I'd recently caught up with etiquette instructor, Elena Brouwer (who has some mildly entertaining--if not terrific--videos on YouTube) and while we chatted, the topic of 'holiday etiquette' came up; read on for a lesson from the instructor herself...
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| Elena Brouwer-- bastion of etiquette |
Thanksgiving, holiday parties, Christmas dinner and New Year's celebrations... so many and all centered around food and drinks!
Other than enjoying my time with clients, friends and relatives, I find it fascinating, as an etiquette consultant, to see how people react and (sometimes) misbehave during the season.
My recommendations:
- When invited to someone's house, always bring a present. A good bottle of wine, nicely wrapped, with instructions for the host/hostess to enjoy at another time.
- If you choose to bring flowers, bring it in a vase. Hosts are busy enough tending to the guests and should not have to stop to look for [a vase]. Better yet, send flowers ahead of time.
- Avoid drinking in excess; alcohol--that truth serum--will make you say and do things you will regret. (Food overindulgence is also noticed by others.)
- When an invite is issued just for you, don't assume you can bring a date or friends.
- If you are coming from out of town, stay in a hotel (close by); your hosts need time to recuperate and you'll be able to enjoy the freedom of coming and going as you please.
- During a holiday dinner, your hosts may ask you to take food home; wait until the meal is over before you start filling up those food care packages!
- Restaurant holiday meals need to be planned carefully by the host; pick the menu, choose the wines (ahead of time) and set a timetable for the duration of the meal.
- As a nice touch, send a thank you note to your hosts shortly after the event.
THE purpose of having good manners is to make everyone around you enjoy your presence; your poise will be tested under pressure!
Enjoy your holidays!
Elena Brouwer is an international etiquette consultant who travels the world to make it a nicer place to live with good manners. Elena may be contacted by email at: elena@etiquettecentre.com or by phone at: 954.921.0565/866.946.5684 toll free.
5 comments:
Good, practical advice. Thanks! I really love the vase suggestion since I've been caught on the wrong end of that (giving the flowers sans vase, frazzled hostess, etc.).
I really enjoyed this article.
Very good reminders as we head into the holiday parties :)
A good quick read for one's self and to be shared with our friends.
This is a great article!
It's good to be reminded how important manners are, especially during the holiday season!
I'm glad that you all enjoyed it so! I hope to get more tips from Ms. Brouwer up for you to enjoy!
good ideas -- any more suggestions on what type of flowers, how many...?
thanks,
JK Miami
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