to set our silverware at four o’clock once we’re done with our meal? Or why we have to wait

for others to be served first before we serve ourselves at dinner? Well, it could have been

a lot convenient if these rules do not exist, but as it is, they exist and they need to be

followed. Unless of course if you are willing to be labeled as uncouth, rude and

inconsiderate.

The aforementioned examples are just tiny fractions of indelible etiquette that we were

taught since infancy. And since then, we had to practice etiquette in all forms and on all

occasions where they are prescribed. So how did these hard-and-fast rules of socialization

started?

Well, about a few hundred years ago, some thoughtful people layed the basic rules of living

which made interaction with other people which supposedly made socialization a bit more

peaceful, more amiable and more comfortable. These rules were not so clear-cut back then,

instead they just followed what whims the snobbish aristocrats had. So since all things

these snob cohorts had were fashionable, everyone followed or tried to follow, including

Charles I and Charles II of England who were instrumental in the transmission of French

court behaviors to English lands.

Every aristocrat followed suit and so the prescribed court behaviors were layed down- these

included wearing outrageously tight corsets and skirts for males. And as these people try to

develop higher orders of social behaviors, they tossed in countless rules of etiquette to

suit their need to be different from everyone else and to satisfy their snooty behaviors.

One thing led to another and we now have the slightly modified versions of what the nobles

used to have as etiquette. We don’t have to wear fancy wigs or make-ups that ruin the face

anymore but we still have to observe some of the basic etiquette followed a few hundred

years ago.

Nowadays, basic etiquette are no longer very elaborate and some have already lost their

stiff appeal. In fact, it may even be said that some rules of etiquette have become quite

loose that they no longer need to be observed on a number of occasions. Nonetheless, there

are still a lot of them that one should know and practice as they pop up every now and then

in our daily lives.

The rules of etiquette are definitely embedded into our culture, regardless of what nook of

the globe we came from. These are not strict rules, but they are permanent and firmly

established codes and guidelines that were passed down for countless years to serve

beneficial purposes for us. They help greatly in establishing basic rules of good manners

and conduct which give mostly everyone equal opportunities to be respected even by those

people who live in higher strata of the society.

Through the rules of etiquette, we can easily polish ourselves to become polite to

everyone’s eyes without fear of prejudice because of our station. And through these, we can

also identify those people who are supposedly more learned and cultured than we are yet they

fail to observe simple good manners.

Etiquette is closely intertwined with our culture, our daily activities and our personal

lives. And they will always be.

people to put lesser importance to other aspects of the entire preparation. The stationary

details are often the ones that fall into this group. Thank you note cards, service orders,

and wedding invitation cards are typically the examples that people elect not to give too

much attention to make them exceptionally presentable.

While it isn’t a requirement to make grand wedding invitations and other stationary details,

you wouldn’t want to send them out in a diminished quality state.  After all, wedding

invitations are the first thing people see first about the entire wedding celebration. The

invitation cards allow your guests to take a look and expect at what your wedding ceremony

would be all about during the big day.

The wedding invitation cards contain key features and information about your wedding. So,

while you don’t need to spend huge money, some guidelines must be followed in order to

create invitations with style and quality.

Here they are:

Proper Wordings

The words that you provide in the wedding invitation are the information that the guests

will use when they attend the ceremony. The most important details such as the what, why,

when, and where questions of the ceremony must be provided clearly.

Specifically, the names of the couple and the entourage, names of the hosts, the venue, date

and time are the details that the receiver of the invitation card will use in order to

attend the ceremony. There isn’t any standard how all this information is arranged inside as

long as it is clear and correct.

Rule of Numbers

When it comes to wedding invitation, numbers play an important role here. Before ordering

invitation cards, you should know exactly how many guests you are inviting. The general

etiquette when to send out invitations is 6 weeks to 12 months prior the wedding ceremony.

And this is assuming the guests are in town.

If the guests come from out of town places, you need to allot more time for them to receive

the invitation along with arrangements of their arrival. In the issue of who to be invited

to the reception, be sure that a separate card containing the reception particulars is

inserted in the invitation. Of course, you don’t have to do this if everyone who is

receiving the invitation is going to be invited to the wedding reception. 

As a general rule, there should be extra wedding invitations. There are at least 25 extra

invitation cards ordered.

The Style

Though a wedding invitation is designed to provide the information of the ceremony and other

details of the wedding, they should come with style. Again, you don’t have to be extravagant

with your invitation cards especially if you are keeping with your budget; however, you can

make them stylish by being creative and adding more flair them. For example, the color of

the cards must match the motif of the wedding. Or you can put little accessories to and

sprinkle with aromas.

Conclusion

Wedding invitations need not be extravagant but remember that they must be presentable too.

Being the first detail that the guests come in contact with, invitations do give the tone of

the wedding and in most cases impress the people and make them looking forward to attend the

celebration.

achieving proper office etiquette. The workplace is entirely different from your home, where

in the latter you can act any way you want it because no one is seeing you or you are not

disturbing anyone or any activity.

