Making Etiquette Easy: Your Holiday Party Survival Guide

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is a done deal. In addition to the wonderful memories, the food still lingers on with our refrigerator and freezer filled with leftovers from our feast.  You know what comes next, right? Ding, ding, ding, 10 points for the lady in red.  The holiday party season is about to take off with a vengeance. With a mix of both social and business holiday soirées on the calendar, this season is notorious for being overwhelming, overloaded, and overworked which ultimately takes away from the true meaning of the season.  Here’s all you need to do; take a deep breath, grab a glass of wine (always a good idea in my opinion) and then take a moment to consider this:

 

~Make a Calendar Devoted to Events. It’s so easy to get over-committed during the holidays. Not only are you attending holiday functions, but you are also buying gifts, decorating your home, sending Christmas cards, etc.  The key here is to stay organized.  I cannot function without my lists and my social events calendar.  Being able to break things down on a daily basis helps make things more manageable.  Jotting down specifics in your social and business events calendar such as reminders for host or hostess gifts, securing a baby-sitter, and managing RSVPs in a timely manner is an excellent way to stay on top of the busy weeks ahead. Santa’s got nothing on you baby!

~Handling Multiple Events in One Night. Speaking of Santa, if he can visit every home in the world in one night, then so can you. However, this notion does depend on the type of function to which you’ve committed. If one of your parties is a seated meal, then I suggest you only commit to one event that night since this type of evening entails numerous courses and some major planning by the host well in advance. It would be quite rude to leave in the middle of the meal to attend another event.  When choosing between two parties, I recommend attending the party for which you were invited first, out of courtesy. Now, if you have two parties that are both come and go, divide your time and conquer.  An hour at each event is acceptable. Whatever you do, make sure you don’t seem uninterested or rushed at the night’s first event as it can be very obvious to other guests, and more importantly the host.

~Thanking the Holiday Hostess With The Mostess. In following the Christmas spirit of giving, I always recommend bringing a host or hostess gift, especially if the event is at someone’s home. It is not as important to bring a gift when the party is at a restaurant or other locale, however, it is still a nice and thoughtful gesture. I prefer to give gifts that embody the holiday spirit, but also keep your host in mind as they may have different taste than you do. Items for the home, or an edible or drinkable treat are always a hit.  Whatever you decide, go the extra mile and add some festive wrap or ribbon to the packaging.  Make your sparkle shine brighter, and I can almost guarantee you will be on the party invite list again next year.  

            The holiday season is a wonderful time of year to celebrate with family and friends. Don’t go “all Scrooge” and let the stresses and busyness of the holiday season take away from the true meaning of the season. Enjoy and be grateful for the abundance of holiday parties and invitations.  Translated, this just means that you have a myriad of friends, family and colleagues who enjoy your company, and it’s the one time of year when you get to celebrate the gift of these relationships, whether they are personal or professional. 

*For holiday ideas from decorating to gift ideas, and recipes to gift wrapping, we encourage you to check out our Holiday Pinterest Board for some of our favorite holiday things.* 

Photo Courtesy of ©iStock.com/Shaiith

Making Etiquette Easy: Pigskin and Pleasantries

Fall is a special time of year as the temperatures begin to cool down and nature’s beauty shifts from shades of green to red, gold, and brown. In the South and especially in Texas, you also have the arrival of football season. Football season is characterized as a three month span with Friday nights focused on high school football games, Saturdays devoted to college football games, and Sundays and Mondays to the National Football League. Even though it sounds like football is the main event, it equally shares that title with socializing at tailgates and backyard barbeques. As this “season” kicks off (no pun intended), there are certain “rules of engagement” and pleasantries one must consider when attending and/or hosting one of these functions.
 

