1. Arrive on time
Your host will be working very hard to serve the dinner hot.
Arriving late will delay the meal and cause some foods to dry up or lose their flavor.
2. Present yourself cleanly and dress well.
Your clothes should make you feel comfortable, but elegant.
Make sure you know the atmosphere and theme.
3. Tell your server how much of the food you want.
Eat only what you can handle.
4. Wait for some signal that the meal is beginning, such as the hostess lifting her fork.
Definitely wait until everyone is seated and served before beginning to eat.
5. Never serve yourself first. Let someone else initiate serving the food
6. Ask politely (by name if possible--don't just announce to the entire table "pass the salt!")
and smile when you need a utensil or other item. Be sure to thank the person who fetches it for you.
7. Talk, but try to keep your voice peaceful and polite.
Importantly, try not to interrupt others; let them talk and show them that you are listening to them with respectful eye contact.
8. Smile at other guests and treat them all well - be polite, peaceful, calm and classy.
9. Practice basic table manners.
Keep your elbows off the table, keep your fingers out of your plate, break small pieces of bread from a roll to butter instead of buttering your whole roll at once, chew with your lips closed, don't scrape your teeth on your fork or spoon, never talk with food in your mouth, always say please and thank you, and use your napkin (which belongs in your lap when you are not using it!)
10 Excuse yourself politely if you need to use the bathroom, or if you burp
11. Thank your host: they will have worked hard to pull it off.
