from Twist Tip http://www.twistentertaining.com/portal/twisttip/tabid/66/Default.aspx?q=252
How to be a Good Guest
~November 5, 2009~
The invitations to holiday parties will be piling into your mailbox here shortly and well, how do we say this delicately... Some of you might need a few tiny reminders on how to be a good guest…ah hem, Auntie Vanessa. Your hostesses have created fabulous parties, so make their life a little easier and follow these Twist Tips on how to be a good guest.
As soon as you get an invitation, check your calendar for availability, mark it on your calendar and then RSVP. Don’t forget to send your spouse an email reminder to put it on their calendar too. Is that sad that we send our spouses email appointments now?
If you RSVP "yes" to a party, then you need to attend and be on time to the party. Pretty simple folks.
Do not bring guests that were not invited to the party - your kids, your dog, the odd co-worker that clings to you every so often, etc.
If you have out of town guests, decline the invitation to another's party, but explain why. You never know, the hostess might tell you to bring your guests along or they may not. Either way, you allow the host to make the decision and not impose strangers to their party.
Offer to bring something to the party and always have a few suggestions in mind. For example: “Maria, I would love to bring something to the party. Would a dessert be ok, I know you love my cheesecake lollipops.” Also, don’t just bring a food item with out asking. It may totally disrupt the menu that has been planned.
If the hostess takes you up on your offer to bring something, don't forget all of the pieces to serve the dish - the platter, spreader, cheese knife, etc. Nothing worse than showing up to someone's house and needing a lot of help to get your dish on the table.
Bring a hostess gift that's low-maintenance; don’t make the hostess jump through hoops to put flowers in water or have to heat something up. Bring a fabulous bottle of wine, cocktail napkins, a board game for the family to enjoy, etc.
Chat it Up - The hostess has invited people from different parts of her life, so introduce yourself to someone you don’t know. It is a huge stress reliever to see guests mingling and getting along.
Pitch in when you notice things that need to be done, like refilling the ice bucket at the self-service bar, taking dirty plates into the kitchen or showing someone where the restroom is.
When it is time to go - please go! The party was fabulous, but don’t be the last guest to leave. Take the hint when you see the hostess cleaning up the kitchen or appearing in their pajamas - you know you should have left an hour ago!
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