I wonder how many people think about this and what do you do in situations like I am about to describe. A friend of mine hosted a baby shower for her daughter and I was invited. I went today...it was very nice. As the shower was winding down and the ladies were branching off to ready themselves for leaving, I gathered all my things with my 16 month old in tow, I thanked my friend for inviting me to her daughter's shower, said goodbye to her daughter on my way out and didn't really say much of anything to anyone else. As I got settled into my car, I thought about the ladies I had not said goodby to and wondered if it is considered poor manners to not stop and personally say goodbye to the ones I knew. Some were busy chatting with other women, others probably in the restroom. I was just eager to leave with my baby.
So my question is this: Do you say good bye to everyone you know at a social gathering? Do you just wave from a distance to people, do you say a simple "good bye everyone," or do you stop by each person you know? Is there a proper way to say goodbye in situations like this? What are your thoughts? I just wanted to leave...but then later felt guilty for not saying goodbye personally to others.
Okay, I feel so much better now. Thank you all for responding and reassuring me that I didn't do something wrong.
You were right. The hostess and the guest of honor are all you need. A general wave would be okay but not necessary. It reminds me of when I hosted a baby shower for a friend of mine. I actually walked people out the door and they still didn't say goodbye to me or even thank you. I was taken back that women in their 30s behaved this way. I shouldn't of been. Throughout the whole party they acted like a bunch of high schoolers.
You need to say goodbye to the person who gave the party, and to the guest of honor. You can say goodbye personally to anyone else you choose, or anyone else you can. The end of a party is usually something of a jumble, often with a lot of varied conversation, and those goodbyes can't always be said. (You can always call some of those people the next day and say, "Wasn't that a great party? I was so glad to see you!" if you want to.)
If one were required to say goodbye to each person who attended, one might never get home!
Sometimes everyone and sometime only the host. It really depends on what everyone is doing and whether or not I just want to leave or get trapped for another 20 minutes or so.
Nah. You done good! I usually thank the hosts, bid adieu to close friends if they are in attendance. Everyone else, I just do a general wave good bye, and "nice meeting everyone."
I would never interrupt a conversation to say goodbye, to them I just wave if they notice I am leaving.
I typically say bye to those who aren't otherwise occupied. I also ensure that I saw bye to the host/hostess or guest of honor.
I don't think you should feel guilty for not saying good bye to everyone. You might still be there if you had to wait for conversations to end, etc.
I think you are fine!
The only people I would consider to have to say goodbye is to the hostess or the person the party is for. You have nothing to feel wrong about.
I will say goodbye to the "main" people and to others if they're not busy. I am not one for fake social exchanges, so I'd rather skip the "goodbye" for everyone, even if I don't know them or didn't talk to them.
I think the same thing! Recently we left a wedding reception, having thanked the bride and her parents (the groom was somewhere else at that time). Only after I got home did I realize that I could have said goodbye to others I knew. I guess when leaving I don't think I'm that important to anyone else and when I get home I sometimes think that I hope they don't think I was being disrespectful or rude to them. I hope someone gives both of us a good answer to grow on. All my best.
Nah, I used to feel like I had to do that, but not any more. People are busy, they get it, and most of them don't mind if you leave without making a big production about it. As long as you say goodbye to the host/hostess.
Here is a good answer from an etiquette site (I am kind of obsessed with etiquette, having spent a gazillion years in the wedding biz):
At a large party, it is only necessary to say good bye to the hosts and to thank them for the wonderful time. You may say good-bye to others but it’s not expected that you would say good-bye to everyone. At a smaller gathering – say ten or eight or less guests – it would be appropriate to say a brief good-bye to the other guests. As far as interrupting to say good-bye, try to wait for a lull in the conversation or for someone to pause and quickly apologize for interrupting and extend your brief thanks to the hosts and leave.
I always track down the host(s) to say goodbye and thank you for having us. Depending upon how large of a crowd, I will only say goodbye to those immediately within ear reach.
I generally try to say good bye to at least the host might might wave to an understanding friend if I had a squirrely toddler in tow. I do tend to make the rounds, though.
I generally just say "goodbye everyone". I give personal hugs and thanks to the host. Then I'm on my way.
