What is the proper etiquette when 2 married couples go out to eat? Who pays the bill?

Question

Is it proper etiquette that one couple will grab the bill and offer to pay? Or is it understood that the bill will be split between the 2 couples?

Answer 1

It needs to be figured out before you go to dinner.

In my opinion, if one couple asks another couple out to eat, the people who asked should pay.

Answer 2

It will first of all depend on how you guys decided to go out. If one couple invites the other out with words like "We want to take you guys out for dinner" then yes, they would pay. Otherwise, assume that the bill will be split. And yes, it is always best to do this BEFORE the meal, especially if you are sharing appetizers or a bottle of wine.

There's nothing wrong with a couple grabbing the bill and surprising the other couple by paying, especially if said couple has more money or wants to thank/congratulate the other couple. I personally always say something like "are you sure?" or "you don't have to do this" to prove that I'm not taking advantage of the situation. Or sometimes if I'm just not comfortable with the other couple paying (for whatever the reason), I will offer to pay for the drinks or dessert or tip. I only do this with close friends or family.

Answer 3

The guy who did the inviting. If it's a regular thing, the one who didn't pay last time. If it's a family situation and there is a vast difference in incomes, the richer one should pay and the other should pay the tip. If it's a family situation and one is a guest in the other's home, the guests should pay for the dinner out. If one couple is childless and the other brings four kids, the childless couple pays for its own food and the tip.

Answer 4

It depends. If one couple invites the other out, meaning they say "we'd like to take you to dinner", the inviting party pays.

If you just decide to go out together, that depends on your finances. If you cannot afford to pay for the other couple, when the waitress comes, ask for separate checks or when the check does come, figure out how much you owe for your dinners/drinks and tip. If you can afford to pay, say so when the check comes. I say when the check comes because I have made the mistake a few times with people saying while ordering I'd pay and they go for the most expensive thing on the dang menu. Really rude. So, I don't do that anymore.

Answer 5

Ask the waiter/waitress for separate checks when she takes your order, unless one couple pays this time and the other people pay next time, in other words, if you go out on a regular basis, take turns, just make sure one restaurant isn't a lot more expensive than the other. And be sure each couple shares in leaving the tip.

Answer 6

Clarify beforehand that you will all just pay for what you have. So ask for separate bills. Don't try to split the bill because somebody might want something expensive but they will feel they can't.

Answer 7

If you are good long time friends, you should have decided that already. If not then tell the other couple that you are going Dutch ie each pay for what he/she ordered. This is fair and the friendship will last.

Answer 8

the couple that asks (host couple) does the paying with the understanding that next time the other couple (guest couple) pays. If however, the guest couple is drinking a lot of expensive drinks while the host couple is not then guest couple should pony up the bar tab

Answer 9

the couple that invited should pay that's what I say but some people just pay 1/2 and 1/2 and that should be o.k. too.
Diana

Answer 10

who ever offers... all the answers seem to be i'll only give if i get! what sort of attitude is that amoungs friends, some times we will pay some times they will pay some times we split it some times we stay on our own, and on some occations we will push the boats out and treat ourself and our friends.... its really not a big deal.

at the least just make sure you have enought for what you order!