a string of LED lights from Ross Stores. I also knew I wanted a lantern for décor purposes and found a way to add even more lighting to the table with this accent piece I purchased from Amazon.
Dîner en Blanc TIP 2: Do a test run of your table setting. I have a large eating tray/stand at home which served perfectly for doing a mockup of the event. From this vantage point, I could see how the table would look in real time. I wasn’t going to do this at first out of laziness, but I’m so glad I did. In short, I bought way too much! For example, it helped me to see that my string lights looked horrible on the table. I ended up putting them inside my lantern. You don’t want to overestimate size of your table.
Dîner en Blanc TIP 3: Choose the right packing gear for transporting your items. Remember that you will have fine china (plates, utensils etc.), décor, flowers, tablecloth, food and more. I had my mom looking out for me and she ended up ordering a picnic style carryon that was designed to secure your belongings (including wine slots, etc.).
Dîner en Blanc Tip 4: Pack all of your belongings the night before. I spent the night before washing all of my new utensils, plates and glasses, putting batteries in certain materials, and basically ensuring that everything on my list was in its place. I’ve provided the checklist I use here so sign up for it below!
Dîner en Blanc Tip 5: If you do nothing else think of the weather and bring a battery operated fan and a poncho or umbrella. Bring a fan for goodness sake!!
DINER EN BLANC: THE FOOD
My friend and I definitely had a discussion about the food because we wanted to make solid decisions based upon the nature of the event. In my research of prior DEB events, I would see 3 and 5 course meals being served. The Dîner en Blanc e-store also offers attendees the opportunity to purchase entrees as well. To be honest, the choices didn’t look or sound too appetizing to me. I was definitely on the fence about food in general because (a) many people said they were doing too much mingling and dancing to even bother to eat, and (b) I personally cannot stomach food that is lukewarm or cold (especially if it is supposed to be served HOT). I contemplated doing something like a fresh chicken salad on croissants or a pineapple salsa with chips and fruit. However, when in Rome (or in this case Paris).
We decided to patron a young lady named Esther Elizabeth and order entrees and create our own charcuterie board. For dessert, I opted to buy a mini-cake from Nothin But Bundt Cakes.
When it comes to food, I urge you to think about the transport of the items, the smell, the sauce, and the overall clean up. Think about how you will keep your food warm, what the best type of storage is, and how these elements will fit on your plate and table.
DINER EN BLANC: THE SETUP
Just with any other picnic, it’s important to remember all of the key essentials you would need to complete the Dîner en Blanc experience. I’ve taken the liberty of creating a White Party packing checklist HERE for you to refer to when you’re ready to order the party essentials. For now, let’s discuss.
First things first. Print out your event registration and invite info to have in your bag/wallet along with your driver’s license and ID. You will need this at the check point to gain entry before getting on the bus.
In your purse or bag, be sure to have some necessities like hand sanitizer, a small fan (in most places it’s hot!), a mini flashlight (or use your cell), a bottle opener, a portable phone charger, and a camera.
Mother Nature is fickle at best, so the Dîner en Blanc team emphasized that attendees bring a white/or clear umbrella because the event would be happening rain or shine. You’ve been advised.
Clean up of your area is your responsibility, so do not forget the garbage bags and Clorox Wipes.
For transport, people have all sorts of pieces from luggage to duffel bags to wagons and dolly’s. These particular pieces are not permitted to be white but keep in mind that they have to be out of sight if they aren’t white. Therefore, whatever is not white must be compact enough to fit under your table along with your body parts as well. Special Note here – Write your name on your belongings! Be advised.
DINER EN BLANC: THE EVENT
After all of the planning, prep, and overall patience that the creators of the event and attendees put into being ready for this event, it would be a shame to get left!
With that being said, BE ON TIME! I repeat, BE ON TIME!
Not all bus leaders possess the patience to wait around. In fact, my table leader made it clear that they were not waiting around for ANYONE. Therefore, leave the house early so that you can get a decent seat and be there for the departure.
DINER EN BLANC: THE EXPENSE
So let’s get down to it. This is definitely a part of the discussion that varies with the person. Some people have most if not all of the items mentioned at home. Some people like to invest in new items for their experience. For me, it was the latter. So let’s do a price estimate so that you can figure it into your budget for your future Dîner en Blanc event. FYI these prices vary by brand, store, and sense of style. I will say that in off seasons (like winter), if you see white pieces on clearance, go ahead and get them and store them in a storage container.
