Arriving 10 minutes early to a dinner party

[Anonymous]

I think it depends how well you know the hostess. Is she your good friend? Then if you're early, help her with last minute prep. Is it a neighbor or someone you don't know so well? Then please don't show up early-- it's really rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everybody knows that the proper time is a good 15min late and up to 30. 10 min early? No way!

If I am ever even 1 minute late to anything my mother will beat my ass. I was taught long ago 5 minutes early is on time and being on time is late. I'm not being rude when I show up early I'm living as I was raised and I don't want to get hit.

This is a good rule to follow for meetings, doctor appointments, and so forth. It is extremely rude for a dinner party.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the host isn't ready by 10 of, then s/he is just disorganized. At that point, host should be sitting down with a glass of wine, waiting for guests to arrive.

And they deserve to have that glass of wine alone, without any rude early arrivals.

It's ten fucking minutes, moron.

What crawled up your ass and died?

your escargot?

Guess what's ruder than arriving early at a dinner party? Cursing and insulting people on the web. Congratulations, you showed everyone that they should categorically disregard your opinion on what is polite (or take note and do the opposite).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the host isn't ready by 10 of, then s/he is just disorganized. At that point, host should be sitting down with a glass of wine, waiting for guests to arrive.

And they deserve to have that glass of wine alone, without any rude early arrivals.

It's ten fucking minutes, moron.

What crawled up your ass and died?

your escargot?

Guess what's ruder than arriving early at a dinner party? Cursing and insulting people on the web. Congratulations, you showed everyone that they should categorically disregard your opinion on what is polite (or take note and do the opposite).

+10000

[Anonymous]

It's not rude bc it's how you were raised? What kind of sense does that make? Your parent was sole arbiter of politeness across all times and cultures?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everybody knows that the proper time is a good 15min late and up to 30. 10 min early? No way!

I detest when people show up late. It makes me think they forgot or don't care that I have a dish roasting and scheduled to come out roughly 45 minutes after they arrive. By showing up 30 minutes late, you throw off my whole party plans as now I'm trying to shove a cocktail and appetizers down your throat in 15 minutes and then hurrying you to the table.

Arrive late like that consistently and you will be unlikely to be invited again unless you are family, in which case the rest of us have talked about your poor manners for years and now tell you to be places an hour before we actually want you there because that means you might show up somewhere near the actual time of the event.

[Anonymous]

The obvious answer here is to show up ON TIME. NOT early, since most of us hate that because we aren't fully ready yet. NOT late, since lots of people hate that too and it makes them feel like they have to rush the evening. If you are ON TIME, then late hostesses like myself won't blame you for doing what you were supposed to do, and punctual hostesses will be happy that you aren't throwing them off track.

This is not rocket science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it ok to arrive 10 minutes early to a dinner party or is it considered gauche/rude?

I'd drive around for a bit; I hate being early.

[Anonymous]

Haven't read all of the responses, but for me, those ten minutes could mean me showing up at the door rattled and with wet hair, and kind of viewing you with annoyance, OR greeting you at the door well coiffed and with a big smile, ready to serve you a nice drink.

Show up on time. Ten minutes "late" is even better. This is not a dentist appointment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haven't read all of the responses, but for me, those ten minutes could mean me showing up at the door rattled and with wet hair, and kind of viewing you with annoyance, OR greeting you at the door well coiffed and with a big smile, ready to serve you a nice drink.

Show up on time. Ten minutes "late" is even better. This is not a dentist appointment.

+10000.

[Anonymous]

I think it really depends whose house you are going to... Close friend, older generation, business dinner etc. I host dinner parties often. If my friends show up 10 minutes early we all do quick hellos and jump in to help one another. If I am hosting business type friends or the older crowd than I always try to be ready a few minutes early.

[Anonymous]

It totally depends on who is showing up early. My best friends are expected to show up early to help out but everyone else is expected to arrive after the set time. And I actually never expect anyone on time - normally within an hour of the start time.

I would NEVER show up early unless I called ahead and explained I'd be willing to help out. When I've arrived early I wait outside or in the car until at least 5 minutes past.

[Anonymous]

Please do not arrive early. I am most annoyed by anyone who rings my doorbell early or even at the exact time.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's rude to get there a little early. But it is very considerate to wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not fancy. If I've invited you to my house for dinner, we're friends. So if you get there 10 min early -yay! More time to hang out and catch up. Get there 30 min early-- wow you're a real friend-- you want to chat, just us for a few minutes and you're willing to taste something and tell me if it's done, help me set the table, stir the pot while I go change. It's nice.

Me, too. But, then again, I don't host fancy parties where I have to change clothes before guests arrive. If it's a fancy party or one where I'm not good friends with the host, I would arrive 5 minutes after the appointed hour.

I always change clothes right before the guests arrive. Even when it is just beer and brats, I prefer not to smell like onions when I entertain.

I won't hate you if you show up ten minutes early, but I'll leave you alone in the living room, most likely while I finish drying my hair. Since we are good friends, you should be fine with this.