-Properly organizing a tailgate or barbeque. If you’re a busy guy or gal, there are several easy ways you can organize a winning event without having to spend all week planning for game day. First and thankfully, tailgates and barbeques are typically casual events where appetizers or simple menus are the norm. They can offer the perfect occasion to host a potluck come-and-go. Most folks don’t want to come empty handed, so offer suggestions to guests regarding what they can bring, whether it’s their favorite appetizer or a tasty side to go with the main dish. If you don’t have time to cook, you can order take-out from your favorite restaurant or pick up some great pre-made items from Central Market (for those of us in Texas) or other gourmet grocers. Also keep the event venue in mind, i.e.; will there be a microwave or stove top to warm your items or do you need to bring items that don’t require additional heating. Finally, if you’re willing to spend the big bucks, there are several catering companies for backyard barbeques and party rental companies that have tailgating packages, so you can pregame and postgame in style and not have to worry about set up, cleanup, or anything in between.  (Now that’s what I’m talking about…)

-Always offer to bring something if you’re not the host or hostess. Even though these are more casual affairs, offering to bring food or drinks to the event is always a courteous thing to do even if you know your host doesn’t need any additional assistance. Depending on the formality of the event, bringing tasty additions can sometime serve as a host or hostess gift. Also remember that if you have a specific beverage preference, bring it along for personal enjoyment in addition to what you are bringing to share.

-If you plan to bring guests, always speak to the host or hostess first. Backyard barbeques and tailgates can grow exponentially in the blink of an eye which can result in the host/hostess running out of food and refreshments early. Therefore, it’s very important to consult with your host/hostess a few days before the event if you plan to bring a plus one, so they can plan accordingly. If you are bringing guests, always bring extra food or drink with you as well, so you can accommodate for their consumption.  
 

            Football season is a fun and eventful season, and there are some great pleasantries you can extend at these events to better enjoy the passing of the pigskin.

For fun tailgating ideas, check out our Pinterest Page!

Photo Courtesy of: tpsdave

Making Etiquette Easy: Better Offers/Invites

Image from www.sodahead.com

How many times have you found yourself lightheartedly accepting a social offer and later putting your foot into your mouth when you’re presented with a better one? It happens to all of us at one time or another. How were you to know that you were going to be given front row concert tickets to your favorite band of all time the same night you agreed to go to a pal’s birthday party?

There are always exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, here are the rules for accepting and handling obligations:

• Weigh all offers carefully: Before you ever accept an invitation - be it a a social event, a networking opportunity, or a corporate obligation - think through it carefully. It’s okay to let someone know you are appreciative of their offer and get back to them at an acceptable date in the near future. If you are trying not to miss important annual events, anticipate their timing by searching online in advance.
• Commit and don’t look back: Once you say ‘yes,’ make your word as good as gold. You may receive several invitations for the exact same date and time, but you’ve already committed to one. The most important thing to remember is that your reputation is built on your trustworthiness, which starts with honoring your commitments.
• Express regret: When you do receive other offers, make sure to let the inviting party know immediately that you have a prior commitment, but that you are grateful for their offer and would love to "take a rain check" (if applicable). It is impolite to discuss all the other events you had to turn down with the host of the event you do actually attend.
• If you have to cancel…In rare circumstances, you might find yourself with no choice but to cancel your initial RSVP. These circumstances include: family illness or death, or any other kind of unforeseen catastrophe. Most other excuses on the list risk generally are considered in bad form and your hosts may not forget or forgive them easily. As it is in business with clients, you should always treat each obligation as if it were your only one.
• And whatever you do, do not cancel via email. Always call the person/organization to which you are committed with an appropriate apology. If it's a speaking engagement or business commitment, always have a back up plan so you are no leaving those to whom you've committed in a lurch.

Making Etiquette Easy,

Susan K. Medina

Making Etiquette Easy: Host/Hostess Gifts

Photo from Dean & Deluca

When people open up their homes to host business or social events, it’s a welcoming gesture for you to share in the food, friends, and environment at their gracious expense. It’s important to remember that a small thoughtful gesture goes a long way. Here are a few tips on giving host/hostess gifts to remember year-round:

• If an event is being hosted in someone’s home, always bring a gift. You do not need to bring a host/hostess gift if an event is being held at a hotel, restaurant, etc, or if the corporation is sponsoring the event.
• Gifts are usually given right at the doorway to the host who is welcoming guests. If the host isn’t at the doorway, be sure to find them and give it to them personally.
• If you are attending a home event with your spouse or a date, only one gift is needed. If you are coming single, regardless of whether you are a male or a female, one small gift is appropriate.
• Gifts for both men and women include: flowers, chocolates, a bottle of wine, candles, gift baskets, stationary, dry recipe mixes, or gift cards

Coming with something in-hand means you appreciate all the work the host/hostess has done to assure a lovely event. And, it helps to keep you on the invite list next time.

Making Etiquette Easy,

Susan K. Medina