INSEAD Summer Ball — Winnie Van

INSEAD, summer ball, fontainebleau, palace, blog, black tie, chateau

I love a good black tie event. It's always fun to get glammed up and then see all your friends scrub up nicely in their tuxedos and ball gowns.

Last night as dusk turned to dark, we stepped through the gates of the Château de Fontainebleau for the INSEAD Summer Ball. We walked through the dramatic palace doors, passed through magnificent rooms and made our way into a grand courtyard where we danced the night away in a spectacular marquee.

It was totally surreal - walking through the palace at night, in a ball gown, escorted by a handsome friend in black tie, in the middle of a forest in France.

There are times when I doubt how my experiences at INSEAD will change my life, but every now and then there are those defining 'INSEAD moments' where I realise how lucky I am to be here. I gotta say, partying all night in an 800 year old palace was definitely one of those special moments.

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The INSEAD Summer Ball is one of the oldest INSEAD traditions. The Ball is held annually on the last weekend of May for the 5 and 10 year alumni reunions. Of course, the current students can't help themselves and join the event too. After all, if there's one thing INSEAD students universally do well - it's partying.

As for the unique venue, the Château of Fontainebleau holds special meaning for INSEAD. When INSEAD was founded in 1957, the school was originally based in the Chateau. Later in 1967 the school moved to its current Europe campus, just up the road from the Chateau.

P.S. Couldn't take the risk of bringing my camera to the ball, so I'm afraid its iPhone photos only!