Coming to Dinner

I will be coming to dinner if invited, though I won’t ever show up uninvited. As I stated before, it most likely has cost me a great deal of good eats, but I am a stickler for good manners and proper etiquette. No, I am not some fancy pants, but I pride myself on these things most ignore, good manners.

If by some miracle or random act of pity for the lack of my social life, I was actually invited to dinner, I can insure you I would make a great guest. You can too, with a few simple guidelines. No one is perfect, but there is no reason to be a bad dinner guest.

First things first, never show up to someone’s house uninvited, especially when an event is going on. Successful events and dinner parties are not just randomly successful. They turn out great because a host or hostess has painstakingly planned out every detail of the event. An extra guest can throw monkey wrenches into the works by either running short on food, seating or even having people who don’t get along at the event. Not everyone will wait to be invited to a home, and in some cases, it is acceptable between friends. This does not mean to just randomly show up to a friend’s home, a call ahead is needed.

Okay, now you have that long awaited dinner invitation! Now what? You should find out the details of the event or dinner party. Some questions a good guest will ask the host may be how fancy is the affair? Knowing this will keep you from showing up in your overalls instead of that nice $400 dinner jacket you have been wanting to show off. Ask the host if there is anything you can bring. Most hosts will rightly decline this invitation, because a good host usually does not require guests to do the shopping for the host. This does not mean you do not bring anything though. A nice bottle of wine, a six pack of beer or a dessert will do nicely.

So, you’re at the dinner party, now what? Firstly, don’t go snooping around the house. A good host or hostess will give you a tour, if they want to show off the house. Stay out of the medicine cabinet and politely ask the host if there is any help needed to get things going. Don’t be a conversation hog, give others a chance to speak. There is nothing in my book worse than when someone talks over someone. When someone does this, it means what they are saying is not important and that you are a poor listener. Know what level of jokes are appropriate for the guests at any given dinner party.

Remember your table manners. Close your mouth while chewing, don’t talk with your mouth full, napkin in your lap, elbows off the table and, well, you know all the things your mom told you if you were paying attention. The last and one of the most important things to know while a guest at someone’s house, when to go home. Don’t wait for the host or hostess to have that awkward conversation about how late it’s getting and having to get up early in the morning, or other such comment. This is Will B saying, when you find yourself in a dark empty living room, at a friend’s house, you know you’ve outstayed your welcome!