How to Conduct Yourself at a Dinner Party

Correct etiquette at a dinner party involves more than knowing with which fork to eat your salad. If you conduct yourself with good manners, you will make the people around you feel comfortable. This conduct is applied to both the host or hostess of a dinner party and his or her guests.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Host or hostess gift (if you are a guest)
• Proper attire

Know the Appropriate Etiquette for a Dinner Party Host or Hostess

1. Try to greet each guest at the door yourself. Remember, you have invited them into your home and it is your responsibility to make them feel welcome.

2. Be prepared to receive gifts from your guests gracefully. Flowers should be displayed in a vase and gifts of wine or candy may be shared among the guests or consumed later.

3. Introduce guests who are unfamiliar with each other with an interesting conversational lead-in such as "I'd like you meet so-and-so. He's just started a new job at this company."

4. Allow time for guests to arrive before serving dinner. Generally between 30 minutes and one hour is suitable. If guests are more than one hour late, begin your dinner service and seat any tardy guests as they arrive.

5. Know that it is customary to separate couples at the dinner table. This allows for more general conversation among your guests, but you should still remember that the comfort of your guests is your first priority. Do not stand on ceremony if a guest would be more comfortably seated near a familiar face.

Know the Appropriate Etiquette as a Dinner Party Guest

6. Arrive on time and properly dressed. If the dinner party is a casual affair, a suit and tie won't be necessary. Ask your host or hostess in advance what kind of dress is expected.

7. Bring a small token of your gratitude for being invited to this party. Host or hostess gifts are not requisite but are a nice way of expressing your thanks.

8. Mingle among the other guests and conduct yourself in an appropriate manner. Judge the general atmosphere of the conversation and adjust your topics accordingly.

9. Wait to eat until everyone is seated and served, unless instructed otherwise by your host.

10. Send a brief thank you note to the hostess following your evening in her home.

Tips & Warnings

• Proper conduct at a dinner party or any social occasion requires observation of others attending the party. Look for social cues to judge what your conduct should be in certain situations, such as helping out in the kitchen or conducting table conversation.