Le Dîner en Blanc

I attended a fantastic, over the top party in May, and I am just now getting around to blogging about it. Story of my life, but it’s worth the wait I promise! I heard about the event when a local blogger posted about it on Instagram. Something called Le diner en Blanc was coming to Decatur, AL – a mere 25 minutes from my house.

Intrigued, I searched the interwebs and learned that it’s basically a secretive pop-up picnic. However, as the New York times eloquently stated, ‘there are picnics and there are picnics’. Guests must wear all white and bring everything to enjoy an elegant dinner al fresco. It’s secret in that only a certain number of registered guests are made privy to the location and day of the dinner.

Started 30 years ago in Paris (of course), it has expanded to cities all over the world, and now it’s here in Alabama. The fashion, the food, and pretty much everything about it looked amazing – evidence below. Two questions came to mind. How had I not heard about this until now? And how can I get an invite?

Turns out it’s not all that difficult to attend, but timing is key. There is only a small window of time to register as a new guest. I was able to snag an invite for my husband and me – it’s a couples only affair. During the registration process, I was also able to ‘sponsor’ or invite another couple. Immediately, I thought of our friends Billy and Rachel. Rachel wore the most extra fascinator to her wedding, so I knew she would be game.

Inspired by the fantastic ensembles I saw online, I began outfit planning as soon as that confirmation email hit my inbox. I scoured The Hunt Shop inventory searching for something white and fantastic. I settled on a dreamy white linen skirt that I hunted for $10 at Thrift Mart last summer. It was basically made for this event. This, my friends, is why I buy fantastic things when I see them at the thrift store even when I don’t have a occasion to wear it. You never know what the future holds, and more often than not, I find an occasion to wear my great finds.

I paired the skirt with a semi see-through floral print crop top that I thrifted back in Chicago. I kept my accessories minimal, but did throw on a delicate initial necklace that my thrift-sister, Helen, hunted for me.

Since my look was going in a garden party direction, and drama is encouraged, I decided my look needed a flower crown. I am about 5 years late to the flower crown party, but they are beautiful, and better late than never. I took a chance and made my own crown. You can read my step by step guide in this post. It wasn’t nearly as hard as I thought, and I loved the outcome!

(Snagged this skirt at Thrift Mart for $10 – it’s linen, fully lined, and has POCKETS!)

(Akira (Chicago boutique) crop top that I thrifted eons ago for $2.)

(Gift from my thrift sister-friend, Helen.)

My flower crown masterpiece (if I do say so myself)

Now on to the party! On the designated day and time, we arrived at the disclosed location with white table cloths, silverware, table decor, etc. in tow. From there we boarded a charter bus that took us to the ‘secret’ dinner location. It might seem silly, but all of the secrecy and ceremony was fun and definitely added to the experience. No, it’s not necessary, but neither is dressing in all white and setting up a fancy dinner in the middle of nowhere. The whole party is built on ridiculousness, and I am here for it.

(The buses are here!)

We arrived at the second location and picked up items that we rented or purchased during registration including tables, chairs, dinner, and alcohol. As we walked the final leg of the journey to our table location, things began to get interesting. All white creatures on stilts greeted us by awkwardly staring at us. I waved and said hello. They waved and said nothing. We passed the mythical creatures and continued on to a park overlooking the water.

It was breathtaking. There were hundreds of people dressed in white. Everyone was setting up beautiful table scapes while a live band played in the background and champagne corks were popping all around. It felt like a movie or a dream or a combination of the two.

We set up our table, popped some bubbly, and waited for everyone to wave their napkins in the air – the signal it was time to eat. Then, we did just that. We ate it all up – the food, the drinks, the conversation, the view, and the atmosphere. Everything was absolutely delicious.

After an hour or so, more creatures – very Cirque du Soleil – began to appear. I had no idea there would be entertainment too! They came from one corner or the other and congregated in front of the band. The classic dinner music was replaced with rhythmic beats. Male and female go-go dancers began to dance. Fire throwers emerged followed by butterfly like creatures with illuminated wings. It was weird and creative and I loved it.

After this feast for the eyes, a traditional wedding style band took the stage. They played oldies, new hits, and everything in between while the guests danced the night away.

To conclude the night, we lit sparklers and downed our last drops of champagne. I can say with confidence it was truly a unique experience – fun, quirky, inconvenient, fabulous, and unforgettable. If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend it. Just wear something extra and be ready for an interesting night.