Diner en Blanc : Secret Dinner in White

Imagine surrounded by more than 10000 people all dressed in white and playing music, singing, dancing and above all treating themselves with a gourmet dinner.

Welcome to Dinner En Blanc or famously known as White Dinner.

In 2010, I had landed in Paris in afternoon after a quick rest headed straight to Louvre to photograph the sunset from the Louvre courtyard. I had no clue what I will experience that evening - it was memory of a lifetime.

The invitation which goes to the lucky few truly captures the essence of the event "No one knows where it will take place until the last minute and afterwards a casual passerby will have no hint of the splendor of the occasion past. This will be the privilege reserved in the memories of those who formed part of the occasion".

So what is this Diner en Blanc or White Dinner. As per wikipedia -"The Dîner en Blanc concept began in Paris in 1988 when Frenchman François Pasquier invited a group of friends to an elegant outdoor dinner at Bois de Boulogne, asking them to dress in white so they could find each other.The event's presence has grown to over 50 cities, with almost 15,000 gathering for the flagship event in Paris."

This is an only invite event where people dress up in white dresses and carry food from home and come to a common place to enjoy an evening full of music, dance,wine and dinner. The best part, the place is kept secret till the last moment. The invites get SMS where informing them about the venue of the dinner just 15-20 mins in advance and more than 10000 people gather in that place in 15 mins.

As I was strolling lazily in the courtyard suddenly I saw people arriving with table, chairs , food , musical instruments and all dressed in white. I stood near one of the pyramid at Louvre courtyard and saw thousands of people coming from all entrances. Soon I was surrounded by hundreds of beautifully dressed people. They started laying tables and decorating them with white cloth , wine bottles , breads ,and food. People where in a different mood together people where hugging, kissing , dancing , greeting each other. In 15mins the entire courtyard looked out of the world and it felt like a big restaurant.

I was invited by few people at their tables and was asked to join them. Since I was not properly dressed ( read not in white) I felt like not spoiling the entire scene . Imagine a guy wearing Blue jeans , T Shirt sitting among midst of white dressed people. Looks odd right !!! Still there were people who wouldn’t allow me to go and I had to surrender.

What turned out after that was out of the world. The pomp and show went till midnight and I left the place with beautiful memories of Paris.

I know you will be asking how to be a part of it , well The Dinner In White is by invitation only, traditionally issued from friends and friends of friends who have participated in the past. However you can check the official Diner en Blanc website and register and keep your fingers crossed.

Let me know if you have experienced the same.