International Dining Skills

1. International Dining Skills Pt1

2. Group work • You are the Protocol Officer at the Office of the President. You are responsible for preparing and sending out invitations to the Independence Reception on 30 August 2013, a black tie affair. (you are free to make up other relevant details) You are required to: • Prepare an invitation for the Prime Minister, KamlaPersadBissessar and her husband Dr. Gregory Bissessar.

3. Informal Invitations • It's absolutely fine to call people up, and say : • 'I am having a party in a week. Can you come?' • For an informal invitation you may do something like this: • You are cordially invited for dinner • On Friday, October 7th • 7 o'clock • Address • Your name • RSVP or please reply • your phone number

4. INVITATIONS • Are formal, informal, or casual. They may be extended by written note, in person, by telephone, sent through distribution, or mailed. • Only the people named on the invitation are invited. • No children, unless specified

5. INVITATIONS (continued) • If attending a dinner party and you have an allergy, be courteous to the hostess and explain. • A “vegetarian" can often eat the other non-meat courses. Again, explain the situation to your hostess.

6. Formal Invitations • Wording your Invitation • All phrasing is in the third person. • Punctuation is not used at the ends of lines (commas, periods, colons, etc.); however, commas are used within lines to separate the day from the date, the city from the state and a man's surname from "Jr./junior/II/III," etc. • No abbreviations are used. Either spell out a name or leave it out: "Mark Claude Manet" not "Mark C. Manet." Also, "Road," "Street," "Avenue," "Reverend," "Doctor," and all military titles should be spelled out. Exceptions are: "Mr." and "Mrs."

7. Wording your invitation—continued • If both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are doctors, they can be referred to as "The Doctors Smith." • Days, dates, and times are always spelled out. • Only proper nouns are capitalized (names of people and places, cities, states, name of the day of the week, month name, etc.) Exceptions are the year line ("Two thousand") or where the noun is the beginning of a new sentence or thought ("T" in "The favour of a reply is requested" or "Reception to follow")

8. Wording your invitation—continued • Be consistent with your usage of "honour/favour" or "honor/favor." Traditionally the formal, British spelling with the "u" is preferred in proper wedding etiquette, but whichever form you choose, use it in both words. • It is considered socially incorrect to write, "no children please" on the invitation or any part of the wedding ensemble. "Black tie" does not traditionally appear on the invitation. If the event takes place after six o'clock, your guests should assume that it is a formal event. If you are concerned, however, you may write "Black tie" as a right footnote on your reception card. Note: the "B" in "Black tie" is capitalized, but not the "t."

9. Logos and Crests

10. The Chief Secretary of the Tobago House of Assembly and Mrs. London request the pleasure of the company of __________________________________________________________ at a Dinner and Cultural Show on the occasion of the Visit by His Excellency He Qouqiang Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the CPC on Thursday the twenty-sixth of June, two thousand and eight at seven o’clock in the evening at the Scarborough Ballroom VHL Tobago Golf and Spa Resort R.S.V.P: 639-2188 Dress: Lounge Suit

11. The Chief Justice and Mrs. Archie Request the honor of the company of Captain & Mrs. Smith at a reception On Saturday, the fifth of June At half after/past six o’clock 3 Forsythe Avenue R.S.V.P. : 624-1234 Casual

12. request the pleasure of the company of at on at o’clock R.S.V.P. Casual

13. For Date Time Place R.S.V.P. casual

14. FORMS OF ADDRESS • (Be Consistent) It depends on how the people prefer to be addressed. • Some people prefer to be addressed with their husband's name – • "Mr. & Mrs. Robert Boon". • Some people would prefer to have their name as well – • "Mr. Robert and Mrs. Virginia Boon". • Sometimes, the woman would have a higher title than the man – • "Dr. & Mr. Lee". Or, it could be "Dr. Cynthia Lee and Mr. Douglas Lee".

15. R.S.V.P. • From the French, it means “Répondez, s’ilvousplaît,” or, “Please reply.” • Indicated in left-hand corner of invitation. • Indicates that a reply is mandatory; This is also thoughtful to allow the hostess to know how many to plan for. • Answer with “yes” or “no”; If it is “no,” a brief explanation (why you can not attend) is acceptable but not necessary. • Regrets only • Respond within 24-48 hours of receiving invitation and always by NLT (No Later Than) date on the invitation. • Call or write the R.S.V.P.; never respond in person.

16. R.S.V.P Changing a ‘yes’ to a ‘no’ is only acceptable on account of: illness or injury, a death in the family or an unavoidable professional or business conflict. Call your hosts immediately. Canceling because you have a “better” offer is a sure fire way to get dropped from ALL the guest lists. Being a “no show” is unacceptable. Changing a ‘no’ to a ‘yes’ is OK only if it will not upset the hosts’ arrangements.

17. Say “Thank You.” • Make sure to thank your hosts before you leave, and then again by phone or note the next day.

18. Host Duties &Guest Responsibilities • HOST • Plan ahead of time • Send invitations out early • Do due diligence (Married) • Be on time • Greets guests upon arrival • Takes the lead • GUEST • RSVP on time • Leave home with host’s contacts • Arrive on Time (If late contact host) • Only bring who is on the invitation • Be positive and upbeat. • Always send a thank you not

19. guest of honor woman man woman x x x x Host Hostess x x x x man woman man wife of guest of honor

20. RECEIVING LINE The receiving line need not be a frightening prospect. It is a case where tradition and practicality go hand in hand. A receiving line is an efficient and gracious way to allow the honored guest(s) to meet all guests personally. No food, drink, or cigarettes in line. Stand together in line. Husband gives names to adjutant (Protocol Officer, first person in line). You may repeat your name to the honored guest(s) in case it got passed down incorrectly

21. How to be the perfect guest • http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-be-the-perfect-guest

22. Useful Websites • http://www.mygatsby.com/invitations/etiquette/ (wedding invitations, baby showers, and general invitations) • http://www.southworth.com/page.php?id=127 (wedding invitations) • http://www.emilypost.com/everyday/invitation_etiquette.htm