Etiquette School of Ohio

Eloping – Wedding Announements

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Sandy Hyde

Q: My fiance and I are considering to elope. How should we announce our big news to family and friends?

A: If you prefer to elope or have an intimate wedding, send announcements or invitations to a reception after the wedding has taken place.

Posted in Etiquette Tips, Wedding Etiquette | Tagged bridal etiquette, elope, eloping, intimate weddings, small weddings, wedding announcements, Wedding Etiquette, wedding invitations | Leave a comment

Go Ahead and Enjoy Your S’more

Posted on August 2, 2013 by Sandy Hyde

Some foods bring back childhood memories. For that reason alone, they are just fun to eat. The chocolate s’more is one of those foods. The name conjures thoughts of a sticky, gooey, chocolate goodness. When asked about the etiquette of eating a s’more, my first response is, “enjoy it and have fun”.

S’mores are traditionally a campfire dessert. Everyone is outside and casually dressed. It’s dark. No one can see the spot of marshmallow on your chin. There is no fear of chocolate dripping on a tablecloth or dropping a marshmallow on your lap. If something drips or drops, we laugh and reach for another marshmallow to place on our stick. When we’re done having our fun, a mother or host usually produces wet naps or damp towels for cleanup.

Recently, I’ve noticed s’mores are being introduced at less casual social events than the campfire. It’s not uncommon to see a s’more bar at a wedding or shower. This is where the childhood fun ends and we must become proper adults. Here are a few tips to help with the transition.

Heat your marshmallow to medium rather than well done. It will be warm enough to soften the chocolate, but will not ooze out between the graham crackers.
Use only one marshmallow per s’more.
Go light on the chocolate and keep it inside the cracker edges.
Hold the s’more firmly with both hands if possible. Support the bottom cracker with your thumbs as you would an overstuffed sandwich.
Take small bites over a plate or napkin.
Wipe your mouth between bites if necessary.
Wipe your hands with a napkin when finished.

If you’re planning an event and would like to have the decadence of the s’more without the mess, consider placing the s’more ingredients in a dessert bowl and serve it cobbler style. Depending on the party theme, you may want to use a martini glass or mason jar. I’ve also seen recipes for s’more balls and s’mores on a Popsicle stick. Both recipes dip a marshmallow in chocolate and roll it in crushed graham crackers.

Menus should always be appropriate for the occasion. Avoid merging casual with formal. This way we can have our s’more and enjoy eating it too!

Posted in Difficult Foods, Dining Etiquette, Etiquette Tips, Party Etiquette, Wedding Etiquette | Tagged campfire etiquette, difficult food etiquette, Difficult Foods, difficult foods etiquette, Dining Etiquette, Etiquette Tips, how to eat a s'more, messy foods, Wedding Etiquette | Leave a comment

How to Properly Eat a Chicken Wing

Posted on August 1, 2013 by Sandy Hyde

I grew up in the Buffalo, NY area where the Buffalo chicken wing was invented. There, chicken wings are a staple food at most casual social events. I always thought knowing how to eat a chicken wing was an innate skill until I moved away. It was then I discovered the rest of the world tends to be chicken wing challenged. Here are a few tips to eat chicken wings properly.

Chicken wings should always be served in a casual setting. Never serve them at a formal dinner.

The drumstick should be picked up with the fingers of both hands holding on to the ends. Hold the drumstick up to your mouth and eat it clean. Do not make sucking sounds or immerse one end of the drumstick in your mouth like a plunger and suck the meat off as you pull it out. Wipe your mouth and fingers with a napkin when finished.

The two boned, flat chicken wing should be treated differently.

Pick the wing up by the ends with the fingers of both hands.
Locate the end with the larger bone sticking out.
Pull the cartilage off from this end and discard or eat it.
Locate the smaller of the two bones and twist to loosen it.
Pull the small bone from the wing.
Do the same with the larger bone.
You may now eat your boneless chicken wing.
Wipe your mouth and fingers with a napkin when finished.

Should meat become lodged in your teeth while eating, excuse yourself from the table and go to the restroom or private area to clean it out. Do not use a toothpick at the table.

If you bite into a wing that is too spicy hot for your palate, eat bread or a cracker. Water will not dowse the flames. Do not hold your mouth open while flapping your hand in an attempt to decrease the heat. This looks silly and will do nothing other than disgust other diners.

When you are completely finished eating, use a wet nap or wash in your hands at a sink. Never, ever lick your fingers clean.

Enjoy your wings. If you visit Buffalo, I hope you can stop by the Anchor Bar, the acclaimed birthplace of the Buffalo wing.

Posted in Difficult Foods, Dining Etiquette, Etiquette Tips | Tagged difficult food etiquette, Difficult Foods, difficult foods etiquette, Dining Etiquette, food etiquette, how to eat Buffalo wings, how to eat chicken wings, messy food | Leave a comment

Last Name Not Required for Royals

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Sandy Hyde

As the world waits to learn the name of the new royal baby born to Prince William and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, they are waiting for a first name only. Royals are not required to have a last name.

The proper title for the royal newborn will be His Royal Highness Prince (first name) of Cambridge.

Posted in Etiquette Tips, Royal Etiquette | Tagged Kate Middleton, naming a prince, naming etiquette, newborn name, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, royal etiquette, royal newborn | Leave a comment

Glass vs. Bottle/Can When Drinking Beer

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Sandy Hyde

The most appropriate way to consume any beverage is from a glass. However, Americans thoroughly enjoy kicking back while sipping on a cold beer from a can or bottle.

