Welcome to Etiquette Daily
This open thread is your space to use as you like. We invite you to discuss current and traditional etiquette. Feel free to ask questions of each other and the community moderators here.
Open thread
Previous post: A New Look for the Etiquette Daily!
Next post: Late Lucy: How to deal with a less-than-punctual pal
Loading ...
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Which is correct, Mary and John or John and Mary when creating a list or invitation?
I found two un-cashed gift checks from my wedding (which was almost 11 months ago now!) today when I was going through a storage unit. We moved the day after the wedding and everything was in chaos, which is why these were overlooked. Anyhow, I am (obviously) going to send the long overdue thank you notes along with an apology, but do I cash the checks? I don’t want to overdraw anyone’s account, but I also don’t want them to feel as if I am refusing their gift…..any advice?
Funerals:
What is the proper thing to do? Who goes in the limousine to a family funeral? Is it just the deceased’s children? Do their spouses go along with them or do they go alone ? What about grandchildren? Please clarify! Thank you.
Anie,
When it comes to the limo at a family funeral different families do things differently. There is no limo requirement and not everyone even has one. As to who would go in the primary car that is also a matter of family preference and size. The primary car would always be the spouse of the person who has passed if they have one. If not it might be the parents or children. Married couples generally woudl go together but is one is comforting their parent and the other is taking care of their children they might go seperately. Basically this is a matter of thinking about the best thing for the closest family. An eldery person might leave a few siblings, a spouse, 8 kids all married with dozens of grandkids and a few great grandkids who would clearly not all be the first car. Or they could leave no spouse, siblings or grandkids and the only people may be friends. It varies. Those who are in charge of organizing the affairs of the deseased wshould consider the feeling and realationships in making these choices.
I have received an email invitation to a birthday party that begins at 5:30 p.m. on a Saturday. It doesn’t specify whether it is for cocktails or dinner. The invitation also did not specify “and guest”. The host and hostess may not be aware that I have been in a relationship for about a year. I am from the old school and believe that I should decline the invitation rather than ask whether I can bring a guest. How do I do this politely?
How to decline any party invite with grace? simply say that you are flattered that they invited you but that you are sorry but you must RSVP no as you will not be able to attend. Yes you are correct you may never ask to include a date when they were not invited. However, dates do not need to be invited unless married. It stikes me odd that you would be close enough to someone that you are invited to their birthday party and have been dating someone for a year and they do not know this. It clearly would be alkward to be at a birthday party of someone you do not talk to and are not friends with if that is really the case and this is enough reason to decline. But first check with your boyfriend maybe he got cced or bcced on the email invites. In the mean time mention the guy to your friends.