Social Etiquette Tip of the Week – Don’t be THAT Party Guest

[Maria Brady]

You’ve spotted them at parties. They linger by the cheese display, blocking other guests from getting near the food. They park their cars in the middle of the driveway. They monopolize the host as if nobody else were around.

Rude party guests are everywhere. And their rudeness comes from being inconsiderate. The bad news is that many of us have been guilty of that at one time or another but, the good news is, when you start to think of others you instantly become the perfect party guest.

Here are some tips that will make you a great guest.

RSVP - Let your hosts know within the allotted time frame whether you're attending or not. If you're not sure you can attend at least acknowledge the invitation saying you'll let them know as soon as you know. Then be sure to follow through.

Dress Appropriately - If the attire specified on the invitation is not totally clear, ask for clarification. I’ve seen many interpretations of various attire, some of which were not even close.

Arrive on Time - If it’s a dinner party arrive right on time and no more than thirty minutes late for a cocktail party. But NEVER arrive early and surprise your host who may be running around making last minute preparations.

Hostess Gifts – While it’s proper to bring a small gift to make your host feel appreciated and special, don’t expect your gift to be used at the party. Flowers especially are not a good gift as the host has to drop everything to deal with them. The best gift you can give a busy host is not making him/her stop everything to deal with your gift.

Mingle - Be upbeat, mingle, don't dominate conversations, don't bring your problems and drama to the party. It's a downer. Keep conversation casual and avoid controversial topics, bad language and off-color jokes.

Food and Drink – Eat and drink moderately. And no matter how much you love a particular appetizer, don't hog it. Take small portions…you should never treat party food as your 'Last Supper'. It helps to have a snack at home so you don’t arrive starving to the party…you don't want to be the guest caught with an embarrassing number of empty toothpicks on her plate.

Leave at a reasonable time - Try not to be the last to leave, and if you are, leave soon after the others…obviously someone has to be last. I once heard a host say "Let's go to bed, honey. These people want to go home."

Thank You - Make sure to not only thank your hosts at the end of the party, but also send a thank you card or give them a call a day or two later to make sure they know you were truly appreciative.

[WQ|mag Admin]

Maria, I am sooo glad you are on WQ Mag.com. Your advise and the flair at which you give it make me read your blogs! Thank you for bringing so much to the WQ site:). Wes

[Maria Brady]

Hi Cliff,

I would love to! Have a great day...m

[Doug Ross]

Polite lateness: I've alwys thought to be on time was a gift, but on-time socially seems to mean early (and she is still running around getting dressed and doing last minute touches). When it seems like one is invited for a meal, even if it is a buffet, I'm always conflicted about arrival time. If I know the host and/or hostess well enough, I ask when they expect guests to arrive. This works best for me. Doug