Remember that you have to act respectful and polite in a workplace. Do it with dignity and

honesty at all times. It is a good reputation and one that your co-workers and customers

will love.

1.) Appropriate Office Clothing

In terms of proper attire, certain rules apply. One example is wearing slippers, flip flops,

or thongs while at the workplace is a big no-no. You can save all these foot wears to beach

or mall.

Sometimes, the nature of the office requires that you wear slacks or office pants, and not

jeans or denims and t-shirts. In this note, do not come dressed in jeans or shirt unless

during wash day or if your office allows you to. Office blouses, long sleeve blouses, polo

tops, and long office slacks are appropriate dress code in most offices. The shoes must be

closed for men and peep-toe or closed for women.

Of course, if the environment of the office is casual, less formal dress code may be

implemented. However, you are still not allowed to ear mid-riff tops, spaghetti tops or

dresses, revealing dresses or mini skirts, and slippers to work.

2.) Be Clean and Fit

All people are turned off of smelly people. In the office, being smelly is even more a

crime. You don’t want your officemates walking away from you because of the foul, offensive

odor. Therefore, be sure to shower first before going to the office and use a nice, suitable

deodorant, and brush your teeth.

Use clean clothes and shoes. And be sure to groom yourself. You don’t want to show up in the

office with your hair all over places and your clothes wrinkled because you didn’t press

them before coming in. Be neat and act conservatively, if required by the nature of the

office.

Hide your tattoos and remove all body piercings except ear piercings, if you are a woman,

unless you are working in a tattoo shop. 

Do not sneeze or cough without covering your mouth. Use tissue all the time to avoid the

germs from scattering. And don’t forget to say excuse me every time.

3.) Good Manners and Right Conduct at the Office

Good office etiquette comes from being courteous and respectful all the time. Keep

interrupting people at a minimum. If you find yourself suddenly meddling with office mates’

conversation, be sure to apologize for the intrusion. Use courtesy as well if you need to

strike up a conversation with another.

Remember that the conversation must be work-related as possible. The office is not an

environment for gossip, so quit visiting your co-worker’s cubicle if you don’t have anything

important needed. If you need to visit them, be sure to knock before you enter.

Always use courteous words, such as, thank you, you are welcome, and please. Always show

appreciation. Don’t shout when talking or don’t laugh loudly. It is disturbing to other

people.

Avoid these things:

• Selling goods inside the office.

• Hovering around waiting a co-worker to finish phone call.

• Tactlessly criticizing another co-worker.

• Using cell phone, mp3 player, and other gadgets during office hours.

• Giving sexist, racial, and offensive comments.

• Being a know-all individual.

• Blaming someone else even if it was your mistake.

a little with a cup of tea after hosting it. Before you is a picture of mess, chart paper

sheets strewn all over the room, lunch packs with food debris  all over, countless emptied

paper cups lying every horizontal part of the room.

You are simply drained after the successful workshop. It has been a tough thing to deal

with. All guests and delegates were smart and sharp, challenging all knowledge you throw at

them and demanding long, clear explanations for every theory you present. As you remember

this mind exhausting battle, plus the once orderly, clean training room now full of scatter

and mess, you even get more exhausted.

You know the cleaning staff would be due shortly to take care of the mess, so no issue with

the mess. But after all this, is everything over for you?

No. You are in for another stressful activity, dismantling everything you earlier came up

with to make that event a successful one. Hosting and organizing an event is truly an

exhausting one that if you don’t know the proper event etiquette rules to follow, it would

be more tiring for you.

So, as early as the start of arranging the workshop, it is practical to have different team

members available anytime they are needed. Assigning specific responsibilities to each of

them will enable you to manage the whole process as efficiently and smoothly as possible.

When it is about larger events, it is necessary more than ever to keep things cool by having

a good checklist of everything, from the smaller detail to the most major one. As each

detail is completed, score it out, and then proceed to another. You have to remember to be

as clear as possible so you don’t miss out the gray areas.

A clear, visible checklist also allows everyone involved work as systematically and easily

as they can. And it helps them help each other the best they can with their own assignments.

If this activity is a regular part of your daily life, you will need a venue where you can

go to anytime as well as that which welcomes you back nicely. You will have this courtesy if

you treat the venue like it is your own. You can do this by making sure everything is back

in its orderly form before leaving after concluding the event. The room must be prepared for

the next event users.

Though it is tempting to run after the stressful workshop day, you would not want to

compromise your own reputation by leaving the venue room in disarrayed condition.

With as far as venue is concerned, a proper etiquette in this aspect asks you to be nice

always by leaving feedbacks, or suggestions, if you may.

This can be done by filling out those evaluation forms. You can put the smallest detail that

you noticed lacking in the venue. In the same note, you can compliment them after ending the

day without any trouble with the venue’s facility and equipment.

Whether you have to leave a negative or positive feedback, always make sure that at the end

of the evaluation form, you have something nice to say and that you are willing to go back

at the next event. 

You can also send a thank you note to the manager. You will find that this little gesture is

big enough that next time you visit you will be accorder with royal treatment.