Miss T’s Dinner Party Etiquette for the Hostess
It would be remiss of me not to have Dinner Party Etiquette for the Hostess seeing how we had an extensive conversation about etiquette for our guests.
The role of the Hostess is one not to be taken lightly. As the Hostess it will be your duty to set the standard and tone, of your Dinner Parties. Yup! Thats right the Hostess has super powers! Right now you are probably thinking, how on earth am I going to control the tone of the party. You will control all of that by the way you behave and react. Therefore, it is important to be aware of some things, when hosting your perfect Dinner Party.
A guest is really good or bad because of the host or hostess who makes being a guest an easy or difficult task.”
-Eleanor Roosevelt
BE ON TIME
Once you set a time for your Dinner Party to start make sure you are READY when your guests arrive. Nobody wants to see you all flustered and running around like a lunatic when they come to your party. Organize yourself so that by time your guests arrive you are cool, calm and collected. My motto is ‘ NEVER let them see you sweat’.
BE WELCOMING
When your guests arrive be welcoming, make them comfortable, take their coats and hats, get them a glass of wine, show them to the sitting room. It’s always good to start your party off with a smile. I have learned over the years, that ENERGY , both positive and negative, is extremely contagious. When your guests come into your home the energy you give off will be transferred, so you want that energy to be positive and calming.
BE ACCOMMODATING
As a hostess you are there to cater to your guests for the duration of the Dinner Party. This includes drink refills, clearing the table, loading the dishwasher, and fetching extra ice if needed. Yes, I understand you have been standing all day and slaving in the kitchen over the hot stove, suck it up girlfriend thats all part of creating the perfect Dinner Party. Start Strong, Finish Strong! If you can’t handle the pressure maybe dinner parties just aren’t your thing.
NEVER RUSH YOUR GUESTS
One of the rudest things a Hostess can do to her guests is to make them feel rushed. For example , give your guests time to enjoy each dish and talk about it , don’t stand around like the warden waiting to snatch the first plate of the first person who puts their fork down. Sit with your guests and join in the discussion. The same applies when the dinner service is finished, do not, do not, do not, start removing the table clothes and packing up the charger plates and putting a load of table napkins in the washing machine. Allow your guests to sit and reflect on what a beautiful dinner they just had.
Tip
If you start a few days ahead of time preparing for your Dinner Party, it will ease the pressure on the day of the party. There are some things that cannot be done ahead of time, but if you make a ‘To do’ list you can figure out what can be done in advance and get started so that being on time and being welcoming is a breeze and effortless.
