Good Morning Darlings!

My business partner, Carrie and I just threw our first annual Haunted Hollywood party for Atlanta Movie Tours. In this installment, I will share photos and talk about the evening.

As we are essentially in holiday party mode as of NOW (really, Target, couldn’t you wait to put out those Christmas decorations?), I am going to let you know my true feelings about party giving, and those guests…..

This is something that is rarely seen (or read) here. I try to be sweet and dear, but sometimes a girl just has to rant.

Okay. This season either you are going to give or be invited to a party. Some rules y’all.

1. If you get an invite – RSVP!!!! I cannot stress this enough! Why do so many people feel it is not important to let your hostess know you are or are not attending her event? You can’t (or don’t want) to go? Just respond ‘no’. No one needs to hear your excuse. Just let the hostess know SOMETHING.

If you are the hostess and someone responds with a ‘no’, that’s all you need to know. Don’t pry or beg. Please.

2. Did you respond ‘yes’, but don’t feel like going the night of the event? TOO BAD! You have committed to attend, so put on your big girl (or boy) pants and get yourself to the party. You will have a great time once you get there and no one will call you flaky. You flake on one too many invitations and soon you will have no invitations. Period.

Just as bad? Calling/emailing/texting the next morning with your lame excuse. Seriously? I don’t care if you are depressed because your team didn’t win. I just put you on the ‘never invite again’ list.

3. Do not call your hostess with some inane question the day of the event. SHE IS BUSY! She does not have time to talk about wardrobe choices or what wine you think you should bring.

4. Have your directions to the party printed and ready to go. Heck, do a test run a few days ahead of time so you don’t get lost and have to call your hostess to ask for directions as she is trying to serve 6 cocktails, answer the door and wrangle the dogs.

5. Dress appropriately. Is it a costume party? Wear a costume – something – anything! Is it black tie? Don’t you dare show up in jeans and a tee shirt. Your hostess has been planning for weeks or maybe months and to show up dressed inappropriately is just plain rude. Don’t have the proper togs? BORROW SOMETHING.

6. Show up sober. Please. At least relatively sober. Get drunk at the party. That’s what the bar is for. But not too drunk. You don’t want to be the talk of the town the next day. With Facebook, Twitter and Blogs – that stuff is forever. Uncool.

7. Don’t show up too early. Argh. I know I have said this before and it bears repeating. That lovely time before guests show up is the hostess’s time to take a deep breath and have a glass of wine before all hell breaks loose. Don’t make her answer the door in rollers. Please. I beg of you.

8. Either cab it or have a designated driver. Your lack of self control should not result in your hostess’s guilt. If she takes your keys, don’t get belligerent. You will thank her in the morning.

9. Mingle. Don’t be a wallflower. No one is staring at you. They are all too busy wondering if they look good. Smile. Be friendly. You have no idea who you might meet.

10. Don’t be greedy with the hostess. She wants you to feel special, but it’s her big job to make everyone feel special. Visit briefly with her, and understand when she needs to tend to her other guests. She will adore you for this.

Feel free to add your additions to this list. I know all of you are the perfect guests!

xoxo, Patti