Question about late guests

temptations fan · ‎03-28-2012

What do you do when certain family members consistently show up late to family dinners? Do you eat without them or wait? We have family members that always show up late for holiday dinners, they have no excuse for being late, they live five miles away and have no children to get ready they are just always late. Last Easter we waited half an hour and then ate without them, they finally showed up 90 minutes late and we were done eating the meal and getting ready for dessert. So when you tell your family we are eating at a certain time and everyone else is there but they are late What would you do?

butterfly123 · ‎06-27-2013

@temptations fan

We had Easter dinner tonight with husband’s family. Several were late and nieces and nephews were hungry so we started dinner without them.

Another new name Sue · ‎03-11-2010

We just go ahead and eat. No big deal. They can fix a plate with the leftovers when they arrive. Just relax and enjoy the day, don't be uptight about someone being late. They are late because they like it that way for some reason.

QVCkitty1 · ‎05-23-2015

Start eating when you planned to. Your other guests shouldn't suffer because of the bad manners of others.

" You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts."
Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Noel7 · ‎03-09-2010

@temptations fanwrote:
What do you do when certain family members consistently show up late to family dinners? Do you eat without them or wait? We have family members that always show up late for holiday dinners, they have no excuse for being late, they live five miles away and have no children to get ready they are just always late. Last Easter we waited half an hour and then ate without them, they finally showed up 90 minutes late and we were done eating the meal and getting ready for dessert. So when you tell your family we are eating at a certain time and everyone else is there but they are late What would you do?

Start without them.

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

My sister and her family were always late for everything. Didn't want to, but we waited until they arrived. This went on for a lot of years. If you want to break the cycle, eat at the scheduled time.

Shanus · ‎05-17-2010

@temptations fanwrote:
What do you do when certain family members consistently show up late to family dinners? Do you eat without them or wait? We have family members that always show up late for holiday dinners, they have no excuse for being late, they live five miles away and have no children to get ready they are just always late. Last Easter we waited half an hour and then ate without them, they finally showed up 90 minutes late and we were done eating the meal and getting ready for dessert. So when you tell your family we are eating at a certain time and everyone else is there but they are late What would you do?

@temptations fan After 15 or 20 minutes, I start to serve. If it’s a special dinner, most dishes are timed when they’d be finished cooking. If other guests are there on time, why should they eat an over cooked, cold dinner, because of a few consistently late folks?

P.S. Since the “late comers” are family, teach them a lesson by not saving them a plate and having the food already put away. ******If they don’t catch on, maybe give them a dinner time invitation for 90 minutes earlier...then they’ll be on time!!!! Lol 😝

TenderMercies · ‎06-03-2017

I'd wait if it they were going to be late only 20 minutes or less. Anything more and the food could be either cold or overcooked.

My issue is when family members show up, and they're angry if they can't sit right down at the table and immediately begin eating. They're also the first people done eating and leave the table to go watch sports before anyone is done. So much for dessert, coffee and conversation. Isn't there one of those in every family?

sissel · ‎08-13-2010

Just plain rude but read that if you know these guests are always late tell them 1 1/2 hr late tell them to get there 1 1/2 hr before to get to your house so then everyone will arrive the same time. Or just don't invite them anymore.

NicksmomESQ · ‎08-19-2014

I would continue as planned & not wait for them to show up!! Let them be embarrassed when they walk in late & see that the “party” started without them.