White Effect dinner dazzling display of elegance and good cheer

Against green vines and blue sky, almost 200 guests dressed in white gathered to picnic, laugh with friends, drink wine and dance the night away before being dazzled by a display of fireworks.

Friday, June 14 was a gorgeous night — the weather was much better than anticipated for the annual White Effect Dinner’s original date of June 7.

Inspired by the European Dîner en Blanc, family and friends created beautiful food and decorated themselves, and their tables, in white, at Reif Estate Winery.

Paul and Susan Mace came with a group whose friendship spanned 50 years. Dressed as painters, they elegantly adorned their table with paint brushes and colour swatches. “We've been coming to this for many, many years,” said Paul. The couple listed other NOTL themed dinners the group regularly attends, such as the Shades of Rosé dinner party, and the Niagara Pumphouse Arts Centre Moonlight Picnic.

The tables, beautifully set by members of the Vintage Hotels Group, sported beautiful personalized place settings, including each person’s name painted onto a tiny mushroom.

Talented Nancy Golombek created not only her own fascinator with battery-operated mini-lights, but also a beautiful flower arrangement in the middle of their table.

The idea behind a white dinner is that everyone enjoys good company, good food and good wine in a picnic-style environment. Dressing in the same colour brings a harmonizing effect to the dinner. Most guests brought their own food, although food could have been purchased through the venue, and beverages could be purchased from the winery.

After dinner, the talented sound of George St. Kitts Band got people up on their feet to the dance floor.

The night ended with an impressive display of fireworks that were “fantastic! The cherry on top of a beautiful night,” said Kristi Williams, who was there with a table of her “besties.”