It’s happened twice already. You saw on Instagram that a few of your trendiest friends were at mysterious outdoor feast, dressed entirely in white. Mysterious, because you’d never even heard about it. Trendy, because you wish you had.
Everyone was holding up champagne, looking glamorous against a spectacular city backdrop, and evidently having the best time ever. You ask, “What is this incredible party?” only to find out it’s Dîner en Blanc and that you apparently have to be “in the know” just to get an invite.
At which point you huffed and sulked and swore you’d hustle for a ticket for the next year.
Well, now is your chance. Dîner en Blanc is returning for its third year to a top-secret location in Vancouver on Thursday, August 21. As always, tickets are extremely limited, but event organizers at The Social Concierge have expanded the event from 2,600 attendees to 3,200.
This means everyone sitting en blanc on the sidelines might finally manage to score a ticket. Here’s how to do it:
1. Visit the Dîner en Blanc Vancouver website http://vancouver.dinerenblanc.info
2. Sign up on the waiting list before noon, July 28. At that time, every registered person on the waiting list will receive an email with their personal registration code.
3. On Wednesday, July 30 at noon, access to the e-platform store indicated in the registration email will be made public, allowing guests to purchase tickets for $35 dollars per person plus $5 International Event Membership Fee.
As always, tickets will be sold on a first-come-first-serve basis and only online.
Close to 40 of these events will take place in Europe and North America this year. Established in Paris over 25 years ago, Dîner en Blanc takes the pop-up concept to its most refined extreme, setting up an entire temporary banquet at secret location. Last year, the sold-out event was held at Creekside Park at Science World.
The event revels in mystery beforehand – since no one knows where it’ll be held and tickets are difficult to come by – and thrives on spectacle. With thousands of people draped in white converging on a public location, it’s an occasion to “see and be seen.”
As in all previous years, attendees must dress entirely in white, or will not be permitted on site. Elegance, according to a press release, is encouraged.
Guests must also bring a table and two white chairs; their own picnic basket comprising “quality menu items” (food is not provided by organizers) and proper china, including stemware and flatware; wine or champagne (beer and spirits are prohibited).
Participants arrive and depart by chartered bus or organized public transit.
If this all sounds like a hassle, just remember your cool factor will quadruple the second your Instagram followers see the pictures. So there’s that.
