Cottage Charm Part 1 - Responding To Invitations

"Wow, people are so rude."  "Don't they know what RSVP means?"  I hear this all the time and practically speaking many may not know.  So we decided to do a "Cottage Charm" article. 

1. When invited to an event always respond by phone, mail or email.  To not respond is rude and shows a lack of respect to your host or hostess.  The letters RSVP stand for the French phrase  "répondez, s'il vous plaît,"which means please reply.  Normally on a formal invitation, there will be a date they need you to respond by.  Please always respond well before that date.  It is best to respond when you get the invitation so you do not forget and then put the date right on your calendar (whatever form you choose paper or electronic).  If you say you will be there then please be there.  Your word means everything.

Related Post: Cottage Charm Part 3 - Excuse Me  

Also, don't be late.  Be there in time and show your friend you are a person to be trusted and relied upon.

2.  If possible, when invited to an event, don't go empty-handed. Take with you some sort of little gift. Flowers are nice,  a container of ice cream, a dessert, cookies or home-baked bread. Something home-made is always nice. But bring something to bless them.

3. Always use your manners in someone's home or party.  Don't be loud or wild and encourage your children to treat your friends home with respect.  If you break something, clean it up and replace the item if possible with a new one.

4. If you make a mess clean it up. That goes for you children too it is never nice to leave your friend with a big mess.  Children, clean up toys, papers, paints etc.  Adults, offer to clean up and help with the dishes if that is the format for the event. 

Related Post: Charm Class Part  4 ~ Manners In Public Places 

5. Don't dunk your food twice in the dip.  Double dipping is very rude.

6. When at the table eating always keep your elbows in at the table and do not put them on the table.

7. Use your napkin.  Unfold (don't snap) your napkin and place it on your lap.


8.  Don't lick your knife or your fingers (ok, maybe only if it is Bbq and you are at a casual picnic but use your napkin please).

9. Don't take the biggest thing on the serving plate or take too much.  There are other people that are there and hungry take others into account.  If it is a buffet type of event, don't rush in but let others go before you.

10. When the butter is passed, take some and place it on your plate and use that butter for your bread or roll.

 11. Complement the meal but don't over exaggerate or embarrass your spouse or date.  Don't say this is the best chicken I have ever eaten.  Roses chicken is always so dry but this is the best in the world.  Don't tear someone down to lift up another.

12. Thank your host or hostess for the meal.

13. Do not leave without thanking your host or hostess

14. If you your stay is extended at the friend's house and you are sleeping there, clean the room that you slept in.  Strip the bed and make it with fresh sheets and leave it as clean or better than you found it.  If you are there more than a week you should sweep the room or vacuum the floor.  This will bless your friend. 

It is also nice to drop a note in the mail thanking them again and telling your friends how much you enjoyed their event.

Cottage Charm Part 2 -Please And Thank You-