Diane Gottsman | Leading Etiquette Expert | Modern Manners Authority

Leading Etiquette Expert and Modern Manners Authority Diane Gottsman’s official blog, with Business Etiquette, University Etiquette, Social Media Etiquette, Dining Etiquette and more.

Party Etiquette for the Host and Guest (Halloween and Beyond)

29 Oct 2019 By: Diane Gottsman

If you’ll be hosting a Halloween party for family and friends or dressing up for a festive neighborhood gathering this week, I recently shared a few tips to keep in mind with San Antonio Living. These recommendations extend into the coming weeks as you look ahead to Thanksgiving, the holidays and New Year’s Eve.

Halloween Party Etiquette

Hosting Tips:

Have the Right Tools

As a host, you want to make sure you have a thoughtful and engaging setup. For beverages, think about staging several beautiful trays. They can accommodate ice buckets, bottles of wine, glasses, napkins and more.

Accessorize

Now it the time to bring out your fun accessories to complement your holiday decor. Vintage or new, glass or plastic – mix and match to your heart’s content. You don’t have to spend a fortune to pull off a memorable setup.

Prep Smart

In addition to drink stations and decorations, incorporate foods that can be made ahead of time. Guests can easily grab and enjoy a sampling of hors d’oeuvres. Taste of Home has an extensive list of appetizers that will save you time and keep guests smiling, such as goat cheese truffles, cucumber stuffed cherry tomatoes, shrimp tartlets and more. The cupcake and sweet treat Halloween decorating possibilities are endless.

As a party guest, here are a few friendly reminders:

Arrive On Time

There is no such thing as fashionably late. If you’re 30 minutes late, you are late. Aim to be at the door at the stated time or within a 10 minute window afterward (not before).

No Special Drink Requests

Even if you would prefer a mojito, if the cocktail of the evening is a Bloody Mummy, imbibe without complaint. Asking your host to make you something else takes them away from other guests and puts them in an awkward position should others echo your request.

Dress Accordingly

If it’s a costume party, wear your costume. Thanks to Pinterest, Target or Amazon and your local craft store, you still have time to pull a look or two together.

You may also like Halloween Trick or Treat Etiquette (For the Adults).

The Ultimate Holiday Toolkit E-Course:
I’ll be serving up my favorite holiday tips to make your season merry and bright. My Ultimate Holiday Toolkit e-course will cover everything from from hosting a party, setting a table, being a gracious guest, holiday tipping (who to tip and how much) and so much more. You’ll get practical tips and helpful printable guides for easy reference. Join the waitlist and be the first to know when the doors open! 

For more of Diane’s etiquette tips, read her posts on Inc., subscribe to her articles on Huff Post, “like” The Protocol School of Texas on Facebook, and follow her on Pinterest, Instagram and Twitter. Buy her new book, Modern Etiquette for a Better Life.

Signature

Diane Gottsman

Diane Gottsman is a national etiquette expert and modern manners professional, sought out industry leader, television personality, accomplished speaker, Huffington Post blogger, author, and the owner of The Protocol School of Texas, a company specializing in executive leadership and etiquette training. Diane is routinely quoted in national and international media including The New York Times, The BBC, CNN, Bloomberg Business Week, Kiplinger, Huffington Post Canada, U.S. News and World Report, and Forbes. She is the resident etiquette expert for two popular morning talk shows, SA Living and Good Day Austin. She has been seen on The TODAY Show, HLN Headline News, WGN Chicago, and CBS Sunday Morning. Her clients range from university students to Fortune 500 companies and her workshops cover topics ranging from tattoos in the workplace to technology at the dinner table and the proper use of social media.