The Infamous Question…

What is the proper etiquette for and guest on an invitation? Before you answer this question, think about all the weddings you have been to and brought a date. Now, think about how potentially awkward those weddings would have been if you were flying solo, especially if it’s a wedding where you don’t know the bride and groom’s friends and families extremely well.

You might also think it’s okay to add and guest only to your married friends. Be forewarned! This will likely cause drama between your unmarried and long-term dating friend.

If you don’t do it, you will have people bring their significant other anyway, and throw off your numbers and seating.

Long story short, always put and guest on your invitations; whether you want to or not, and remember people will feel more comfortable and in turn have more fun! The only exception to this rule is, if they are under 18 years old.

Check out the Lettered Olive for great invitation styles!

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Wedding Etiquette Tip: Presents

Wedding gifts… do you ship them to their house or bring them to the reception?

I once made the mistake of bringing my gift to the wedding reception. I bought them an electric wine bottle opener with a bottle of their favorite wine, which sounds small in theory, but was actually quite cumbersome once it was in the gift bag. So as I am trying to haul it into the reception, I slowly realized I was one of the few with presents. Everyone else had already gotten their cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres by the time I got done maneuvering my way through the crowd to the gift table.

For the newly wed couple or their families, it is just as big of a hassle to take the gifts home along with other things they brought with them. So save yourself the hassle, order it online, get it gift-wrapped, and have it shipped to their house prior to the wedding.

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Business and Social Etiquette

Last night, NACE (National Association of Catering Executives) had their monthly meeting at the Cherokee Town Club in Buckhead with Peggy Newfield from Personal Best, Inc. as our guest speaker. The night was full of delicious food and a 30-minute lesson on social and business etiquette.

While observing others’ etiquette last night, we found it quite interesting how many people do not introduce themselves with their company name at a business event. Peggy said she often times has people introduce themselves with no name at all, and are more focused on the “how are you” aspect of their greeting.

Order of introductions:
– Same age and same sex: It doesn’t matter who goes first.
– Male and Female: The female goes first.
– Older and Younger same sex: The older person goes first.
– VIPs: Always introduce them first.

She also touched on some dining manners and the appropriate techniques.

– The water glass is always on the right hand side of your plate, and the bread plate is always on the left side.
o How to cheat: Make your hands into the “ok” sign. Your left hand forms a “b” for bread and your right hand forms a “d” for drink.

– Fried chicken, spaghetti and hamburgers are not acceptable foods to order at a business lunch.
o How to cheat: If you order a hamburger any time at a restaurant, cut it into halves then quarters.

– When dining with a client, it is necessary to go drink for drink or course for course.
o How to cheat: Let them order first, i.e., if they order a salad, you order one too. If they order coffee, you order one too.

– If you are eating a messy meal it is not acceptable to tuck your napkin under your chin or in your pants.
o How to cheat: Don’t eat spare ribs at a business lunch.

– Lots of silverware at your place setting, and not sure what to do with it?
o How to cheat: Work your way in with the utensils. The dessert utensils are always at the top of the plate.

– While you are resting during your meal place your fork and knife in an upside-down V on the bottom of your plate. After you finish, put the utensils side-by-side at 6:30 on the plate, or 3:15 on the plate.
o How to cheat: Open utensils = open mouth, closed utensils = closed mouth.

To learn more about etiquette, visit Personal Best, Inc or my personal favorite, Miss Manners.

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