I have a feeling the ultimate answer to my question is that when you invite a group over for dinner, they are at your house for as long as they are at your house. There is no proper etiquette for asking people to leave.
I had a group over to dinner at 7:00. They left at 11:00. It was intended as a "business" dinner with some other grad students as we are handing over responsibilities. I have had this dinner the past couple of years because, call me crazy, but I think it is nice to have a home cooked meal and to get off campus! I do not mind hanging out and not doing business stuff, but we ate and hung out for 2 hours and then transitioned into business stuff for 2 hours. I got up 3 hours into the evening to put stuff away in the fridge and people picked stuff up and helped out and then sat back down and kept talking.
This is okay in the sense that I am picking up the newlyweds at midnight (or later, their flight was delayed). But I also did not get to call the groomsman tonight because it was too late.
So is there a polite way to encourage people to wrap up the evening?
9 comments:
LOL, sometimes polite don't work. Just look at them, clear your throat, and say "Get the F&#@ out of my house!" and then of course thank them for coming over :)
If you are less confrontational there is always the technique where you start turning out lights and changing into your pajamas...
I think I've read about this sort of thing in Miss Manners, but I don't remember what the heck she said about it. I wonder if a google search would turn up anything... (too lazy to go look myself)
It is hard to be a host. There is a lot of work that goes into it. So, kudos to you for being so generous in doing it.
Remember that time I came to your dorm room in Mo-Champ and didn't leave for 9 months? Was that rude?
My solution? Have them over lunch. Then they have to leave.
Danielle, maybe you did read about it in Miss Manners here! (Google never fails.) I like her direct approach, though I'm not sure I could imagine using it.
Ron, I tried that and they all ignored me! Just kidding.
Danielle, I like having people over in general...
Carolyn, I always talked about that behind your back. Glad you finally recognize how inconsiderate it was. :)
KHC, that's a good idea! Harder during the work day though.
Thanks, Molly!
I like my regular bedtime, so I'm not shy with giving the "evening is over now" cues. My method is to physically droop a little and then say apologetically: "You know what? I'm fading over here. It's been great having you over, but I think we should call it a night." No one's ever taken offense so far (or at least not that I'm aware!).
Spark, that sounds like a good light-hearted, "thanks for coming, we'll do it again, but for now I'm done"!
I'm with Spark on this one. Hey, we all understand that the fun comes to an end at some point. So just say.. I'm tired, it's been great having you over...
Post a Comment