Le Dîner en Blanc is a global sensation. With Atlanta being a world class city, there’s no way we’d be left out of the history books that chronicles this Parisian-inspired “pop-up” dinner party. This year marks the third anniversary of Atlanta’s presentation of Le Dîner en Blanc (“dinner in white”). It happened on Saturday, September 10, 2016 at a location that remained secret and undisclosed until minutes before the early evening feast. Guests are required to don their best, uninterrupted white attire, bring a table, white tablecloth and two chairs but the picnic baskets, Apothic wine and Lanson champagne were available for purchase online at the time of the $45 ticket purchase and delivered to your table. The spontaneity and air of surprise are major parts of the experience.
François Pasquier, the founder of the planned impromptu picnic, started it in 1988 upon his return home to Paris from traveling abroad. He wanted to reconnect with friends and make new ones. The guest list kept growing so he insisted they convene at the Bois de Boulogne and dress in white, so they could find each other.
Atlanta is just a little different from Paris. Friends of friends are invited to be a part of the expertly-organized events in Paris. In Atlanta, social connections are only important in terms of your hearing of the event via your social villages and purchasing in time before the event sells out, which it quickly does via https://atlanta.dinerenblanc.info/. The event has expanded to 70 cities worldwide and is managed by its co-founder of Diner en Blanc International, Sandy Safi, business partner of the founder’s son, Aymeric Pasquier.
The Rules for 2016:
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Invitations will begin being sent on August 5th for Phase ONE, but YOU CANNOT REGISTER UNTIL AUGUST 9th. Please do not try to register prior to this time, as you will not be able to.
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Once you register, you officially become a member of Diner en Blanc for 2016.
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Only registered members will receive updates from the event team
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Member must register a guest to accompany them. In addition, upon registration, the member will have the option of sponsoring a friend for Phase TWO. This person must be different from your personal guest or +1.
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If you intend to sit next to someone (including a leader) at the event, you MUST have the same Group and Table leader.
As a special-invited guest of the Lincoln Motor Company, a proud partner for 2016, this writer received notification of our secret meeting place minutes before 5 p.m. And our meeting time was promptly at 5:45 p.m. We were instructed to meet on the rooftop of Dolce Italian, overlooking the plaza where Atlantans converged at the intersection of Buckhead Avenue and Boiling Way. We imbibed on appetizers and cocktails during a reception before joining the curbside festivities.
For #DEBATL2016, 2,000 guests gathered, met their table captains, and set up their custom pique-nique tables on the streets of the Shops Buckhead Atlanta, upscale retail, restaurants and cafes, and luxury offices in what is touted as a “sophisticated urban atmosphere.” A live band and feather-clad dancers, and later a DJ, entertained us. We had a chance to experience the all-new Lincoln Continental (en blanc), including taking photos and interacting with all the unique features.
The event commenced with diners waving their white napkins before engaging in an evening of eating, dancing, networking and ending with the lighting of the sparklers.
Go here for more photos of Le Dîner en Blanc Atlanta 2016. Tag yourself and your friends!
