Is it rude to serve dinner an hour after guests arrive? Should dinner be ready as soon as guests arrive? What about if your serving drinks and or appetizers before dinner?
2007-02-21 10:23:40 · 14 answers · asked by Anthony F 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I think an hour is quite reasonable, especially when several people are coming and may not all arrive exactly on time. This gives you plenty of time to serve a drink, and a finger food appetizer, and you can relax a bit with your guests instead of immediately going into waitress mode. If you aren't offering pre-dinner drinks and appies you shouldn't wait more than half an hour though :)
2007-02-21 10:36:56 · answer #1 · answered by endorable 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Did you specify a time in the invitation? If you did and all or at least most guests arrive on time, serve the dinner on time or just a few minutes late (I say 10) while serving aperetif drinks and apetizers. On the other hand, if a guest deemed important enough coming late, wait for a little longer. Ideally, you should specify a time for the dinner and indicate that apetizers will be served prior to the meal. This way you'd have some time to get the dinner ready and also accomodate late arrivals.
2007-02-21 10:38:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Drinks and appetizers are good before it gives everyone a chance to mingle and catch up before sitting down to eat. Anywhere from half an hour to an hour after the last person arrives is a good time to start dinner. Just make sure your guests are enjoying themselves in the time before dinner and if it seems they aren't then try to speed up starting dinner.
2007-02-21 11:52:25 · answer #3 · answered by aly 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes. drinks and appetizers are a must have. you should always have some nicely presented veggie tray or meat tray or trail mix or something like this. and also it depends on what kind of "get-together" you are having. like....what's the occasion? and i think anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour after the guests arrive is a good time to serve dinner. you don't want your guests to feel rushed. but don't worry, you'll do fine.
Good luck! :-)
2007-02-21 11:09:27 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dinner should be served as soon as possible after all guests arrived. If drinks and appetizers are served before dinner, then wait til they have been consumed before serving dinner.
2007-02-21 20:33:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should serve dinner an hour after they arrive. Serve drinks an an appetizer (something light) while they are waiting and socializing.
2007-02-21 11:36:01 · answer #6 · answered by Tonya W 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
State on the Invite what will happen
Eg. Drinks and appitizers at 8:00, Dinner @ 8:30 if you want a casual dinner party
Formal parties are stated when people should arrive. Eg you are invited to a dinner at 8Pm. If people are polite they will arrive a few minutes before 8. Start eating at 8:15 and if people are late- it is thier fault and should feel bad for being late- not you who started on time
2007-02-21 11:28:13 · answer #7 · answered by Lauren Z 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dinner should be ready no later than 30 minutes after the scheduled arrival time unless you specified in the invitation that "Dinner will be promptly served at...."
2007-02-21 10:58:11 · answer #8 · answered by angelpoet04 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK you should wait 30-45 minutes after they arrive. If you serve stuff before an hour would be good!
2007-02-21 10:37:16 · answer #9 · answered by beccablue152 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2017-01-03 03:55:42 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