Costume Party Etiquette

If you have just been invited to a costume party, be it for Halloween or a special themed event, there are some rules of etiquette that one must follow to ensure that everyone has a good time while attending the party. Donning a costume and a mask doesn’t give you the go ahead to make a fool of yourself or act any differently than you would without the costume on so following some rules can ensure that you don’t overstep your bounds and do something very foolish that you might regret later on.

Costume Party Etiquette

The Costume

If you receive an invitation to a costume party, you must wear a costume. There is nothing else to it, wear a costume or decline the invitation. It is considered very rude to show up out of costume and say that you just didn’t feel like wearing one or you didn’t have time. If the invitation was sent out early enough, you had time.

A costume doesn’t have to be overly elaborate and they don’t have to cost a lot of money. Just be sure it is tasteful and appropriate for the crowd. If there will be children attending the party, you would obviously not want to dress like a “lady of ill repute” or a gory zombie-slasher that could cause nightmares for both the young and old.

Being respectful of others with your costume is very important and that should dictate which costume you choose. A good rule of thumb is to avoid anything that might make you appear insensitive to race, sex, religion or politics.

The Hostess Gift

Any time you visit someone’s home, you should bring a gift, especially if it’s a party. When you arrive, hand the gift directly to the host or hostess and don’t expect it to be used at the party. Sometimes a gift of a bottle of wine or specialty chocolates is appropriate and should be intended for the hostess only, not the guests.

Thank You Note

Be sure to send a Thank You note the next day and let the hostess know that you truly appreciated the party and how welcomed you felt. If you had a good time, be sure to say so; if not; keep that to yourself and tell them it was nice anyway.

Being well mannered and cordial during a costume party is a sure way to get invited back for another or any other special events the host or hostess holds. In short, treat their home as you would your own and treat everyone at the party as you would if you met them at the office.