WTF - Veuve, Views, and Vibes: A Veuve Clicquot Picnic to Remember
Warning: This picnic may cause unrealistic lifestyle expectations
🍾 The Summer Solstice, but Make It Fancy
More than a decade into our friendship, it dawned on my friend and I that we never do anything for the summer solstice! While a spontaneous trip to France would have been cute, our bank accounts said, “Non, merci” so we did the next best thing:
Le Picnic by Veuve Clicquot
It’s like a regular picnic, but with champagne and better shoes!
Hosted by none other than Veuve Clicquot herself (okay, so in actuality, her corporate descendants), Veuve Clicquot knew what she was doing.
Le Picnic by Veuve Clicquot
Veuve chose Brock House for this picnicking event, and we applaud this move.
An intentional choice, given that this iconic Vancouver oceanfront mansion has 2.5 acres of garden grandeur wrap around a Tudor Revival estate.
Imagine:
-A vintage Veuve-branded car parked out front
-Chandeliers in outdoor tents
-Real flowers, everywhere
-Orange accents (classy Veuve orange, not traffic cone orange)
-Veuve backdrops, so get glam and cam ready
Every decor detail was a sight for sore eyes!
Champagne fun facts you didn’t ask for: Veuve Clicquot has been pouring bubbly since 1772 and is owned by the Louis Vuitton group. So yes, they have a PhD in class.
Champagne in one hand, pearls in the other
VIP = Very Important Picnic
From Jericho Beach, you could hear live music floating out from the Brock gardens. Translation: the party was already poppin’.
At check-in, we received Veuve-branded straw bags complete with pompoms, four champagne flutes, a chilled bottle of Veuve Brut Rosé, and a Veuve-themed deck of cards.
Out of all the Veuve swag, it was the straw bags that carried weight (hahaha, sorry I’ll stop). If you were spotted with this bag, it meant you were getting ushered to the VIP Lounge, which basically meant:
Oysters delivered to your seat
Canapés without lifting a finger
Beachfront views while judging beach walkers judging you
As our friend said, “VIP just means you don’t have to use your legs to get your food.”
Friend, you couldn’t have been more right.
Also VIP? Discounted bottles. So obviously, we ordered more. And yes, WTF Hubby was caught spilling $30 worth of champagne as an aftermath to some group hilarity. Iconic.
🧺 Rain, Champagne, and Bougie Baskets
Our gourmet picnic basket arrived right as clouds and rain crashed the party (surprise, surprise Vancouver), so we ducked and sought cover under some aptly-placed, huge umbrellas. Did Veuve think of everything or what?!
Smaller umbrellas were also handed out by staff to be used as fashionable shields.
Eventually, our gourmet picnic basket arrived!
What was in the basket, you ask? Peake Catering had assembled an immaculate food party of delectable salads, charcuterie, truffle-infused bites, and dessert with actual gold flakes. Because if you’re not eating gold, did it even happen?
In between bubbles and bites, we visited the DIY flower station where you could create your own bouquet that, of course, matched the aesthetic of soft oranges, yellows, and creams.
Also spotted: photo ops galore, perfectly placed to fuel your Instagram dreams. And yes, people were out there playing bocce and croquet because of course they were.
The vibe was completely bubbles on the lawn meets Vanity Fair shoot meets quiet luxury.
🌇 Bonus Round: Le Picnic Goes Rooftop
Breaking News: Missed the solstice seaside soirée? Don’t spiral, because the Le Picnic party continues all summer long at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, now through September 1, 2025.
What’s different?
This one’s on a rooftop (yes, the 17th floor) with panoramic views of BC Place, False Creek, and the skyline. Also, the baskets have been traded in for à la carte, so you can customize your bougie bites
What stays the same? Still Veuve. Still music (Live every Friday and Saturday). Still vibes.
Menu Highlights:
-Burrata & Garden Tomato Salad
-Champagne Poached Prawns
-Truffle Comté Frites
-Sticky Maple Pork Belly
-JW Éclairs + House-made Ice Cream Sandwiches
-And of course, Veuve Yellow Label + Brut Rosé and their cocktail offsprings
Reserve your spot for Le Picnic by Veuve Clicquot at the Parq here
🥂 Final Thoughts
The Brock House edition was the picnic of the summer: Beautiful, bougie, and just a bit ridiculous… exactly how we like it! 10/10 would sip again.
Happy sipping,
