DEAR MISS MANNERS: My youngest son is getting married this summer. His wife-to-be has a large extended family. I have received an invitation to a dinner/shower which, across the top in big letters, ...

It is never safe to presume which guests would decline. It is not even safe to count on any answers received this far in advance, as plans often change. In an ideal world, you would know who is coming ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: How do you gently decline Christmas invitations from a friend when the people they invite are all couples and the women don’t really like you? We are all seniors. GENTLE READER: Why ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My son hosted a small gathering of family and close friends at a local restaurant in honor of my retirement. One of the guests stated that she would be returning from a birthday ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: While acknowledging gratitude for being invited to quite a few social events, how do I decline an invitation that I have little interest in attending? (Yes, I gladly attend special ...

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Once a month, I make a four-gallon pot of soup for my small church community. When planning the soup, I keep in mind the many food sensitivities that members of the community have, ...