An elegant evening dedicated to mastering dining etiquette, building connections with peers, and practicing the art of table conversation in a supportive setting.
announcing the 2026
HIGH SCHOOL ETIQUETTE DINNERS
Find a
we're in!
register
Saturday, January 10th
7:00-8:30
Real Life Christian Church
CHESAPEAKE, VA
SELMA, NC
Saturday, January 17th
7:00-8:30
The Farm at 42
(NOTE: this is a joint event, please choose the "Wendell" location when registering.
Location
WASHINGTON, NC
Sunday, January 11th
7:00-9:00
Blu Farm to Table Restaurant
Eating neatly and slowly
Interacting well with others
Making polite conversation around the table
What we're LEARNING at an etiquette dinner
CORE PRINCIPLES
Essential Table Manners
Setting the table and using napkins
Fork and knife technique (American and Continental)
Phones at the table
Soup etiquette and handling mishaps
Navigating formal place settings
Understanding seating charts and place cards
Toasting and tipping
confidence at formal events
Always a joyous evening, the full-course instructional dinner provides a very practical experience as we cover table manners, tipping, and toasting.
The dinner is also interspersed with a reverent and patriotic discussion on flag etiquette and civics.
Our guest speaker explains the significance of the Missing Man Table and students bring a photo of a special veteran to display.
All guests wear semi-formal attire and are encouraged to dress in red, white, or blue.
dining etiquette + Patriotism
Star Spangled Etiquette Dinner
This Year's Theme
Hello there! I'm Sydney Dunn and as a cotillion director, my goal is to come alongside parents to help grow their children into kind, capable, respectful, and socially-confident adults. Cotillion provides the perfect opportunity to practice those face-to-face interactions and social skills that will follow them the rest of their lives.
I've been teaching etiquette throughout eastern North Carolina and southeast Virginia since 2016. I lead the Selma, Chesapeake, and Edenton dinners.
My husband, Lee, and I live in Edenton and have a farm and four children. As you can imagine, our life is never boring!
Sydney dunn
Director and instructor
Meet The Leaders
Hi, I’m Chelsea! I’m originally from Roper, NC, but moved to Washington in 2012 after marrying my high school sweetheart, Andy. Fast-forward to today and I’m living my dream as a stay-at-home, homeschooling Mama and part-time wedding planner.
We live in a world where the word “social” is most commonly associated with the word “media” and communication most often happens behind a screen and via thumbs. I believe, now more than ever, it is imperative that we intentionally cultivate social and communication skills in our students by presenting opportunities in which they are compelled to learn and grow.
I lead the Washington, NC location and look forward to meeting your children. I hope they leave their time with us feeling more empowered and ready to engage the world with tremendous poise and purpose.
CHELSEA BOWEN
Lead instructor
"your program blows the others away"
"The more cotillion classes my children attend, the more comfortable they become in formal social settings. As a family that has years of cotillion experience, your program blows the others away!"
The McLamb Family
GENTLEMEN
Pants, dress shirt, belt, tie or bowtie, and blazer or sport coat. A suit would also be appropriate.
In keeping with the theme, students are encouraged to incorporate red, white, or blue.
LADIES
Semi-formal/party/cocktail dress or jumpsuit.
In keeping with the theme, students are encouraged to incorporate red, white, or blue.
Dress Code
MORE Semi Formal Clothing IDeas
...plus a few surprises
here and there!
1.5 HOURS of group instruction covering table manners, place settings, toasting, tipping, table conversation, and more.
NETWORKING - a joint event with our middle school cotillion, the high schoolers are seated together to encourage social connections.
ETIQUETTE REFERENCE GUIDE - a professionally bound booklet giving a deeper dive into the specific lessons covered during the dinner.
FULL-COURSE DINNER - as they learn to navigate each stage of the meal, students enjoy bread, soup, sorbet, entree, and dessert!
Tuition includes:
$75
9th-12th Graders
what does "boy-girl pair" mean?
REGISTER
A 10% sibling discount automatically applies for families enrolling more than one student. Please contact me directly if your child has their heart set on cotillion and these payment options don't work for you.
each if registering as part of a Boy-Girl Pair
$95
if registering as an individual
Sign Us Up!
what if my child has allergies?
Please contact me prior to the start of the event to discuss the planned menu. We do our best to accommodate all allergies and I am glad to work together to make sure your child has a plan and that everyone feels safe and comfortable during the meal.
refund policy
Refunds are available until December 10th (less a $10 administrative fee). No refunds will be available after December 10th.
phone policy
In an effort to encourage social interaction, phones should not be visible during any part of the dinner.
Policies and Common Qs & As:
I still have a few questions...
do parents attend?
Parents are welcome to walk their student in and then are invited back to observe the last 15 minutes.
where can i find clothes?
For boys, I like Macy's, Land's End, and Belk. For ladies, I like Dillard's, J. Crew, Ralph Lauren, Macy's, and Belk. Check out this Dress Code page that includes more details, photos, and links.
Does my daughter have to wear a dress?
For ladies who don't enjoy wearing dresses, jumpsuits are a great option! Our dress code page includes several non-dress options that still fit within the dress code for their gender.
Not going to work out this year?
Add your family to The Invite List to be notified of future classes.
call, text, or email- whatever's easiest for you. I'll get back with you shortly!
Still have questions?
contact sydney
I'm ready to register!
Copyright 2020-2025 Sydney Dunn Etiquette LLC
TERMS & CONDITIONS | Page designed by em shop
PHOTOS BY LITTLE TUNA STUDIOS unless otherwise noted
Copyright 2020-2025 Sydney Dunn Etiquette LLC | TERMS & CONDITIONS | Photos by Little tuna studios unless otherwise noted | Page designed by em shop
boy-girl pair discount!
1. Find a buddy of the opposite gender who also wants to attend the dinner.
2. Have your buddy register ASAP and note each other's names on your registration forms!
Boy-girl pairs encourage a balanced attendance, fostering an equitable and more enjoyable experience for all.
take advantage of the
Save
$20