Got Etiquette Advice?

Ah, new relationships...so sweet.  Still, at times it seems we’re walking on ice as if we have to watch every step or slip right through into cold water.  Do I do this, that, or go in a different direction.  Too many questions and variables.  Perhaps these two situations may clear up some doubts.  Should I give a gift to a new boyfriend? Hello Polite One,   I am in a new relationship, just a few months of romantic bliss.  With the holidays approaching, I was wondering if I should give him a gift.  On one hand, I'd like to give him a gift  but on the other, I don’t want to make him feel obligated to return the favor.    What does dating and relationship etiquette dictate?    Thank You,  Visitor Dear Visitor,  Gifts are always optional even when a relationship grows into something more. However, it isn’t wrong to give him a gift .  A great, non-committal type, a gift would b...

May I wear black to a daytime wedding?  Nylons? It seems there’s always some wiggle room in wedding attire , be it for the bridal party or the guest.   Here we have three distinct problems with fairly traditional solutions.   Most often, we can argue with tradition.   Sometimes, the newest rules are even better.        Dear Polite One, I understand that wearing black to a daytime wedding is a faux pas, but my friend has requested all of her female guests to wear that color.  It is an informal wedding followed by a restaurant dinner.  What should I do?  Also, do I wear nylons?  It's very cold this time of year.   Chilled in Wisconsin Dear Chilled in Wisconsin, No worries.  It is no longer considered a faux pas and is more and more common for all weddings. Nylons are fine if the shoes are closed-toe. Sincerely, The Polite One Will it be the Eton or Tux? Dear Polite One, ...

  Who Hosts a Bridal Shower Since most bridal showers are gift-giving events, these parties should be hosted carefully.   Friends or a member of the wedding (especially the maid of honor) may host.   It could be a single-gender or co-ed party as well. However, family members should never host, except for a sister if she is also a bridesmaid.   When family hosts, it is considered self-serving and as if begging for gifts.   Hosts should be close friends to the bride.   Friends of the bride’s mother are not a good option if the bride doesn’t know them.   May the bride host her shower? Dear Polite One, Since my wedding is very small – not including all my family and friends – may I invite them to my shower?  No one has offered to host one for me, so I was going to host it myself.  Bride Dear Bride,  A friend or attendant, never the bridal couple, hosts a shower.  It's like asking for gifts for yourself...

Proper Correspondence of Our Times The world of proper correspondence has changed since the days of leaving  calling cards  at neighbor's doors.  With our cellphones and computers, we can stay in touch with those even thousands of miles away.  Evites and a text reply are commonplace.  Nevertheless, some things resist change.  Certain thank-you notes and all condolence letters are best handwritten and mailed by post. What follows are answers to questions covering proper etiquette in today's world of correspondence. Q:  A new friend's mother just died in an accident.  I would like to send a  sympathy letter , but I am not quite sure what to write. I had just met him hours before he received the phone call about his mom's accident.  Since I do not know him well enough to know anything about him personally, I'm unsure where to begin.  I also want to make sure not to write anything inappropriate....