What If It Was Your Party ?

            What If It Was Your Party…

 Was Your Party 

In the third and final installment of this series, we turn the tables and put you in the position of invited guest. You have received an invitation to an event. Whether the invitation came through the mail, through the internet or over the phone, the host/hostess cares enough about you to want you at their event. The least you can do is let them know if you are going to attend.

Most invitations come with a requested form of RSVP and it is proper etiquette to reply in that manner. The host/hostess may not be prepared to answer your call and make note of your acceptance when the requested email RSVP would have gone directly to the event coordinator, who may be tracking the head count. If there is no RSVP provided, proper etiquette is to send a handwritten note with your acceptance or regrets. Sometimes the host/hostess asks that the RSVP be for regrets only. In this case, you only respond if you will be unable to make the event.

While juggling the schedules of your work, children, etc., it may be difficult to determine your availability. Proper etiquette with regards to an RSVP is to reply within a day of receiving the invitation. If this can’t be done, it is important to let the host/hostess know as soon as possible. The host/hostess is not only eager to know if you will attend but also needs to finalize the head count for the party, which affects the quantities of food, drinks, favors and chairs. What if it was your party? Wouldn’t you want to know how many people were coming so you could finalize these details and work on other aspects of the party?

As mentioned in the previous article, an invitation is only extended to those named on the envelope. The host/hostess is the one planning the party and they also get to plan the guest list. It is rude to call them and try to get another guest. It is even ruder to show up with an uninvited guest. If it is a family party and your children are not invited, don’t take it as a knock on your parenting skills. It very well could be an adult party. In any case, it’s the decision of the host/hostess not yours.

Consider the economic ramifications of bringing uninvited guests. Let’s assume that 10 uninvited guests show up and that this party has a per person cost of $30.00. This adds an additional $300 to the cost of the party for the host/hostess. Talk about a budget buster!! What if it was your party? Would you want to foot this additional bill?

In life, it is best to treat others the way you would like to be treated. The same can be said for attending an event. If you RSVP that you will be there, then you better show up. If for a really good reason you can’t go, you need to call or send a note to the host/hostess explaining your absence. Would you like people to not show up after telling you they were coming? Of course not. Would you like people to bring uninvited guests? Of course not. Would you appreciate your guests waiting until the last minute to RSVP? Of course not. If you wouldn’t want these things done to you, then why would you do them to someone else? Demonstrate your etiquette skills by letting the host/hostess know that their party is also important to you.