Tip #1: Bring A Small Gift

It is very thoughtful and common practice for a guest to bring along a little gift for their host. As a perfect guest, you should never show up empty-handed. The usual and easiest choice of gift will be a nice bottle of wine. However, there are no rules against bringing other thoughtful gifts. This is easier if you know your host well enough to know what they’d like. Something small for their kitchen or home should do the trick.

Tip #2: Arrive Fashionably Late

Yep. You read that right. You, see, it is less than likely that your host would have everything in place, be dressed and ready to receive you at your ETA. Probably only blood descendants of Martha Stewart have that super power coursing through their veins. So it is more than likely that your host will appreciate you being a little late. Your best bet is to aim at being 10 minutes late, as anything later may be considered rude.

Tip #3: Dress For The Occasion

No one likes a poorly dressed guest at their event. It is important to find out what the dress code is, or if there is a theme. If there’s no dress code or theme, then one simply has the duty to dress well. The time of day plays a huge role on your outfit. You can pick up hints also from the personal style of your host. As a last resort, you can look up ideas on Pinterest, Instagram or fashion blogs. As they say, dressing well is a form of good manners.

Tip #4: Impress with Good Table Manners and Fine Dining Etiquette

Speaking of manners, there’s nothing worse than watching someone for whom you had a really high regard, embarrass their entire lineage with caveman-like table manners. On the other hand, great table manners always serve to elevate one in the eyes of their host and co-guests. If you did not, before now, know basic dining etiquette, today is a great day to begin your lessons! Good table manners and dining etiquettes have earned and lost certain people promotions and business deals. Invest in them!

Tip #5: Do Not Touch Your Phone

Seriously. Don’t. Asides the fact that its rude to text or take calls that aren’t urgent calls, it can be really annoying for a host if their guests are all busy with their phones, instead of socializing and making conversation. Always excuse yourself before using your phone. Although, depending on how formal or informal the dinner/lunch is and how close one is to the group of people one is dining with, one can occasionally check their phones at the table for like five seconds. Asides that, do not touch your phone.

Tip #6: Break Up The Cliques

When a host decides to invite a lot of people for lunch/dinner, their motive (primary or secondary) is that the guests interact with each other. It is therefore important for one to try as much as they can not to form cliques with people one already knows or sit close to one’s friends at the table if there is no sitting arrangement. It is good practice to try to work in a little conversation with as many of your co-guests as you can before the end of the evening.

Tip #7: Be A Team-Player

If you’re going to be that guest that excludes themselves from games and conversations, you better take yourself home on that high horse you’re on. What’s the point in coming out to socialize if you won’t actually socialize? It’s important to make it a mission to be the life of the party (or at least one of its essential organs).

Tip #8: Host Your Host

It is the duty of the host to ensure that all the guests are well catered for and are comfortable. But most of the time, there is no one looking out for the host. A perfect guest should keep an eye out for their host. It could be anything, from refilling their glass, to helping them with the dessert or helping them clear up at the end of the meal. Another way to help the host is by easing their burden. Try not to make any special demands of them and eat what you are served with relish, except if you are allergic.

Tip #9: Be Interested

There is nothing as pleasing to a host as a guest who shows interest in the form of enthusiasm, curiosity and gratitude. These three manifestations of interest are the key to being a most welcome presence at any table. Be enthusiastic about the food, their home deco, the table setting; be curious about your host, their kids, your fellow guests; then be thankful for everything. Be generous with compliments and kind words, tease goodheartedly and lightly. Always remember to call, send an email or text within twenty-four hours of leaving their home, to thank your hosts again for having you over.

Tip #10: Reciprocate

One good turn deserves another. If you’ve been hosted once by someone, especially as their only guest, it is always a good idea to put it in your bucket-list to reciprocate some time within six months of being their guest. It won’t be held against you if you were one of their numerous guests though. However, if you happen to have a reason to have a few people over, it would be a good opportunity to reciprocate their invitation.

There’s a host of other good tips out there to make you the Perfect Guest, I didn’t quite cover them all, but it’s a start. I do hope you try to internalize them, especially since the holidays are around the corner!