Cocktail Party Etiquette

If you are feeling intimidated by those "out of your league" type parties, Mina-Jacqualine Au is here to help. She has some great social etiquette tips that will prevent you from sticking out like a sore thumb at your next cocktail party.

Rhiannon: Many of us will have various cocktail parties to attend and some will be quite a bit fancy with the others. So if you’re feeling intimidated by those out of your league type of parties, Mina-Jacqueline Au is here to help. She has some great social etiquette tips that will prevent us from sticking out like a sort of damn at those wonderful parties. Now, we’ve all been to those where we’re feeling a little intimidated. The first thing you say to do when you through the door-- Go straight to the house-- Mina-Jacqueline Au: Exactly. I mean without the host invited you wouldn’t be there. Even if you seen a friend that you haven’t spoken to in years you have to go to the host and say hi, greet the host, thank you for the invite. Rhiannon: What if you’re coming with someone else and you don’t know the host? Still? Mina-Jacqueline Au: You can still do that. You want to introduce yourself. You want them to know that you’re there. Rhiannon: Okay, good tip. And also you say dress appropriately. What if you don’t know what’s happening? Mina-Jacqueline Au: And that happens a lot. You get an invitation that says it’s a party, it’s a cocktail and you’re not really sure if people are going show up in jeans or you should be in a dress. Make a casual email or phone call and clear it with the host as if it’s you trust even or you don’t want to show up in a ball gown where everybody else is in jeans, exactly. Rhiannon: Everyone is in jeans. Mina-Jacqueline Au: Exactly. Rhiannon: Okay, I love that one. Now the next one is funny, don’t go to the party starving, what if you know there’s going to be wonderful food there. Mina-Jacqueline Au: And it happens a lot especially during the holidays. No, don’t go starving as a matter of fact even if you’re starving don’t act like it. It’s not on all you can eat buffet. There are a lot of times amazing food at this party and you tend to want have s much as you can. It’s just stay class A, no one is really having a huge meal unless it’s sit-down dinner and then you have your portion. Rhiannon: So control yourself? Mina-Jacqueline Au: Exactly. Rhiannon: You also say don’t hug the food. What does it mean exactly? Mina-Jacqueline Au: Now, I see this a lot whether it’s Hors Deurves or it’s a buffet, a presentation that’s set up, don’t hug it, don’t chase the waiter that’s passing the orders or don’t stand in front of the food and conveniently keep helping yourself to more. It’s for everybody it’s not just for you and it’s just etiquette. It’s common courtesy not be eating everything in sight. Rhiannon: Yes, and I think a lot of people do that also because they’re nervous. Mina-Jacqueline Au: Exactly. Rhiannon: Maybe there are no people there but don’t stay in front the food. Okay, another important tip and I think we’ve all seen this, people drinking too much at the parties. Mina-Jacqueline Au: Yes absolutely I mean a lot of parties have wine, champagne it’s all great. It’s good to use it for toss when you’re mingling but don’t drink that a whole bottle. You don’t want to get drunk, you don’t want to make a fool out of yourself. Rhiannon: So how much should you drink? It is two classes or-- Mina-Jacqueline Au: Everyone has different tolerance like for me I can’t even drink any. I’ll turn bright red and start going crazy. But other people can drink more. You know your tolerance so drink a little bit last time what you think you can and you say three workers with respect. Rhiannon: Right. Mina-Jacqueline Au: A lot of times they’re either as a household stuff in the party or the caterers. You don’t hire them, they work for your host that’s there so don’t bust them around, treat them with respect like if you’re working the party. Rhiannon: You say don’t take extra goody bags or food or things like that home with you. Even the host says— Mina-Jacqueline Au: No, if the host offers you of course then you can. But a lot of times what I see is that I go to a party where there are three tables of people but they’re not on sale but there are goody bags everywhere. And you know it’s going to go to waste. And I see women at the end of the party grabbing them for themselves. It just doesn’t look good. They’re not there for you to take except for your own. Rhiannon: Right, just take your own. Mina-Jacqueline Au: Unless the host offered it to you, take your own and leave. Rhiannon: Thank you so much Mina, these are great tips especially with this holiday parties.