Etiquette for Wait Staff

For Dallas waitstaff, using proper body movements as well as proper forms of contact at wedding receptions, cocktail parties, dinner parties and banquets is essential to being professional.  That ambiance created by properly-trained wait staff is extremely important when working for Dallas Highland Park residents.  A lifetime of exposure to high standards of care imbues the cultured elite with high expectations of party and event wait staff that must be met.

The following are just a few wait staff tips that are useful to keep in mind for reception staff in private homes, banquet staff in facilities or wedding staff at a bride’s wedding reception.  These will help your event staff to navigate the tangled web of personalities at events.

When moving through a crowd, wait staff must remember to move gracefully and slowly.  If wait staff must touch someone to get past them, have them touch the person on the elbow, as it is the least offending way to get someone’s attention.  When at a serving at a banquet or reception, if banquet staff or reception staff make large motions or point towards a bathroom or table, it is highly distracting to other guests.  The waiter should make the motion with their whole hand down low and subtly so as to not draw attention from guests or other reception staff.

When wait staff are talking amongst themselves, they should remember that the ‘recorder‘ is always on and someone is always watching.  So be sure your banquet staff and cocktail servers are putting a positive spin on everything they say.  If someone on your waiter staff happens to be funny, witty or charming, be sure that they also understand the importance of brevity, so that they can entertain and work at the same time.

Lastly, wait staff must rush without seeming rushed and be able to stop on a dime.  To do so, shift your forward movement upward, which will allow you to arrest your forward movement and avoid a collision. Keep checking back for more tips to help your event and banquet staff to have better etiquette!