Quote:
Originally Posted by angiefox10
I'm sure any hostess would handle the situation mentioned by the OP with grace. However, that being said, it is rude to invite another person to a party of any kind if they were not invited. I didn't get from the original post this was about what a good hostess should do. I believe they were talking about what a good guest should do.
As the OP mentioned in their post there may be reasons for not inviting that person or more people. We have neighbors that just do not get along and to invite those couples to the same party would be very uncomfortable for them.
Or.... what if the hostess knows the person you are bringing and doesn't get along with them?
We also have hostesses who provide all the food, and wouldn't have enough food if more people were invited.
There was a party in our hood, that about 25 were invited and close to 50 showed up. Of course a hostess would handle it with grace. It turned out it was one person who invited all the extra guests and made it a free for all.
I don't know of any other place that this happens outside of The Villages. Did we leave our manners up north when we came here?
For those who suggested the hostess doesn't mind... Was she being a good hostess? Or does she really mind. See, you don't really know.... do you?
Good manners should tell you that you don't bring your guest to another person's party if they weren't invited.
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We have done a lot of entertaining over time and I have had a lot of whoopsies. I think that not knowing how much to prepare is the cause of a lot of hostess anxiety. I usually choose to serve buffet style, even formal seated dinners with a certain exact amount expected. But I don't do that often. I usually make a couple of big cassaroles and ask guests to bring something to go with. That way they can take the leftovers home and it won't be wasted and there is always more than enough. I have places set at card tables and even in different rooms inside and out, so that if someone is not comfortable with someone else they can separate themselves and have a good time.
I think that fear of entertaining is wide spread but I was, like, Brightspot, shown how to do it by my family. Inviting people into your home and having them feel comfortable and enjoy food together is one of the greatest pleasures of life. There will always be a screw up or two, a faux pas or three, maybe some overdrinking, and some spilling. There will always be someone who doesn't know how to behave anywhere and that person is usually married to the sweetest and nicest person you could find.
The Villages presents new challenges with block parties and parties at rec centers and huge amounts of people crammed into small hot spaces.
We learn as we go along. I hope that all of you get invited to some nice holiday get togethers and have a couple at your home.
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