Drinking beer from a can or bottle is fine if you’re casually hanging out with friends at a picnic, sporting event or casual bar.

If you’re having a beer while dining at a restaurant or sitting at an upper end bar, pour the beer into a glass and drink from the glass.

When in doubt, add class with a glass.

Posted in Dining Etiquette, Dining Out, Etiquette Tips, Party Etiquette, Special Occasions | Tagged bar etiquette, beer etiquette, business etiquette, consuming alcohol, consuming beer, Dining Etiquette, drink beer from a bottle, drink beer from a glass, drinking etiquette, restaurant etiquette | Leave a comment

Knock Before Entering

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Sandy Hyde

If a door is closed to a space that may be occupied, always knock before entering. This includes, but is not limited to, offices, bedrooms, dressing/fitting rooms, lavatory stalls, hotel rooms and hospital rooms.

Yesterday, I was trying on clothing in a department store fitting room and 3 women opened my fitting room door in separate attempts. There wasn’t a lock on the door, but it would have been most polite if any of these women gently knocked on the door before swinging it wide open. The knock would have saved embarrassment for all of us.

On the flip side, if you are in a room when someone knocks to check on the availability, respond appropriately and be polite in your response. Be appreciative someone bothered to check before barging in.

Posted in Business Etiquette, Etiquette Tips, Hospital Etiquette, Locker Room Etiquette, Office Etiquette, Public Courtesies, Spa Etiquette | Tagged business etiquette, dressing room etiquette, fitting room etiquette, hospital etiquette, knock before entering, knocking etiquette, lavatory etiquette, Office Etiquette, office manners, Public Courtesies, public manners, restroom etiquette, Social Etiquette, social manners | 1 Comment

Personal Problems in a Professional Setting

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Sandy Hyde

Do not bring personal problems to the office. Leave them at home.

If your coworkers are your friends, wait until you are outside the office to discuss your personal matters.

Posted in Business Etiquette, Etiquette Tips, Office Etiquette, Professional Image, Professional Presentation | Tagged business etiquette, Office Etiquette, office manners, personal problems, professional etiquette, Professional Image, professional protocol, professional setting | Leave a comment

Re-gifting Rules

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Sandy Hyde

I am not an advocate of re-gifting. However, I know re-gifting is a common practice during the holiday season. If you must re-g

ift, here are a few guidelines to follow:

Don’t re-gift used items. Gifts must be new and in good condition.
Wrap the gift in new gift wrap with a new gift card. Torn or wrinkled gift wrap is a clear sign of re-gifting. Besides, it’s ugly and tacky. If gift bags are in good condition, it’s alright to reuse the bag, but make sure you’ve removed old gift tags.
Don’t re-gift if you don’t remember who originally gave you the gift. Wouldn’t you be embarrassed to give the gift back to the person who originally gave it to you?
Make sure the new recipient will enjoy and use the gift. Perhaps you’re re-gifting because you had no use for the item. Take the time to find a happy home for the gift.
Don’t re-gift items the original giver will notice are gone. Even if the giver lives in a different state, they may look for their unique gift item when the come to visit.
Don’t re-gift personal, customized, hand-made, or one-of-a-kind items. If the original giver might see it somewhere else, you’re busted.
Never tell the new recipient you received the gift and didn’t want it. This is no different than getting your older sibling’s hand-me-downs.
I do bend a little when re-gifting consumable items such as wine, candles, and bath products. These items will be used and gone before the re-gifting is detected.
What happens if you do get busted? Come clean and apologize. Explain you were grateful for the gift, but couldn’t use it. Acknowledge it was a wrong decision and you’ll never do it again.

Posted in Etiquette Tips, Gifts | Tagged gift giving, gift ideas, gift manners, gifting etiquette, holiday etiquette, holiday gifts, presents, re-gifting, unwanted presents, white elephant gifts | 1 Comment

Give Driving 100% of Your Attention

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Sandy Hyde

When we sit behind a steering wheel, we are taking on the responsibility of propelling at least a ton of metal through space. The higher the speed, the higher the force of impact that ton of metal has on any object it comes in contact with.

Knowing we have such a responsibility as a driver, I find it difficult to understand why people don’t give driving 100% of their attention. Look around. Other drivers are texting, phoning, eating, primping, daydreaming, babysitting, reading, and worst of all, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

We never plan to have an accident, but when we do, lives are at stake. In a fraction of a second, a good day can turn into a nightmare. That is, if you are fortunate enough to live through it.

Driving etiquette is not an elective. It must be practiced 100% of the time. Accept the responsibilities of driving. Respect and protect others on the road by ONLY driving when you’re behind the wheel.

Posted in Cell Phone Etiquette, Driving Etiquette, Etiquette Tips, Texting Etiquette | Tagged cell phones while driving, Driving Etiquette, driving manners, driving responsibly, driving while impaired, drunk driving, road safety, texting and driving | 1 Comment

Match Communication Levels

Posted on August 30, 2012 by Sandy Hyde

Always respond to communication with the same or higher level of communication.

For example, if you receive a phone message, respond with a phone call or a face-to-face contact. Do not respond to a phone call with an e-mail. It will look as though you are trying to avoid that person.

Respond to an e-mail with an e-mail. If you would like to take it to the next level of communication, respond with a phone call.

Posted in Business Etiquette, Digital Etiquette, Etiquette Tips | Tagged business etiquette, digital etiquette, E-mail Etiquette, manners, phone etiquette, professional etiquette, Telephone Etiquette | Leave a comment

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