We know most of you know how to act at a party (at least we hope you do). However, we’ve all likely had a party experience that left us with secondhand embarrassment because of the way a party guest or a host acted.

So we thought a little refresher on how to behave in a social setting might be helpful! These are not hard and fast rules, but they are basic tips and reminders that you can reference anytime you need them. You can thank us later!

Dress Accordingly

We aren’t telling you you can’t wear what you want to wear; but if there’s a specific dress code requested, you should do your best to make sure your outfit falls under that category! Don’t show up to a nice dinner party in leggings and your favorite oversized tee. If it’s a costume or theme party, participate if you’re able. If you’re the host and you want people to dress a certain way, make sure they know that! You can’t get mad at cousin Ricky for showing up to your formal event in his overalls if he wasn’t told the dress code. There really is no such thing as overcommunication when it comes to this part of party etiquette!

Don’t Act a Fool

This is not a cotillion blog, so we aren’t going over your manners with a fine tooth comb or explaining which fork you should eat your salad with. It’s more like a friendly reminder to act right when you’re at a public event. Try not to be rude to other guests or the host (duh), stay off your phone when people are talking to you, and be gracious of any potential mishaps like a spilled drink or a stepped on toe. If your host didn’t specify you could bring a plus one, ask before assuming you can. As far as when to arrive, aim to be 15 minutes early for a wedding, but for any other event you should get there on time but no later than 20 minutes late. Don’t get sloppy drunk or eat all of the pigs in a blanket. And of course, try not to argue with anyone. We know these all sound like pretty standard practices, but we like to cover our bases.

Be Prepared

The key to a successful party is preparation. Whether you’re the host or the guest, prepping before the big event will help in the long run. For the host, cover your bases! Make sure the bathrooms are fully stocked with the essentials. If you’re cooking a meal, look up how long it takes to prepare everything so your guests aren’t silently starving while it cooks for an hour. Give plenty of notice if you can, and expect some people to arrive earlier than you planned. If you’re a guest, save yourself some stress and plan your outfit ahead of time. Leave with plenty of time to get to the party at an appropriate time. If you plan to bring a gift, make sure it’s something easy for the host to take care of (think bottle of wine or candy, and if you bring flowers maybe add your own vase). Also, RSVP! If your host sends out an invitation, don’t wait until the last minute to respond. A lot of work goes into planning for a party, and the sooner they know how many people are attending, the sooner they can finish those plans.

Party etiquette isn’t hard! It basically boils down to being courteous, and we know you’re a nice human! We hope this little refresher was helpful, and if you have any other tips drop them in the comments!

by Katie Woodall

By: Katie Woodall
Title: Party Etiquette 101
Sourced From: www.weddingandpartynetwork.com/blog/etiquette/party-etiquette-101/
Published Date: Tue, 27 Dec 2022 13:00:26 +0000

-----------------------------------------------