Dîner en Blanc Victoria 2015

This was my first year attending Victoria’s annual Dîner en Blanc, and boy I hope it’s not the last! It was a truly fabulous evening and one for my calendar.

The stars were well aligned and the weather truly glorious. For those of you interested in the history of the Dîner en Blanc, it was started in Paris some 27 years ago by a man named Francois Pasquier, who invited a few friends to the Bois de Boulogne one sunny day in June. To find each other in the park, they all wore white. The dinner was such a resounding success, they decided that next year each person would invite some other friends and the event grew in leaps and bounds into the 10,000 + dinner it is today. The location is announced upon boarding pre-arranged buses that take the invitees to the dinner spot. Everyone must wear white, bring dinner in a picnic basket, and their own table, chairs, and linen tablecloth. Fancy silver, candelabras, and flowers are at your decorating discretion!

The sight of more than 1500 people all dressed in white against the glamorous background of the Empress Hotel was reminiscent of a scene from The Great Gatsby. Romantic French music was flowing from a multi-millionaire’s yacht (which conveniently happened to be docked at the harbour). Picture the scene, guys — sunshine, the Empress Hotel in the backdrop, the millionaire’s yacht resting in the harbour (correct me if I’m wrong but rumour has it that the yacht belonged to Steven Spielberg), champagne and wine flowing and everybody in high spirits.

My friend Anita was my guest — she is the Thelma to my Louise. Between us we have clocked up 85 years of marriage!! She’s a Diva if ever and knows how to enjoy her life so was a fun companion.

Hope to see you here some time! For more pictures, check out Diner en Blanc Victoria’s Facebook page here.

Hugs,

Patricia xxx