How Table Etiquette Impresses (and Depresses)
“Keep your elbows off the table, honey.” Have you heard that before? Or have you accidentally placed your bread and butter on the wrong bread plate? It’s a little embarrassing, isn’t it? Well, once you have a firm grasp of table etiquette, you won’t let those little mistakes ever happen again! Read on to impress others with your table etiquette whether you’re attending a dinner party, event, wedding, or family dinner.
Always be polite and kind: This one isn’t rocket science, but it’s easily forgotten when food is late to arrive or arrives overdone or underdone. Rudeness never impresses anyone. Respect does. Let your host decide where you should sit and let the ladies sit first.
Be on time: Things happen, and sometimes you will be late to a scheduled dinner or event. If you’re going to be late, CALL. People appreciate knowing that you were thinking about them and they will respect the fact that you alerted them to your new arrival time. If you make lateness a habit, you really need to work on that. Repeated lateness is a sign of disrespect of others and their time. Would you want to be disrespected by others? Would you want your time to be disrespected by others? Consider those two questions if repeated lateness tends to be your method of operation.
Introduce people: If you find that you are talking at the dinner table and a friend of yours approaches the group, introduce them to the group! Again, this one isn’t rocket science, but we have a tendency to forget sometimes. If you’ve forgotten someone’s name and feel as if you can’t introduce him or her properly, soldier your courage and ask what it is again. They’ll appreciate that you did so!
Put your phone into TIME-OUT: This one is more modern-day, of course, but please, please, please put your phone into time-out. There is nothing on your phone that is more important than giving the people at your table your utmost attention. Your eyes should be on your group or on your food. Unless you desperately need to speak with a babysitter or someone else of that ilk, stay with your group! If you do have to take a call, politely excuse yourself from the table, keep the call brief, and apologize when you return. Unless absolutely warranted, looking at your phone at the table screams, “You mean so little to me, you real-life person, in comparison to this fabulous piece of technology that connects me with virtual people.” If you want to be known for your etiquette and kindness, put the phone away.
Be a great conversationalist: Ask questions! People love answering questions about themselves, and if you ask questions, most likely other people will then ask questions of you! Work the room or the table by politely mingling.
Utilize proper table manners: If you don’t know proper table etiquette, ask someone or google ahead of time. Keep your elbows off the table, learn where your bread plate is, and chew with your mouth closed. If your napkin isn’t on your plate, it’s the napkin to the left. Use the utensils that are farthest away from your plate first, and tilt your soup bowl to get the final drops. Don’t eat until everyone has been served, and ultimately take all cues from the host.
RSVP and write thank-you notes: You begin the dinner with your RSVP, you end it with your thank-you note. Since everyone sends emails these days, the power of a hand-written thank-you note is even more palpable! Show your gratitude that were invited to the party with your RSVP, bring something for your host, and then show your gratitude for your great time at the party with your thank-you note.
With all of these helpful hints, enjoy getting invited to more and more functions! You’ll know exactly what to do.
