To Clink or Not to Clink? Wine Glass Toasting Etiquette
To clink, or not to clink? That is the timeless question! Yesterday, September 13th, marked a truly momentous occasion. Stuart and I celebrated our 51st wedding anniversary. As I sat across from my darling husband, ready to propose a heartfelt toast to five decades of love, laughter, and shared adventures, the topic of crystal glasses—and […]
Holly’s Easy-Peasy Cheddar Drop Biscuits!
Running short on time? These easy-peasy cheddar cheese drop biscuits are delightfully simple! When I found myself running short on time before a dinner party where I had promised to bring my homemade biscuits, my dear granddaughter Felicity stepped in to save the day! She whipped up a fresh batch of our favorite cheddar cheese […]
Chargers: When NOT to use them!
The topic of chargers came to mind when a friend asked about displaying them at a wedding reception dinner. A “charger” is a plate that is more significant in diameter than a dinner plate. It is also referred to as a service plate or an underplate. While chargers are used for decorative purposes these days, […]
A Charming Dinner Party Seating Plan: The Secret 2-2-2 Method!
When it comes to a dinner party seating plan, we all know the traditional rules of how to seat guests for table diplomacy: 🌸 There is the old adage that “six seats itself,” in which the host and hostess anchor the ends of the dining room table, allowing the other two couples to easily mix. […]
Hostess Etiquette: Taking the Mystery Out of the Dress Code
The golden rule of hosting is simple. We want our guests to feel entirely at ease and enjoy themselves! Yet, even the most seasoned hostesses can make a dress code assumption, which can lead to a rather awkward, yet entirely well-intentioned, mishap. A dear friend of mine recently invited a group of ladies for a […]
Restaurant Etiquette: How to Be a Gracious Dinner Guest
How grateful I am to my parents for instilling in me the old-school rules for being a truly gracious and grateful guest when invited out for a meal. They also shared with me a golden rule for hosting. You simply do not invite someone to dinner unless you can afford their free choice. With that […]
How to Use and Repurpose Your Fine China and Silver Every Day!
Something my parents instilled in me by example, was to use our best pieces EVERY day… not just for special occasions! So, are your finest treasures trapped behind glass? We often keep our “best” pieces tucked away, waiting for a grand occasion that feels “worthy” of them. But a true secret to lovely living is […]
The Art of Napkin Etiquette for Elegant Dinner Parties
Elegant Table Manners for Private Dinner Parties Napkins can be a secret signal in more ways than one! Their fold, placement, and use speak a language all their own, especially at a private dinner party. A napkin carries a surprising amount of tradition and unspoken etiquette and is one of the quiet hallmarks of a […]
Floral Arrangement Secrets for Dinner Party Entertaining!
There is nothing quite like the magic of flowers to bring a room to life and signal to your guests that an elegant evening awaits. Whether I am plucking blossoms from our garden at Fox Hall or selecting a few stems from the florist, preparing my floral arrangements is pure joy for me! I want […]
Table Etiquette: Which Direction Do You Pass Anything at a Dinner Table?
The No-No to Know: Keep Passing! This isn’t earth-shattering, but I have witnessed this more often than I can count on my hands! Have you ever attended a dinner party, a large charity function, or a wedding where an item is being passed from guest to guest- perhaps a basket of warm biscuits, savory gravy, […]