“I Don’t Think It’s Rude, But…” Etiquette Experts Perplexed Over First Lady’s Party Plans
Guests attending Michelle Obama’s50th birthday party at the White House later this month can look forward to “a little Dougie” but definitely not dinner.
Word’s out that the lucky VIPs invited to fete Mrs. Obama at a “Snacks & Sips & Dancing & Dessert” party have been advised to dust off their dancing shoes and, more strictly, “to eat before you come.”
While it’s always nice to give the stiletto sporting crowd a heads-up, the East Wing’s “EBYC” directive has some folks in the party planning business scratching their heads.
“I don’t think it’s rude, but I do think it’s a little . . . different than what people are used to. How’s that for putting it delicately?” joked Lizzie Post, great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post and co-author of “Great Get-Togethers: Casual Gatherings and Elegant Parties at Home.”
Colin Cowie, Oprah Winfrey’s go-to entertainment guru, worded his reaction gracefully.
“To ask people to ‘eat before you come’ is not the way I would have done it,” Cowie said. “I always think of the food. When it comes to making people feel welcome we give them great music, a well-stocked bar, and excellent food — and you do it abundantly.
Area party planner Andre Wells agreed that telling guests to grab a meal before they attend a get-together is a bit unusual.
“I’ve never seen it said straight out. That is definitely new,” said Wells, before adding that some harried hostesses might appreciate the break in protocol. “But I know a lot of people will be happy about it. They’ll say, ‘Well, if the president and first lady said it, we can certainly say it on our invites.’ ”
Wild Thing’s comment…….
Interesting to me that Michelle Obama did not want to celebrate her birthday with her husband and children and instead stays back in Hawaii to party hardy on our tax dollars. Just my opinion but don’t think people in love do this kind of thing.l know Nick and I would not want to be apart/
I guess she decided against RC Colas and moonpies. This woman has all the class of a pig in a wallow. And we taxpayers are footing the bill for this swine.
He probably wanted to leave her behind.