I won’t go through a full breakdown, but I will say that you should consider the investment of the event to be well around $200-$600 minimum to attend Dîner en Blanc . Some people will gasp with a hand to the chest in outrage and say there’s no way in hell. Others will nod and think it’s reasonable, but hope it’s worth it. Some will simply shrug because chances are they attend plenty of events that between an admission ticket and buying an outfit, it equates to the same amount. It’s all about perspective.
DINER EN BLANC MEMPHIS: MY EXPERIENCE
The evening before Dîner en Blanc, our table received an email stating that the appointed location where we were to meet up changed. The first meeting point was perfect because I would have been a decent distance away and it had easy access parking. The new location given was downtown. Enough said. Insert scream here! I updated my guest and we both had to make changes to our schedule. I know things happen, but this was definitely an inconvenience that we hadn’t bargained for.
When we arrived, our group actually didn’t end up on a bus because we had to walk a short distance around the corner to get to the venue. I was thankful for that because I knew that loading everyone and their belongings on the bus can be time consuming at best. Waiting around gave us time to enjoy the view and mingle a bit. Aside from the weather aspect, I was here for it.
Speaking of weather.
IT. WAS. HOT!!
Because of Memphis’ very fickle weather and penchant for raining and storming at the most inopportune time, I was paranoid and experiencing a bit of anxiety thinking it would rain. The weather channel however hinted that it would be in the 80s. Cool. However, as I was driving downtown to the meetup and checked the dash, at 5:30 PM it was 94 degrees!! A cool breeze eventually moved our way over the course of the evening but that humidity made the difference. In short, if you didn’t have a handheld fan, you were probably sweating all night.
A lot of people have had their opinions about the event calling it extravagant for no reason, to which I’d say it’s a picnic. A huge picnic with hundreds if not thousands of people and an opportunity to participate in the Parisian themed concept. In short, it is an EXPERIENCE. It could be that you only want to do it once. Or you could be like many who attend several.
Some people call this event pretentious, possibly because invite only or the fact that it’s hosted in a public space where others can see. But to the whiners and debbie downers I ask… what kind of mental space are you coming from that you would have a problem with HOW others have a good time? Food for thought.
Besides, who wants to pass up a quirky event? It’s a flashmob picnic for goodness sake. It’s supposed to be a break from the ordinary, an adventure. And I for one am here for it! Life is not meant to be taken so seriously and with all that’s going on, events like these are a short escape. Pricey, but short lol.
Dîner en Blanc Tip: If you didn’t get the opportunity to go this year, prepare for the next year. Already have your decor in mind can you be on the lookout for it. Store everything in a storage container. You’ll find through the winter months that there are so many white pieces on sale for pennies from decor to utensils to outfits. When you see it, grab it and store it.
Dîner en Blanc Tip: try to link up with a larger group of people to be at the same table. That way, you can divvy up the responsibilities and have certain people bring certain items. Don’t be a type-A control freak like me. I handled everything except food. And that was entirely more than I bargained for. If I decide to go in the future oh, I will never put that stress on myself again. I will definitely try to coordinate at least 4-6 people. And probably include a few guys LOL so that they can carry things and set up.
FOR THE 2019 Dîner en Blanc MEMPHIS WE WERE DOWNTOWN IN THE HEART OF MAIN!
The Good:
The venue for 2019 Dîner en Blanc Memphis was beautiful!! It was lovely to marvel at the sea of white in the midst of court square. From different points, you could see the Memphis Bridge sparkling in the background. I think (especially under such short notice), that the fates were kind and I wouldn’t have changed the location. I for one expected to be in the grass and was not looking forward to it. So, to be on a level ground was awesome.
The ambiance was also one for the books. Dining in the heart of downtown Memphis surrounded by candlelight in a sea of white ensembles. Music in the background with acts like ballet dancers.
I liked that my bus and table leader were extremely professional throughout this process. They were always sending us emails or answering questions in the Dîner en Blanc chat forum. The pre-event planning seems to be very thorough and I was pleased by their ability to always stay in touch with those who were either going or even hoping to go.
The food my guest ordered was yummy! We decided to patron a talented young lady named Esther Elizabeth of Make It Taste Good. She curated a menu specifically for Diner en Blanc. We opted for the chicken and shrimp skewers, a kale salad, a corn salad, and mini cheesecake bites for dessert. Despite the food being luke warm (we should have had an insulated carrier), it was super flavorful and delicious! I am certainly supporting Esther in the future and encourage you to do the same. Her website is HERE.
