The Most Glamorous Way To Experience Diner En Blanc

If you've yet to try holding a conversation at a dinner party of 13,000, I would strongly suggest not losing your voice at a trendy nightclub owned by a cult favorite film director the night before. Such was my dilemma at the 30th anniversary celebration of Le Dîner en Blanc in Paris this year. And though David Lynch's famous haunt, Silencio, was worth the raspy voice, it was nothing compared to the all-white fête I was there to take part in.

Dîner en Blanc, for the uninitiated, may seem like a whimsical mystery. Quite literally, it is a secret dinner party set up flash mob style at gorgeous locations in cities around the world. But since its original debut in Paris three decades ago, it has become a meticulously organized, and infamously difficult to take part in, affair. With tables, chairs, picnic baskets, and cutlery in hand, thousands of white-clad revelers make their way to a location that remains undisclosed until they actually arrive. What happens then is magical: individual tables are joined to create a grand banquet, diners set out champagne and charcuterie, live performers fill the air with music, and strangers come together for the dinner experience of a lifetime. The only way to get in on the action? A referral from a previous attendee, or a couple of years on a waitlist. But now there's finally a way to skip the line - in style, no less.

For the first time ever, guests across North America can instantly snag a coveted spot at the world-renowned bash, as well as avoid the hauling of tables, chairs, and food to the surprise location. Sofitel en Blanc, an exclusive new partnership between the French flavored Sofitel Hotel brand and Dîner en Blanc, is offering a très chic way to experience the event. The all-inclusive package provides a welcome champagne toast at your city's local Sofitel, luxury transport to a preferred departure point, an elegant tablescape (no carrying required), a catered gourmet menu, and a selection of fine wines. 

Those seeking overnight accommodations get all that plus 20% off the best available room rate at one of Sofitel's upscale locations. For true VIPs (with at least $10,000 to spare), there's even a Sofitel Sélect package, which includes luxury airport transfers, a private shopping experience to complete your all-white ensemble, an afternoon of pre-event pampering, and two nights' accommodation at one of the hotel's premier suites. Not a bad deal, if you ask me.

The five-star experience arrives just in time for Dîner en Blanc New York, which is taking place on September 17th - get tickets HERE!

The package is also available in Chicago (August 23, 2018), Los Angeles (September 29, 2018), and Washington D.C. (August 25, 2018). See the full list of cities and get your exclusive access HERE!

Also coming soon, Sofitel and Dîner en Blanc International will launch the #SofitelenBlanc Sweepstakes, which will be open until December 31, 2018. Participants will have the chance to win a trip for two to Paris or a trip for two to any Sofitel destination in North America.

Click through for an inside look at this year's unforgettable kickoff event in Paris, which I experienced with Sofitel in honor of the partnership. With the Eiffel Tower glittering in the distance, it was, needless to say, the dreamiest dinner party ever - despite the fact I couldn't talk.

[Photos courtesy Sofitel]