Holiday Dining Etiquette

With the holidays fast approaching, there are sure to be lots of gatherings, possibly including semi-formal or formal dining events. Whether it's a Thanksgiving feast, a Christmas dinner, a New Year's formal, or a holiday wedding, formal dining can be a bit overwhelming if you aren't familiar with which fork goes with which course. I mean, who knows what all of those glasses and silverware are for anyway?

Today, Liberty Tabletop is sharing proper dining etiquette with us. While we all won't have formal holiday parties to attend, I think there are still some great tips to implement at every holiday dining experience, from Thanksgiving dinner at the grandparents' to your office Christmas party.

Preparing for a formal dining event

There can be quite a bit to remember when you are attending a formal event. There's a lot of preparation to do when you go out for a normal meal or social event, let alone a formal one. Usually, all you have to worry about when leaving the house is whether or not you have your keys, purse, and phone. There probably isn't a dress code on a night out with friends, either, and nobody's going to say anything as long as you look vaguely presentable. And everyone knows how to use a knife and fork, so you're unlikely to have to worry about your table manners.
With a formal event there will be a dress code and everyone is expected to know the proper dining etiquette. While this may seem daunting at first, the rules of formal dining aren't so strange once you get to know them. It makes sense, after going to all the effort with your attire - whether a tuxedo or evening dress - to ensure that your behavior is as sophisticated as your outfit.
Luckily, it's not that hard to remember all the rules. They're quite straightforward once you get down to it. It only takes five minutes to read up on what to do at a formal dining event. From passing the salt and pepper to where to place your dessert spoon, you will quickly acquire the knowledge you need to be the perfect dinner guest.

Thanks, Liberty Tabletop for the etiquette lesson.

"Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot." ~Clarence Thomas