Party IQ
Just follow these 4 easy rules about etiquette and you will be asked back to parties time and time again!
People want people at their parties who know how to mingle well, drink and eat appropriately and look presentable. To avoid being the butt of jokes the next morning, listen to the advice presented by experts in the etiquette field.
It begins with the invitation. Maybe this sounds like basic info, but a lot of people blow this part off. The invitations arrives in the mail that tells you when, where and why about the party. There is a Reply Card or RSVP info in it that asks that you either reply that you will be attending or declining. And this is often the one thing that people overlook and probably annoys the hostess the most!
Well, once you have received the invitation, don’t forget all the manners that dear old mom taught you! Etiquette is always in and with larger celebrations such as weddings, etc. it is a necessity. Show that you have some Etiquette Know-How by paying attention to the RSVP note. How and when people respond is critical to the hostess in planning. The amount of food and drink available at the party will be determined by these replies and so it is vitally IMPORTANT!
People just don’t seem to think that they need to RSVP these days or wait until the last minute to do it which can make it even harder on the hostess or host. Even if you are best friends with the person giving the party and you think they know you will be there, it is still proper to let them know one way or another.
What should you do when you get an invitation to a company holiday party? You go! You find a way to fit it in with whatever else you are doing, respond right away and attend. The same goes for any exclusive parties you are invited to!
I Don’t Have a Thing to Wear! The type of party and where it will be is usually the clue as to what the attire should be. The nicer the invite, the dressier you get!
Sexy dresses and such for women are fine at galas and formals thrown by friends but NOT for corporate events. You need to be careful if you are a woman. You want to look pretty and attractive but not seductive at a work-related invite.
If you have trouble deciding at all what to wear, you can always simply ask the host of the party what would be appropriate attire. There is nothing worse than arriving at a party and being inappropriately dressed. Remember that generally it is better to be overdressed than underdressed and that the way you dress affects the way you act whether you know it consciouscly or not.
People want others to like them and want to appear articulate and intelligent. You can gauge the interest of another person by looking at their body language. Sometimes just moving to the other side of their body can change the way they perceive you because we have two hemispheres in the brain which affect the way we perceive things.
Know Your Job and Also Your Limits You may not realize it but guests have jobs–there was a reason you were invited to the party. Interacting with other party-goers by having conversations with them is one of them. You were invited to help make the party a success. You can help this along by socializing, mingling and just in general having a good time. Getting really drunk or really loun is never good behavior or appropriate. Don’t get caught making out with anyone in the corner either.
The simple job you have to do is to mind your manners. We live in an ‘all about me’ society where all people want to talk about is themselves. If you want to be interesting you need to ask the others questions about themselves and be a good listener. Stay at least long enough to mingle with the other guests and your host or hostess.
Etiquette is simply about being gracious and compassionate.
If you find yourself at a party where you don’t know that many people, make it a point to walk around and mingle. Groups of three or more are easier to break into than only two. When one of the group looks at you it is time to introduce yourself and your date.
Don’t go to the party ravenous so that you look like a vacuum at the buffet. Make sure you have a napkin that you use frequently and it never hurts to make a bathroom stop to check to make sure you have nothing stuck in your teeth.
Try to appear approachable to other people as well always keeping one hand free. Don’t show up so hungry so that all you are doing is eating and no mingling or socializing.
Leave a Lasting Impression Try to have a good time so that you will be invited to events in the future. Don’t forget to send a thank-you card –not an email–but an actual card in the mail, especially if you were invited to a smaller gathering.
Hand write the thank you note on a nice notecard and mail in the postal system. It is absolutely a must for a dinner or small gathering and with a large corporate party, it’s not as necessary but still impressive.