There are many things that can make a dinner party awkward.
And, when trying to figure out this post, I thought of many personal stories that could easily fit this title.
I’m sure all of us have the same stories. The blind date. Being invited to a dinner party where you’re the only single person. Walking in on a dinner party where you weren’t invited for certain reasons. Only knowing one or two people at a large dinner party and having not much in common with others. Knowing nobody but the bride or groom at a wedding. What about being invited to a formal dinner, only to realize nobody ever told you that and you show up in jeans and a sweatshirt?
It can be rather, well, awkward.
For many reasons, though, I opted not to get into the personal side of things. Not that I am worried about embarrassing myself, rather I think some things are meant to be left for the past and to keep it that way.
Instead, I’d like to go about this slightly differently.
As in what do you do in these situations?
Depending on the person, sometimes it can be downright frighting to be in one of these — or other — situations when it comes to dinner parties.
Are you one to just mix and mingle? Make the best out of it?
Do you find a way to leave?
Do you do your research beforehand and and try and get out of the situation before the dinner?
Just pick away at food so it always looks like you are busy?
I’ve done all of these options.
Though I feel I am pretty social and can talk to most people easily, there are times when it’s just too uncomfortable, for whatever reason. I’ve found ways to leave parties because of this.
If I know these situations can be like this beforehand, I have most certainly found an excuse as to why not to go. I won’t however, make something up. I usually find a legitimate reason I can’t attend as I don’t feel it’s right to say you can’t go for one reason and it not be true.
Sometimes it’s just hard to get out of things though, whether it’s because it’s family or a close friend.
In that case, it’s time to suck it up and go. That doesn’t make it easier, though.
As I get older, I don’t care as much any more. I make the most of situations and look at them as mini adventures. Sometimes it gives me blog fodder, other times it’s stories to relay via mouth.
That or I just say I can’t go.
But in the end, we’ll always be dealing with these situations, no matter how awkward that is.
How do you handle these situations? And what kind of awkward parties have you attended?
This post is part of the 20 Days of Chill Writing Challenge hosted by A ‘lil HooHaa. Please check out the link if you’d like to see others or join in. You don’t have to do every theme if you don’t want! And for those participating, take a moment and check out the other participants!
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Good job talking about awkward situations without telling a specific story. I dropped the ball today because I didn’t have anything personal to share, so I used cartoons instead. Only 3 more days to go!
Linda recently posted..That’s Awkward!
I didn’t want to make it awkward by talking specifics, that’s for sure! And cartoons aren’t a bad thing. Three away! It’s just too bad we didn’t have more people participate in it!
I’ve been at a wedding where I’ve only known the parents of the bride. That table was a little awkward, but we got over it quickly.
Paul Myers recently posted..The Awkward Dinner Party – Day 17 of the Chill
Yeah, those tables are often awkward. Especially when there solo. But, thankfully, I’m usually able to blend in and have a good time!
This is a really good take on the subject! I always chuckle when I hear people on house hunters saying, “This space is great for entertaining.” Because I don’t know ANYONE who “entertains” and I certainly don’t with three kids still in a tiny house. Maybe when I am older I will be able to entertain and be invited to dinner parties. 😉
Katherine recently posted..The Awkward Dinner Party
I’d love to entertain. It’d be like going back in time! Well, to be honest, I just like to eat dinner. So it might not be worthy of entertaining!
I just realized you don’t have your 20 Days of Chill badge on any of your writing posts nor do you have it on your sidebar. With the death of my laptop, I don’t have that image to upload. Darn.
Never even dawned on me to be doing that the whole time … crazy as I probably should have been! The image is on this post, though: https://hoohaa.com/?p=8213
Always be the first to arrive and the first to leave. Always have an excuse on hand as to why you’ll need to leave early. Always show up with something such as wine or pastries. Nothing is worse than being stuck at an awkwark get together.
Phil recently posted..Do girls poop? That, and other NYC mysteries of flatulence.
These are good bits of advice, Phil! Pastries!