THREE ETIQUETTE TIPS FOR PARTY GUESTS
This is a guest post written by Kristine Hughes.
"What does etiquette mean to you? To us, it means treating people with consideration, respect, and honesty. It means being aware of how our actions affect those around us. Why? To help us build successful relationships."
Growing up, I remember my parents were always hosting parties at our house. I remember helping my mother prepare the appetizers, decorate the house, and organize favor bags for the guests. She went all out and I always admired her drive to throw the perfect party each time. The guests always left smiling, their stomach's full of food, drink and laughter.
Clearly, I have taken after my mother, because I absolutely love organizing parties. Whether it be a wedding or a backyard BBQ, here are some tips to being a great party guest.
RSVP! (and on time!)
When we were planning our wedding and the RSVP date had come and gone, we were still looking at about 20 guests who did not send back their response cards. For those of you have have planned a wedding… you know what I'm talking about. For those who have not planned a wedding - you have no idea how annoying it is to make those phone calls…
And I'm not just talking about weddings; this goes for any type of party: birthdays, BBQ's, brunches, bachelorette parties, bridal showers… As a hostess, you should not have to track your guests down to see if they are coming or not. Do your friend/family member/boss, etc. a favor - make sure to respond by the date listed on the invite or within two weeks of event.
If you can't make the party, let the host/hostess know
Nothing grinds my gears more than people who RSVP "yes" to a party and then don't show up. I think it's rude and inconsiderate. As a hostess, I make sure I have enough food and drink for my guests and enough favors / goodie bags to go around. When someone doesn't show up, nor makes an effort to let us know, it makes me question whether or not they value our friendship.
Of course, there are exceptions, those life emergencies that are out of our control. But more likely than not, you know if you are able to show. If something comes up and you can no longer attend a party, it's best to let the host or hostess know as soon as you do.
Don't show up empty handed
Emily Post would call this a "hostess gift". Every time we throw a BBQ or a dinner party, all of our friends show up with something. One couple brought us a sunflower plant and beer cozies, along with a side dish they had offered to make. Another couple brought a bottle of wine. How thoughtful! It really speaks volume about you as a person if you show up with a small token of appreciation.
Any tips for fellow hostesses or party guests? Leave them in the comments!
Kristine is a marketing associate at a law firm, handling their event planning and social media marketing. She lives on Long Island, New York with her husband and two dogs, Bentley and Lambo. When Kristine isn't working or playing with her pups, she is busy creating items for her Etsy shop and creating content for her three blogs. Recently, she has started to consult with small businesses and brands on improving their social media marketing strategies.