Etiquette at social dinners

Etiquette tips: prepare dinner table topics, avoid excessive drinking and leave early.

Dinner is the highlight of international social activities.

International dinners usually start from 7: 00 pm to 8: 00 pm, and sometimes even as late as 9: 00 pm. The first hour of dinner is usually a cocktail party, which is intended to warm up the guests, introduce each other, and especially make friends with the opposite sex at your table.

If you don't know who is sitting at your desk, look at the seating chart and prepare the topics you may talk about later. Don't catch up and chat with acquaintances, or people will think you are too inexperienced. Special reminder, cocktails have a strong stamina, and it is not good to drink too much when sipping.

After the cocktail party, the host announced the start of the party. At this time, everyone has to walk near the seat. After the host said "please sit down", the man had to help the lady on the right push the chair and ask her to sit down first. Don't start until everyone is seated.

In the arrangement of dinner seats, China culture respects the left, but international norms respect the right. The closer to the host's right, the higher the status. In China, the host sits in the throne and the hostess sits next to him. At international banquets, according to western customs, the hostess sits in the main seat, the host sits opposite her, and the male and female guests also sit in pairs.

Oriental hosts are used to congratulating before meals, while western hosts wait until the main course is served. When the host finishes, everyone will stand up and raise a glass to celebrate.

At international banquets, you can only find people around you when toasting, and you can't pass the customs like an oriental.

Avoid talking about politics, vulgar jokes and commodity value at the dinner table, and never ask others how much his Rolex watch costs. The most commonly used opening remarks of westerners are the weather, which is boring but foolproof.

After the main course, there will be an hour of after-dinner wine, and male and female guests will gather at a certain point to speak freely. The last party program is usually ballroom dancing. First, the hostess invited a male guest to dance, and then the guests entered the stadium to dance. You must dance with your partner before inviting others to dance, and you must ask your partner's permission first.

Ballroom dancing usually lasts until midnight. People who are used to going to bed early should be mentally prepared and don't leave early. Out of politeness, you'd better wait until the guests say goodbye to the host before leaving.