How to Behave Appropriately When Invited for a Dinner

Behaving appropriately at a dinner party will make others enjoy your company.

Many people enjoy being invited to dinner parties, whether they're formal or casual. It's a time where people gather to eat delicious food and have intelligent conversations with family members or friends. If you're invited to a dinner party, it's important for you to learn how to act appropriately at one. Learning dinner party etiquette will help you be more confident and increase your chances of being invited to other dinner parties.

Instructions

1. Dress appropriately. Find out if there is a dress code on your dinner party invitation. For example, if it's black tie, it's not appropriate to wear a pair of jeans with a polo shirt.

2. Shake hands with everyone when you first arrive to the dinner party. Keep your handshake firm, without gripping too hard on someone's hand.

3. Do not use crude or offensive language. Cursing or telling crude jokes can make some people uncomfortable. Avoid talking about controversial topics, such as religion or politics.

4. Display good table manners. Put your napkin on your lap and don't put your elbows on the table. Keep your mouth closed while you're eating and don't make loud slurping sounds. Do not reach across the table to grab an item; ask the person sitting closest to the item to pass it to you. Don't place your utensils directly on the table; put them on the edge of your plate instead.

5. Drink alcohol in moderation. If you become drunk at a dinner party, you may say or do something you will regret and embarrass yourself.

6. Do not complain about the food. Leave the food you don't like on the plate instead of making a big deal about it.

References

• Emily Post: Attire Guide: Dress Codes from Casual to White Tie
• Etiquette Scholar; Table Etiquette; Mike Lininger