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Parties… remember those?! They’re in full swing, and let me tell you, I think we’re all a little impractical when it comes to interacting in a social setting. Including me!
So today in our etiquette refresher series, I’m going to go over the basics of what to do when you host or get invited to a party. This applies to adult events, school events, and even kids’ birthday parties!
How to Be a Kind Host
A host’s priority is to make their guests feel welcome and comfortable. Whether the occasion is casual or black tie, a gracious host manages the duties of the event while adapting to the needs of her guests.
Here are some easy ways to be a gracious host:
Offer guests a drink upon arrival.
This helps guests settle in and feel welcome (especially important if it’s a new acquaintance). A drink on hand, whether it’s iced tea or a cocktail, puts guests at ease quickly.
Play music to soften the atmosphere.
It’s incredible what a little background music can do to set the mood for a party! It also helps fill the space if there is a sluggishness in speech. Ina Garten has several curated playlists on Spotify that are great for dinners and parties.
Introduce guests to each other.
By doing this, you can let your guests get to know each other and feel that everyone is included. If you need a little more help with this, please be sure to read our article. Elegant Art of Conversation post for quick reference!
Do not leave guests unattended for too long.
And if you spot someone standing up for themselves, relate them to someone else at the party with these tips. Message.
Don’t make guests feel trapped.
Emily Post once said that people love coming to homes where there is “a happy combination of a little attention from the hostess part and the guests’ excellent freedom to spend their time as they please.” In other words, you want to take care of your guests, but you don’t hold them hostage. Don’t invite anyone to dinner at 5:30 PM unless you’re going to serve dinner until 8:00. An hour is plenty of time for cocktails. And don’t wait for the bitter end of a birthday party to serve the cake. (Half or two-thirds of a child’s birthday party will provide an easy check-out for guests who need to leave early.) And at a wedding or baby shower, don’t ask guests to play five games before the opening. your gifts. It’s about being considerate of guests and their time!
Always have plenty of food and drink available.
More is more when it comes to sustenance! You don’t want guests to feel guilty about getting the last hors d’oeuvre or the last glass of wine on a plate. A generous kitchen is a godsend for friends and family. And if you have leftovers, send them home with guests!
Smile!
It sounds easy enough, but hosting tasks can sometimes be stressful. A kind host never wants their guests to feel guilty or restless. A pleasant demeanor makes guests feel loved and welcomed.
Thank guests for coming when they leave.
Letting people know that you are grateful for being at your party, event or meeting goes a long way – and sending them on a happy note!
How to Be a Kind Guest
RSVP!
The first way to be a kind guest is to reply to a RSVP. This helps the landlord make appropriate plans. It’s good to get in the habit of RSVPing as soon as you receive the invitation, as this will save you the stress of potentially forgetting and RSVPing too late!
be on time.
Arrive on time or within 15 minutes of the start time, unless there is an uninvited party. If you will be late, let the host know in advance.
Bring a hostess gift.
From birthdays to dinner parties, it’s always a nice gesture to bring even a small gift. It’s never about the cost of the gift, it’s really about the thought. We have many ideas for hostess gifts Here and Here.
Don’t be the center of attention at a party that isn’t yours.
The attention should be on the host or guest of honor and try your best to make the party a special and positive experience. On that note, be mindful of how much you should be drinking while you’re at any activity. There is nothing worse (or more embarrassing) than going out of character by binge drinking.
Do not monopolize the host’s time.
Chances are, the host of any party or event will have plenty to do to keep everything running smoothly. Keep conversations short due to hosting duties. You can always call or text them to chat the next day!
Ask what you can do to help.
Offer to help fill glasses of water or bring something to the table. But remember to respect their wishes if they refuse!
Avoid hot topics speech.
From politics to religion and anything important in between, these should be off-limits to social conversation topics. We never know what another guest might think about any given topic, so it’s best to avoid them!
Get tips from the landlord.
If they start blowing out the candles, it could be a clue that they want to retire for tonight!
Thank the hosts before you leave.
Before you leave, be sure to thank the host for the nice time. A thank you note is a nice gesture for a sit-down dinner or other special occasion.
lee
Buy Mail
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