Sending out invitations and RSVPs, figuring out the seating arrangement, deciding what fresh flowers to pair with the setup, making sure you have your cell phone with you at all times… modern party etiquette can become overwhelming for hosts, as well as guests.
Here is a guide to the basic party etiquette everyone should use to ensure that they still have friends at the end of the evening and maintain a good image in front of 50+ guests.
Take Invitations Seriously
If you’re the host and are sending out invites digitally, on paper, or over the phone, you must be courteous and kind. Do not demand that anyone show up to your event. Instead, ask them if they’re free and extend the invite to them graciously. Make sure to give them enough time to plan instead of taking their relationship with you for granted. Hey, family members can also have other plans, can’t they?
When passing on the invitation, make sure to communicate all the necessary information, including the address, time, and the level of formality expected. If your guests are tech-savvy, drop in a GPS location.
If you’re the guest, you must RSVP as soon as possible so that the host can make arrangements accordingly. If something comes up and you can’t show up to the event, make sure to let the host know in advance instead of just not showing up to the event.
Arriving Early Is Not Cool
While you should definitely show up to the party on time, do not end up going early. Planning a party is not easy. The chances are that the hosts are going crazy until the very last minute trying to fix a last-minute issue with the cleanup or cooking. Arriving before the given time will only embarrass and stress them out even more.
Instead, try to arrive on time or 15 minutes after the given time. The concept of arriving fashionably late is outdated. Why would you want to miss the prior fun? Respect your hosts enough to show up on time so that you can spend more time with them, and leave the party at a reasonable time so that the host has enough time to clean up before going to bed.
Gifts Are Cute But Be Smart
You should always get a small present each time you go to a party. It is a token of love to the host who has graciously invited you, along with many other people, and made the time to figure the food and seating arrangement. The least you can do is not show up empty-handed.
However, do not make your host do more work than necessary. Instead of getting a bouquet, arrange the flowers in a vase and give those as a present. If you’re getting dessert, try getting something that doesn’t melt easily because your host probably won’t have much place in the fridge with all the party food inside. Some gift ideas include a good-scented candle, handmade soap, tea towels, a fruit basket, or some decorative piece for the house.
