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Toppingfrmbottom -> RE: I am woefully un aware of formal dining etiquette and manners. (8/25/2010 6:59:55 PM)
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I don't know a whole lot about the plan, other than it's a 5 course dinner, there'll be a social hour with cocktails and a somilier, * yes botched the spelling
* It's going to be kind of casual, yet elegant, so no jeans, flip flops shorts, ect ect, but it's not black tie either. I'm thinking the men would probably do best to come in dress slacks a button down shirt, dress shoes and a tie, and the women, in a nice skirt or dress or pants suit, stockings and dress shoes.
Good idea about it not being scented, I actually was going to go the scented route, but won't now unless she says she likes scented, and what kind of scents she likes.
And as far as wine charms go, that's an excellent idea, and with shrinky dink materials you can make your own customized ones, and they turn out so cute, I have heard!
Thank you angel, you're suggestions were so helpful, and it gave me an idea.
quote:
ORIGINAL: barelynangel
Hi tfb,
First of all remember, you are there and i presume the hostess and guests are there to have FUN and enjoy each other's company over a fine meal. How formal is this? I mean is she having wait staff serve people?
While many dinners do in fact have what i call the extended cutlery, they usually are not ultra complicated when you are at a home formal dinner. Unless she is going black tie or ultra semi-formal, she will probably only have 2 forks (one for salad and one for dinner), a soup spoon -- and won't have that unless she has soup, a knife and possibly a dessert utensil. I wouldn't fret about it too much. Usually you wait to start until the Hostess starts, you can always watch her.
Hostess gifts i loved getting and giving them! You know a coffee table book of something she enjoys or an unusual subject are usually a great gift. Or even an interesting book. Your candle idea is a really good one with a nice candle holder with it. I would go unscented but a pretty color or design, unless you know what she likes in scents. example, i am allergic to lavendar, it gives me headaches. Napkin holders are nice since she likes to entertain i would go for the more elegant and simple rather than anything extravagant. Instead of flowers (i would nix same because many people think to bring these and they can overwelm the hostess and the house lol), you can also get her an unusual plant or herbs in a ceramic pot. And you can never go wrong with some good chocolate. Also, i don't know about many people but i LOVE wine/cocktail charms and unusual ones can be great conversation starters - i put them on the bar or drink area and people take them for their drinks. you can get all out silly to the unique to elegants. If she is into all the BDSM stuff it would be cool to find some of those in BDSM themes lol. You can also get her wine stuff since she entertains, unique coasters or interesting wine stoppers. I also had a friend once bring me the most beautiful picture frame. I like to give something unusual, something that can be a conversation piece.
All in all, just go to have fun, remember as my ex use to say to chatty angel here, we are socializing not monopolizing -- pfft ME? (snifs indignantly). Read the news that day so if you do lag for conversation, you can always bring up an interesting tidbit or piece of news.
Enjoy yourself, that's what the hostess wants most of all.
angel
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