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 2025
high school
etiquette dinners
KNOWLEDGE around social situations builds CONFIDENCE in social situations.
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
This particular full-course instructional meal is all about embracing new experiences. Students will be encouraged to try something unfamiliar—a new food, a unique utensil (like chopsticks), or even the challenge of offering a toast.
Throughout the evening, discussions will highlight stepping outside comfort zones, fostering empathy, and respectfully interacting with people from different walks of life.
To complement the theme, all guests wear semi-formal attire and are encouraged to experiment with a new-to-them fashion accessory, such as a pocket square, lapel pin, brooch, or suspenders, as a way to celebrate personal growth and fresh perspectives.
broadening horizons
'Here's to New Experiences' Dinner
This Year's Theme
Saturday, January 18th
Real Life Christian Church
900 Centerville Turnpike N.
Chesapeake, VA 23320
Find a
CHESAPEAKE, VA
SELMA, NC
EDENTON, NC
Location
Sunday, January 12th
The Venue on Water Street
113 W. Water Street
Edenton, NC 27932
we're in!
register
Saturday, January 25th
The Farm at 42
1075 Lynch Road
Selma, NC 27576
Since 2016, I've been teaching etiquette to middle and high school kids. I intentionally chose this age group because I think they are the perfect age to learn and develop those vital social skills that will follow them to adulthood. My goal with my students (and my own kids) is to foster polite humans who love their neighbors more than themselves.
When I'm not teaching etiquette classes or directing cotillions, I work with my family on our tobacco and soybean farms. My husband, Lee, and I have four kids: Bear, Penny, River, and Galley. I was raised in Wendell and now live in Edenton, a sweet little waterfront town in eastern North Carolina.
Sydney dunn is an etiquette instructor from north carolina
Meet The Director
"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 also encouraged to try a new-to-them fashion accessory (ie: a hat, pocket square, watch, suspenders, etc).
LADIES
Semi-formal/party/cocktail dress or jumpsuit.
In keeping with the theme, students are also encouraged to try a new-to-them fashion accessory (ie: a hat, brooch, different hairstyle, clutch, etc).
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:
$85
9th-12th Graders
how does this "Boy-Girl pair" thing work?
REGISTER
Please contact me directly to discuss sibling discounts or if your child has their heart set on attending and these payment options don't work for you.
each if registering as part of a Boy-Girl Pair
$105
if registering as an individual
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 31st (less a $25 administrative fee). No refunds will be available after December 31st.
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 2024 Sydney Dunn Etiquette LLC
TERMS & CONDITIONS | PHOTOS BY LITTLE TUNA STUDIOS
Page designed by em shop
Copyright 2024 Sydney Dunn Etiquette LLC | TERMS & CONDITIONS | Photos by Little tuna studios | 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
ok, got it.
Save
$20