Hello Everyone,
With Christmas being next week, I thought I would share these tips from etiquette expert Myka Meier, founder of the Beaumont Etiquette program.
We are all either going to be a host or guest so these tips are wonderful to read and to put into your mental rolodex for the holiday season.
I shared these last year on the blog. Andrea from The Glampad, interviewed the lovely etiquette coach last year and provided a series of lessons on her blog.
For the host…
When guests RSVP, ask them if they have any food allergies or dietary restrictions. Make sure there are plenty of dishes to accommodate anyone’s dietary needs.
For larger holiday dinner parties, it’s okay to set your place settings and table decor at least one day in advance of your party. By setting the table in advance, you can focus on food preparation on the day of the event.
Ensure that your table’s décor, including flowers and candles, do not block the view across the table and therefore make conversation between guests difficult.
Try to prepare as many dishes as you can ahead of your guest arrivals. This way you are able to entertain as they arrive and not rushing in and out of the kitchen to check on the meal. We suggest having some light hors d’oeuvres and drinks to serve when guests arrive, as they’ll be hungry when they arrive and it may take time to get all the food on the table.
If you have family or friends who can help out, delegate responsibilities to them. For example, have one person responsible for greeting guests, one for taking coats, and one for making sure all guests have a full drink in hand.
The host or hostess should always sit closest to the kitchen in order to be able to access it quickly should a guest need anything.
Be sure to turn off the TV during the meal and put on seasonal music instead. This will help everyone enjoy both the food and the company all the more.
Be over prepared. Thanksgiving tends to be an over indulgent holiday. Plan for plenty of food and drinks if possible, so that if someone wants a second helping you can graciously serve it to them.
If you wish to say a prayer or toast do so before you begin the meal, and make sure the host or hostess initiates it.
For the guest:
One should arrive at an event at someone’s home between the time listed on the invitation and 20 minutes after. Do not arrive early as the host or hostess is most likely putting last minute touches on various elements of the party. When you arrive, offer to help the host or hostess in any way you can.
If you have food allergies or dietary restrictions, do notify your host or hostess when you RSVP.
It’s likely your host or hostess has spent hours if not days preparing. Show respect, enthusiasm, and mirror their effort by dressing in the spirit of the holiday!
Before you take a seat at the dining table, ask if seats are assigned. There may be a seating chart that the host or hostess has organized.
Honest Questions:
Are hostess gifts always required?
It is always appropriate to bring a gift to someone’s home. The host may tell you not to bring anything, but they won’t refuse your thoughtful gesture once you arrive at their home. A hostess gift can be a small item, such as a candle, home-baked goods or a set of decorative cocktail napkins.
What should you do when someone gives you a gift and you don’t have anything for them in return?
If this situation happens you should not draw attention to the fact that you don’t have a gift for them. Instead focus on showing the person who has gifted you a present gratitude. If you felt the need or desire to you can always send a gift to them at a later date.
And these are just a few of the many questions on the blog post. If you wish to read the post you may view it here.
I hope that you all have found these tips useful. I know I have and will continue to return to this blog post for many seasons to come.
Have a great Wednesday!
(tips and information Andrea, The Glampad.com)
photos via Pinterest
