One of this season’s most highly anticipated events is back for another exciting anniversary. Diner en Blanc is one of my favourite events of the year. For those unfamiliar, it is the one where everyone dresses up in their most formal whites and converges on a secret location, that is only disclosed an hour before. The excitement this builds and then the set up everyone contributes to, makes the occasion palpable. Along with an all white head to toe dress code, the setting is a sea of white tables, chairs, and flourishes. And the result: a picturesque picnic in the park. A majestic occasion with like minded folks, where you would go just to be amazed by it all, but there is so much more in store.
Today we were invited to the first ever media preview, hosted at Yours & Mine consignment store, Downtown Vancouver. A luxury consignment boutique, making it the ideal venue to help inspire your would be outfit for the formal affair.
As guests mixed and mingled with drinks in hand, we were given free reign of the space, to peruse through isles and explore designer dresses and accessories, including hand bags and shoes.
Here, we learned that this year for Diner en Blanc things will be a little different. For the first time in Vancouver Le Diner en Blanc history, the event will be produced by its founders, The Social Concierge, in conjunction with Aly Armstrong Event Planning & Design. As the former proceeds to hand off the event to the latter, for the start of a brand new decade.
Attendees can expect the same visuals as year’s past, with the return of a Popup art gallery and even more drink specific lounges than ever before.
As taken from the press release, “This year’s expanded francophone cultural component will celebrate the spirit of Oh là là! with local and international-calibre artists”.
A Pop-up gallery by Lyon-born, Vancouver-based “Archeological Pop Art” artist Ghislain Brown-Kossi who will be débuting his newest works for the first time ever at the event.
Installations by calligrapher Lele Chan and contemporary sculptor Mark Ollinger. Theatrical and dance performances with Vancouver’s Alliance Française. Local Romani-jazz sensations Van Django. Paris-based scratch DJ, DJ M1 ,and Vancouver’s own TDM. Plus a handful of other secret headliner performances.
Today we got a mere teased as to what we can expect for food and drinks, including a taste of Peake of Catering by way of a mixed Charcuterie board. They are one of the food and beverage partners for Diner and on the days coming to the event, you can preorder one of their pre-prepared Box Menus, instead of packing your own picnic. A helpful service I would recommend, as to have to worry about one thing less.
This year’s Champagne partner is Taittinger, so guests can expect a lounge dedicated to sipping on this bubbly.
And the wine sponsors are Santa Margherita Wines. Tonight we were enjoying on their white Pinot Grigio and their Rosé.
And for the very first time Disaronno is a Diner partner for 2023, and will have a spiked Coffee bar at the event.
And with all the new, different, and first times marking the August 10th affair, here is another. Once this event was only open for members and previous attendees, it has now been expanded to allow for more. Show runners have recently released batch 3 tickets and are inviting new people to register and join as a first time guest.
So sign up with the link below to not miss out, and I will see you there.
https://register.dinerenblanc.com/vancouver/en/register?
Continue reading for the ins and outs of Le Diner en Blanc
To maintain the uniqueness of Le Diner en Blanc, every guest has its part to play and observes certain requirements such as:
* Dress code: head-to-toe in white only.
* Table setting: white decor including chairs and tablecloth.
* French-influenced event only wine and/or Champagne are served.
* As per Vancouver alcohol regulations, guests cannot bring their own alcohol. Guests wishing to enjoy some wine or Champagne, may reserve in advance online through Le Diner en Blanc’s e-store. There will be onsite wine sales while supplies last. Guests are welcome to bring their own non-alcoholic beverages.
* To ensure that the location secret is kept undisclosed until the last minute, guests meet at the assigned departure location and are escorted by a Diner en Blanc volunteer.
* So the event location is left as clean as when guests arrived, they are required to leave with all their belongings, leftovers, and litter.
Guests are to bring:
* A table, two white chairs, white tablecloth.
* A picnic basket comprising fine food and proper stemware and white dinnerware.
* A catered picnic basket option, which can be picked up on site, will be available for those who do not wish to pack their own. Guests wishing to do so must reserve online through Le Diner en Blanc’s e-store.
Le Diner en Blanc Vancouver will take place from 6pm – 10pm on Thursday, August 10th at a secret location in Vancouver.
On Thursday, July 13th at 11am the team will be opening Phase 3 Registration, which allows new guests that have not attended in years past to register for the first time!
https://register.dinerenblanc.com/vancouver/en/register?
