The most formal events are those in which the etiquette finds its greatest place: in addition to weddings, receptions also have a whole series of rules to follow. Precisely in this case the label, in fact, imposes a whole series of behaviours useful both for events in the living room (such as coffee or aperitifs) and for lunches or dinners.
Arrival of guests
When a new guest arrives in a room where there are already some people, he must be welcomed according to all the rules of the etiquette. As a general rule, ladies should always remain seated, except for the hostess, who will only stand up if the new entrance is a woman: a rule that must always be respected, except if arriving is a person of a certain age or in a high social position. Men, on the other hand, always have a duty to get up when a lady crosses the threshold of the room.
If some people do not know each other, they will have to be presented by the landlady: it is the man who has to be presented to the woman, just as it is the person in lower position to be presented to the superior one. It will be, then, the latter, after a friendly handshake, at the beginning of the conversation.
Tea, coffee or aperitif
If the reception is not a lunch or dinner, then the living room is the ideal meeting place. Here, of course, there should be seating space for all guests who should have, near their seat or armchair, a coffee table, even low, on which to store cups, glasses and saucers for sweets and snacks. All the classic rules of the etiquette must be followed in this case too: the teaspoon of tea or coffee, for example, serves only to mix the sugar and drink (with a movement from bottom to top and not circular) and should never be put in the mouth or left on the cup.
The dining room can also be chosen as a location and therefore an environment that needs to be more careful, with fixed places and accompanied by abundant desserts or appetizers.
A dinner or lunch
In this case the occasion requires to follow all the classic rules that mark the etiquette at the table. From plates to glasses, from tablecloth to the preparation of the menu, space must also be given to the allocation of places, which must take into account sex, any relationships (or slight disagreements) and social prestige of all guests. In any case, the conversation has a fundamental role for the success of the event, which must not be rude, vulgar or bring about disagreements among those present.
The etiquette, in the case of receptions, also has rules regarding the farewell: the signal of greeting must be given, at the appropriate time, by the hostess who is responsible for accompanying women to the door, unless it is a man who offers to do so.