8 Little Party Etiquette Rules You Need to Follow If You Ever Want to Be Invited Back

Dress the part

Sure, some things are easy to figure out: an afternoon BBQ is casual, an evening wedding at a fancy spot is formal, but what about those in-between events? “If the invitation mentions or indicates ‘festive attire’ or ‘dressy chic’ you are welcome to free up your color choice by including less formal and lighter, brighter hues and accessories, says Thomas P. Farley, a New York-based etiquette expert and founder of What Manners Most. And that particularly holds true when the affair is held in the morning or during warm-weather months. When it’s unclear just how dressy or casual an event is, however, you can’t go wrong with a LBD. “A little black dress is a great go-to,” says David Tutera, a Los Angeles-based celebrity wedding and event planner and TV host. “For a less formal daytime affair, accessorize delicately and don’t go too heavy with your makeup. For a more formal evening look, go with bold statement jewelry, an up-do hairstyle, and a smoky look for makeup.”