The holiday season is upon us and it’s a month of parties and get-togethers with family and friends. If you’ve hosted a party in the past, you know how stressful they can be. If not, then you need to know a few things that the party host wants you to know, but may be too worried to tell you.
Make Sure You RSVP
There is a date on the invites to RSVP. This date is one that you need to stick by. You may think that an extra person or two won’t be much to cater for, but it could be a major issue for the host.
Not just that, but it is more polite to follow the dates set by the host. Yes, life can get in the way and the date may pass by without realising. If you know that is likely to happen, get it out of the way as soon as you get the invite.
Help the Guest or Bring Gifts
Hosts have put in a lot of work for the party, and offering to help out in any way will be gratefully appreciated.
You could offer to help with the food, the drinks or turn up early to help with decorations. If you’re not going to help, make sure you take a gift with you, even if it’s just a bottle of wine, to say thank you.
Take What You Say You Will
If you are helping out with the food and you’ve already said what you’ll take, make sure you really do take it. It may be easier for you to switch but the host has planned around your offering.
If you’re needing to switch for any reason, call ahead and check if it is going to be a problem.
Ask Before You Invite Others
Don’t think you can just invite your friends to another friend’s party. She has planned this for a set number of people and doesn’t need uninvited guests turning up.
Talk to your friend if you want to take others, such as a sister who has unexpectedly shown up or a new boyfriend that you didn’t have at the time of the invite.
Be Fashionably Late
Turning up five or 10 minutes late is considered fashionably late, but it does depend on the party. If the host has said the meal will start at 7pm, you need to be there for 7pm; usually, you’ll be invited around about half an hour earlier.
Make sure you turn up on time. If you’ve promised to help, you’ll need to be there earlier than everyone else!
Thank Your Host
When you’re leaving, say good bye and thank you. However, it doesn’t stop there. You should be polite and follow up with a thank you call afterwards.
If you want to really show your appreciation, send a card or even a bunch of flowers as a way to say thank you for hosting such a wonderful party.