My question is thus:What are the 'rules' for pulling out chairs for ladies at fancy dinners? Should I just seat my girlfriend, or should I also seat her younger sister?And would it be considered improper for me to help her mother as well?P.S. This is for large, out of house, and family dinners.Thank you
You should definitely help your girlfriend, and presumably the waiter (if this place is fancy enough, the waiter ought to do this automatically) would pull the chair for at least one other lady. If you can, I'd suggest pulling the chair for the eldest lady first (the mother), and then down in age (the girlfriend and then the sister). Hopefully any other male present would be inspired by your attentiveness, and take care of their own ladies.
i think just ur g/f - if her younger sister is sitting close, then maybe her too (use ur instincts) - especially if she's really young as for her mom - i think that's for her husband to do.. i think it depends on what ur relationship is like with her mom and younger sister. if she's older and needs help - then help her hopefully by the time you've seated ur girlfriend - her mom and sister would have seated themselves, and u won't have to worry about it i'm sure u already know this, but just in case.. - don't start to eat until everyone else starts - if a woman excuses herself - stand up with her (it's really old fashioned and risky, but it could make a lasting impression)
If the ladies do not have their own escorts, then yes, you should pull out their chairs. Always attend to your date first, then to the other ladies according to rank (in this case age, but if say your mother and your girlfriend's mother were there, you would take care of your mother first). A gentleman takes care of the needs off all unescorted ladies, not just his own date.
if there are no other men present to help with chair pulling then i would do the oldest women first then your date and every one else is on their own but i would not sit down until all the ladies have
Each guy pulls out the chair for his gal. If you are the only guy, you pull out all the chairs. If it's you, your girl, her mom and dad, and her lil sis, then you get the chair for your girl, and dear old dad gets it for mom and the other daughter. Did that make sense? And why don't more men do this anymore? Darn women's lib, took away some of the nicest parts of chivalry! Guess I'm not supposed to complain, we did get some stuff back in return.