We enjoyed the photobooth and the 360 photo experience! Such a fun way to capture our night and have a memento to remember the time. I liked that everyone attending had such a joyous perspective and really showed each other love. For instance, as we were walking around, a very thoughtful lady stopped us and gave us cold bottles of water from her cooler (she had extras). I can’t tell you what a godsend that was for us!!
My Recommendations for DEB MEMPHIS:
I firmly believe that each city should take into account its infrastructure and make their own rules for the event accordingly. Memphis is not Paris or Chicago or Philly and should keep that in mind when planning an event. The weather is different. The traffic or parking is different…..and so on.
- BRING ON VOLUNTEERS. Event planning 101. Managing an event of this magnitude takes not only commitment but manpower. Seeking out the help of college interns or high school students or simply other adults who would have liked to be at the space would have helped. Always have a full list of volunteers (and backups) on hand to be at appointed stations. Ensure that they know their role and can fulfill tasks with competency and a positive attitude.
- COMMUNICATION. Bus/Table Leaders should have walkie-talkies so that they are ‘in the know’ about what is going on. Apparently one of the buses arrived HOURS late to the venue! I don’t know the particulars, however I’d have been furious to miss the whole event after having spent money and time invested in it. Those involved can keep in communication with one another on where they need to be. Also SIGNAGE is equally important. There should be signs or markers that clearly indicate where each row or section should be placed.
Speaking of communication, my guest and I spent a lot of time walking around mingling with others at their respective tables. This is absolutely fine, but my guest reminded me that Memphis culture can be cliquish. We should be open to talking to the strangers sitting on the left and right of us and not just to each other. Perhaps in the future, table leaders can create small ice breakers so that our section can meet each other right in that moment (after setting up tables) and enjoy another’s company.
- ORGANIZATION: Before getting to the venue, I was given an envelope with a mini card as a receipt of table/chair/linen rental. Once we got there, I had to stand in a long, LONG line (just for table/chair rentals) only to be told that I needed my ID as well. They kept your ID in exchange for the rentals. This was not communicated beforehand so that attendees could prepare. My suggested would be that the merchandise be at each section so that once renters arrived, they can simply pick it up at the section they will already be sitting at.
- VENDORS: Please collaborate with a few more independent vendors that could accommodate guests if they need something like ice or water. I’m sure an ice vendor would have been marvelous because by the time we got settled, our water was lukewarm.
- ENTERTAINMENT: I understand that because of the last minute venue change, so many details may have had to be rushed like the placement of the stage and any technical logistics accompanying this matter. Therefore, many people either didn’t hear when certain acts were announced or barely heard the singers on stage. The dance floor stayed pretty much empty until around 10PM night and that’s NO BUENO. Just to be clear tho, people were dancing in their seats and the aisles at certain points but definitely not with the enthusiasm of events I’ve seen before. (edit: apparently, after we left, there was a bit of a turn up session. I’d have liked to experienced that earlier on lol)
So, what’s the verdict?
The question I’ve been asked several times in the 24 hours after Dîner en Blanc is…. would I go again. And the answer right now is still YES, BUT UNDER SPECIFIC CONDITIONS.
What are those conditions? Well, I’d like to link up with more people to make the table coordination experience much more seamless. Also, it is my hope that going forward, the coordinators of the event take attendees’ suggestions to heart and integrate them in the planning process. Do not let the concerns of others go overlooked. Address them. I am all for supporting local events and want to see this one do well. There’s so many variables involved when thinking to attend this type of event. They should not be afraid to modify some things to make it more enjoyable for their city.
I’m all about having fun and want to see this event and others flourish!!!
WANT TO ATTEND THE 2020 Dîner en Blanc?
If you’ve read this to the end then major hugs to you!! Chances are you either wanted to see if your experience aligned with mine or you want to be prepared to attend next year’s event. Here’s how:
SIGN UP TO BE ON THE WAITING LIST for your city. In Memphis, its HERE
Follow the Dîner en Blanc in your respective city to get the latest updates.
Embrace the power of organic networking. Chances are you may have connections who could sponsor you. You could also volunteer if that is something up your alley.
Disclaimer: I was not sponsored or paid to write this editorial. I felt that writing this post and sharing my Dîner en Blanc experience could be informative to others. It’s always great to have different perspectives and suggestions on events like this because this is no ordinary event. This event requires much preparation. I will state that you are under no obligation take any of the steps I took. Your decisions are your own with no specific or customized input from me. This is simply an event experienced and recounted through my eyes. Additionally, within this editorial I provide links to aid in the event planning process. These links are affiliates and by clicking on them, I would receive a small commission. Thank you so much for reading and visiting my site!
What do you think?