From the category archives:
Q: When guests are asked to bring food to a party (hors d’oeuvre, cookies, salad, etc.) are they then required to reciprocate the invitation? Generally if someone invites me to a party and they provide the food, I reciprocate by asking them to my house for dinner. If I’m asked to bring something, I don’t [...]
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Q: When is the proper time to remove your guests dinner plates? Is it after everyone is finished? I have a dear friend that insists on helping out at dinner parties, but she starts removing plates before all are finished. She also insists on putting away food from buffets within 15-20 minutes of the meal. [...]
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Q: I think it’s inappropriate for a dinner-party host to start washing the dirty dishes while the guests are still around. Isn’t this code for “party’s over- go home”? A: It depends. At a formal party, the host shouldn’t clean up until her guests have left. A casual gathering with close friends is different. Without [...]
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Q: I RSVP’d yes to a party, but the night of the soiree something came up at the last minute. I didn’t call the hostess because I didn’t want to interrupt her preparations. Right or Wrong move? A: Wrong. Let your hostess know you won’t be there with a quick phone call–not a text or [...]
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Q: My husband’s friends always leave empty beer cans and chip bags around after watching the game. Can I ask guests to help clean up? A: Talk to your husband. As the host, he’s responsible for cleaning up after his guests. At a casual gathering, you could encourage him to say, “Hey, guys, how about [...]
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Q: After I hosted a summer brunch, a guest sent flowers to me as a thank you. Should I call to thank her or write her a note or do nothing? A: Definitely thank her! How else will she know you’ve received her thoughtful gift? The warmest “thanks!” is still the handwritten note, but you [...]
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Q: As a vegetarian, I hate it when people don’t stock veggie burgers at barbeques. Is it rude to bring my own? A: A host can’t cater to every guest’s preferences. That said, if the party giver is a good friend, you can provide for yourself while also helping out. Say: “Can I bring some [...]
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Q: My friend constantly sends me personal emails at work. I love hearing from her, but I can’t reply and get my job done. How can I kindly ask her to cool it? A: It’s time for some polite honesty. Say, “I enjoy your emails, but I just don’t have time to read and respond [...]
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This post originally appeared at my parenting blog The Gift of Good Manners. I will be cross posting some of my favorite content from that blog here at the Etiquette Daily periodically. I hope you enjoy these posts as much as I enjoyed writing them. Summer is a time for entertaining – even for kids. [...]
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Q: Every time we throw a party, one of my husband’s single friends sticks around after all the other guests have left, when we’re in cleanup mode. Is there a polite way to ask him to leave? A: Dropping hints to a guest who won’t leave usually doesn’t work, so you’ll have to be direct: [...]
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The Gift of Good Manners
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