What are the basic good manners for children? It’s about time we got down on our kids manners. Especially table manners. Is there some sort of ultimate guide to good manners for children? If so, please, what are they? We parents understand the importance of modeling good manners for children from a young age. Teaching good table manners is a crucial aspect of their social development and contributes to their overall growth as polite, considerate individuals. Here are some tips and strategies for cultivating excellent table manners in children. Children are keen observers, and they learn a grea ..read more

We would like help with how to improve our children’s table manners. My husband’s parents live in the south and we are spending the holidays with his southern relatives. We’re New Yorkers and our children’s table manners aren’t as good as they could be. We’re two working parents who have slacked off on enforcing good manners. Would you kindly give us some tips as to what is absolutely essential to know about children’s table manners. By the way, the kids are adorable and bright! Hope we’re not too late to try! Thank you in advance. It's never too late, the earlier kids get the hang of good chi ..read more

Thanks for your dress code question about what to wear when the invitation suggests SUMMER COCKTAIL ATTIRE.  What could be more fun than a Newport summer wedding on the waterfront at six o'clock. The sun will be setting over the harbor, there will be cocktails, dinner and dancing to a DJ. Summer Cocktail Attire is pretty easy going. It's more about the quality of the clothing than the dressiness of the outfit. Casual can mean sleeves, length and pockets! Nothing glitzy or with too many sequins. You probably don't want to wear a prairie dress, it should be chicer, but casual. Be careful wi ..read more

There have been so many Holiday Etiquette 2022 concerns–all timely and important: a present that you know is a regift; a gift that costs way too much and how to reciprocate; a gift that is the same as their gift to you last year; what to do if someone gives you a gift and you didn’t get them anything? And other uncomfortable situations: What about the guest who clearly has had too much to drink? What about the would-be guest who didn’t receive an invite his friend’s holiday party? To mask or unmask or stay home ..read more

Apologies for the delay in answering your interesting question, but - as you can imagine - we are inundated with questions this spring.      The single layer veil (made from one layer of tulle) is the most popular choice.  You mention that your niece is a romantic. In that case, the mystery of the two layer veil is a gesture of romance, because in olden days her father lifted the veil that covered the bride's face as if to say: Here, she is you lucky man!      The two-layer veil, the longer tier and the top tier called the blusher, are a bit old-fashion ..read more

one another during an intense conversation?  Are interruptions rude?  In the real world, not all interruptions are rude.  Often when people talk over one another it not only works, but works well.  When several people become excited by a topic and everyone wants to add to the conversation, and they all start interrupting each other, the conversation can become quite magical.  Enthusiastic engagement. Interrupting to correct or criticize is not the way to go. , when our company team is problem solving on a Zoom and colleagues start interrupting, we often find that the c ..read more

Dear Fanny,  Thank you for your most interesting question about restaurant dining etiquette.  The people dining at the table have placed their orders and the waiter presumably knows who ordered what. In that case, don't interrupt an interesting conversation, after thanking your server when your plate has been laid down in front of you. If after laying down all the plates your server is still standing by the table, your server probably wants to know if there is anything else that needs to be brought to the table? A condiment, steak knife, another bottle of wine, more bread? In other w ..read more

Here is an autumn & winter dinner menu that works well for a seated wedding reception dinner.  Having the name of the guest at the top of the menu allows the menu to double as a place card. (Guest's name in a large handsome font.) roasted heirloom baby carrots, hazelnut pistou baby kale, caramelized onion, piquillo pepper romanesco cauliflower, endive, fennel and turnip C & W, please, do let us know--if you do use any of this above menu--how it worked out so that we can be helpful to other vegan hosts.  Have fan at your fantastic wedding! Photo credit:  VG Patisserie, Pa ..read more

Here is an autumn & winter dinner menu that works well for a seated wedding reception dinner.  Having the name of the guest at the top of the menu allows the menu to double as a place card. (Guest's name in a large handsome font.) roasted heirloom baby carrots, hazelnut pistou baby kale, caramelized onion, piquillo pepper romanesco cauliflower, endive, fennel and turnip C & W, please, do let us know--if you do use any of this above menu--how it worked out so that we can be helpful to other vegan hosts.  Have fan at your fantastic wedding! Photo credit:  VG Patisserie, Pa ..read more

Yes, Linda, unfortunately it is back to mask-wearing. The good news is that government imposed restraints actually relieve a lot of anxiety. There will always be those stubborn know-it-alls that need to take a stand. In an odd way, if you're a mask-wearer, it may annoy you that those non-compliant friends feel justified, but cut them slack, have empathy toward the non-mask-wearer.       The most important thing to remember is that we wouldn't have all the new variants Delta and Omicron if everyone in our community - and around the world - had gotten their vaccines and booster. A ..read more