Has there ever been an event that you've seen growing up through the years and always wanted to go to, but never thought it was a possibility? Well that was me with Diner En Blanc - only the hottest little pop-up, super exclusive, picnic that sweeps cities around the world every summer.
Thanks to Monsieur François Pasquier who decided to have a picnic with friends 27 years ago, people worldwide sign up for the crazy ride to wear all white, bring all white everything (minus the food), and be kept totally in the dark until you're metroing to your final location. Does that sound crazy? Probably. But is it worth every minute and penny spent? Oui, oui, oui!
I don't even want to bore you with words because I think the pictures speak for themselves. But if I must, let me give you a few pro tips in case you're reading this and new to the game!
- Table - Coleman outdoor camping table is perfect. It's super lightweight, rolls up and comes with a carrying case. Don't hesitate. Buy it! For $29, it's a total steal.
- Chairs - IKEA is a Godsend for this picnic! Like the table, these chairs are a steal for $7.99. Lightweight, compact - buy them!
- Luggage Cart - YOU NEED ONE! This is what I got last minute, and it was perfect because it folded up and we could sit it under the table while we ate. It's sturdy and holds a lot! You may want extra bungee cords though.
- Picnic Basket - Okay, so I kind of cheated on this one, because my boss let me use her picnic basket - which just happens to be this one. I took everything out of it and bought white plates and clear glasses from IKEA, so the price tag is a bit much - but it held all of our food and fit on the cart perfectly. Let's face it, I'm probably going to buy it for myself here soon just so I have it.
As for the rest - it's up to you! For a short while, I thought I had overbought - but it was just the perfect amount of table decorations for the night. I got it all in one 12x12 tote you pick up at a craft store to decorate which made it easier! Like I said, all my dishes, cutlery and glasses, and battery operated candles came from IKEA. I got the napkins from Target, napkin ring holders from Bed, Bath and Beyond, and the flowers with little bud vases at Michaels. I then filled the jars with fairy lights to add extra light.
Now, enough about the table. Let's get to the real fun!
Looks like I found my people! 250 people casually congregating waiting for our final meeting place.
Wave the napkins - it's dinner time!
Speaking of dinner - Meg and I (mostly Meg) made a three course Italian meal. We started off with an assortment of olives, pasta salad and stuffed breads of breaded chicken and sausage. It was all equally amazing and mostly mess proof.
These mini cheesecakes were the perfect way to end the dinner before all the dancing.
Sparklers - dinner is over! Time to dance the night away!
We love sparklers! Once we could actually get them lit, that is.
Apothic Wines was the sponsor, so not only did we drink good wine, but we got pretty masks that made us feel like A in PLL.
My favorite picture of the night, by far. This girl was my very first friend in DC. She's seen cleaned up my puke more than once, picked me up at the airport on a snowy 12:30 flight cancellation with beer, and made me feel more like a sister than some person from work that you hang out with when you're off. To say I'm going to miss her when she moves back to Connecticut next week is an understatement!
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