Is it rude to show up to a party empty handed?

It’s never a good idea to show up empty-handed, no matter how close you are to the guest — and it doesn’t have to be anything expensive. “You should arrive with gifts for your host,” says etiquette expert Jodi RR Smith over email.

How do you tell guests to bring food?

You can write “please bring a dish or drink for everyone to share” in the middle or closing of the invitation and put it in bold or another colored type. If possible, you should also include the number of people you expect to attend. You could write “Please bring a covered dish for (number of people).”

Is it rude to show up early?

While you might think that arriving on time is a punctual courtesy, it’s actually considered a little rude. “A thoughtful guest will arrive exactly 10 minutes after the start time,” Musson says, “and arriving early is unacceptable; your host may still be getting ready.”

Is it rude to show up late to a party late?

It is rude and it puts your host in an uncomfortable position, so whatever you do, do not arrive before the time listed on the card.” Guest: In the (regrettable, but likely) event you are running late, be up front with the host about your E.T.A., perhaps even overestimate.

What do you do when your host says nothing for dinner?

And if his or her answer is a breezy “nothing,” do just that, as it is the host’s preference. If you are so compelled beyond the specific instructions, Post suggests something seasonal that may not be for the evening, like a jam or preserve or the perennial bouquet of flowers (already in a vase).

Is it rude to show up early to a wedding?

Guest: Do not arrive early. For this there is no exception. Lizzie Post is very clear: “Walk around the block, go pick up some fresh flowers, anything. It is rude and it puts your host in an uncomfortable position, so whatever you do, do not arrive before the time listed on the card.”

Should you turn off your phone when you go out for dinner?

But there is a time and place for all of this when actual sentient beings are together, which is to say: keep your phone away for the better part of the evening and certainly while you’re at the table.