Party Etiquette

2. Party etiquette
is the rule, right
behavior or courtesy
when attending a party,
we will not be caught
by the police if we
violate this rule but we
will be seen strange by
others around us

3. Whether it’s an email invite to a casual cocktail
party, or a printed invitation to a formal dinner,
it’s important to RSVP as soon as possible.

4. Bring a Host Gift
Show your host a little
extra appreciation,
especially if they’ve invited
you to their home. The
classic choices are a
bouquet of flowers or a
bottle of wine.

5. As anyone who has ever
hosted a party can
confirm, the best guests
are those who arrive on
time. Try not to arrive
more than 15 minutes late,
especially if it’s a sit-down
meal, but whatever you do,
don’t arrive early.

6. Be a Good Guest—and Host
Be a polite guest and always
offer to help your host. They’ll
likely decline, but it’s always
appreciated when a guest refills
empty ice trays, opens bottles of
wine, or even helps clear dishes
off the dinner table.

7. This point is particularly
important if you arrive at a
party with a date: make an
effort to talk to other
guests. If you’re hosting a
dinner, assigned seats work
well to mix up talkative
guests with quieter ones.

8. You might be addicted to checking your social
media accounts every hour, or find another party
guest to be a real snooze, but that’s no excuse to
check your phone. Cell phones should be left off
the dinner table. Ringtones, vibrations, and even lit
up screens often interrupt conversations happening
in real life.

9. At the start of any meal, it’s
polite to wait until every guest
has been served food and drink
prior to digging in. And before
you lift a fork, it’s customary
to raise glasses and says,
“Cheers!” When it comes to
toasting, be sure to make eye
contact with whoever clinks your
glass.

10. P
A
R
T
Y
Engage in Table Talk
Sit-down meals can often feel more
intimidating than cocktail parties. Your
every move is likely noticed, and you’re
essentially stuck chatting with those around
you. A good rule of thumb is to listen as
much as you talk. A good conversationalist
asks thoughtful questions and allows
everyone to take their turn answering.

11. Enjoy Yourself—
Within Reason
Do not over-indulge, be
it on alcohol or food. Of
course your host wants
you to make yourself
comfortable and feel at
home, but you’re still a
guest at someone’s
party.

12. It’s unnecessary to say goodbye to
every guest, especially at larger
gatherings. This is particularly
true of cocktail parties: don’t
announce your exit to everyone.