Monday, December 21, 2009

Making a Great Toast


Offering a toast to the host of a dinner party, a friend or newly weds is an eloquent way to say thank you and to express your heartfelt appreciation. Columnist and etiquette maven, Pam Harvit, shares some fascinating history about toasts and great pointers in her column, Why we toast, and how to receive a toast in your honor, in the Sunday Gazette-Mail.

A few pointers from Ms. Harvitt are:

Remember the three B's - begin, be brief and be seated.

Toasts do not have to be made with alchol: however, some people believe that making a toast with water will bring bad luck.

Avoid tapping your glass to obtain everyone's attention before proposing a toast.

Stand when proposing a toast (unless the group is ten or less.)

If you are the guest of honor, you should propose a toast to thank the host or hostess before desert.

Never pre-empt the host or hostess by making a toast to a guest of honor before they do. It is their responsibility to offer the first toast.

If the toast is made in your honor, you should neither rise, lift your glass, nor sip your drink. Accept the kind gesture graciously.

It is proper form to return a toast to the person who proposed one in your honor in order to thank them.


A toast to my readers, "may you have a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!"

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Esse Diem

Special thanks to Elizabeth Damewood Gaucher for including The Rainmaking Blog on her list of "The Best Blogs You're Not Reading Yet." Elizabeth's blog, Esse Diem,provides a refreshing and thoughtful analysis of the world around us. Elizabeth refers to her posts as "musings" but in reality they are heartfelt and well considered opinions and insight on a wide variety of topics ranging from climate change to interpersonal relationships. Esse Diem is thoughtful blog worthy of your time.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Name Tags on the Right

Nametags should be worn on the upper right side of your chest. Placing the nametag on the upper right side of your chest makes it much easier for people to see it because when you shake someone's hand, the nametag will be directly in front of her. Unfortuantely, most people wear their nametags on their left side, over their heart. This is actually one of the hardest places for people to see it. When you extend your right hand to shake someone else's hand, your body naturally turns to the left, and a nametag positioned on your left chest turns away from the person you are meeting, defeating the whole purpose of wearing a nametag.