Milwaukee is hosting its first ever Diner en Blanc, a night shrouded in elegance, mystery and entertainment, on Aug. 30 at an undisclosed venue.
Diner en Blanc began in France in the ’80s and grew into a global success. Demetra Morgan, a host of the Milwaukee picnic, said the city offers a unique opportunity to nurture the events culture of inclusivity and vibrance.
“Milwaukee is one of the cities that is truly a melting pot and it has so many diverse cultures and populations,” Morgan said. “So this event, because it is featured in 40 different countries around the globe, it just kind of felt right to do it in Milwaukee.”
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The night is meant to be filled with magic. The dress code is strictly elegant white and guests are required to bring their own table and chairs and pack a gourmet – all of which must also be white. The location of the event is kept completely under wraps and even the volunteers don’t find out where they’re leading people until one to two days prior to the event.
“Typically when people pay money to go somewhere, they know where they’re going, they know how to map it out, and they know how long it’s going to take for them to get there,” Morgan said. “And so part of the magic of this event is that people have no idea where they’re going to end up, and they don’t know until they actually arrive at the secret location.”
Milwaukee’s event is unique in that patrons are not allowed to bring their own alcohol to the event due to city ordinances. For the first time, Diner en Blanc is partnering with a french liqueur producer to provide Chambord, a premium black raspberry liqueur, to guests. Wine and champagne is also available for purchase through the event’s online store.
Morgan, Michelle Ford and Trenetta Pitts are three of the organizers for the Milwaukee event. Each of them were inspired by their own experiences at Diner en Blanc in other cities like Chicago, Atlanta and Detroit.
“Everybody was just so excited about it because again, it really made us feel like the experience was so unique, none that we’ve ever experienced,” Ford said. “The culture of community, the richness of art and talent, the experience there was just something we all kind of fell in love with.”
Usually, each city will choose its own theme for the night, but this year, the international team selected “Blooming Elegance.” This theme is meant to portray the “timeless beauty of flowers” and invites guests to design their table settings and outfits around white florals.
In order to encourage community building, Diner en Blanc is a plus one event and all ticket holders are required to bring someone with them. Gourmet meals can be purchased in the online store if packing something isn’t your thing.
The Milwaukee team is looking for volunteers to help run the event and those interested can contact them through the contact section on milwaukee.dinerenblanc.com. Milwaukee Diner en Blanc is also looking for luxury partners to provide guests with creative activities on site.
Diner en Blanc is on Saturday, Aug. 30, and tickets can be purchased online.
