The Inherent Inefficiency of Name Place Cards

Growing up in California makes you a bit laid back about social formalities. Most of us don't send thank you cards except when someone does an extraordinary thing, like donating a kidney or giving us CPR. We like to bypass the fussiness: we don't break out the fancy dishes for company unless it's a publicly recognized holiday, we don't put out guest towels unless more than 20 people are coming over, and we certainly don't use name place cards at a dinner party when there's only six of us.

Or so I thought.

Recently I went to a friend's dinner party. Great house, beautiful Michael Aram serveware and dotting the dining room table, six tiny cards handwritten with our names.

I was flummoxed by this and found myself thinking about it over the next few days. On the one hand, it's really a sweet gesture. On the other hand, it's a complete waste. It didn't matter where we sat. All of us know each other. It wasn't like we were at a wedding where you have to sit with strangers and need an ice breaker. One of the guests ended up spilling red wine all over her name card. Another guest, who is kind of OCD-prone, kept pushing hers around trying to find an ideal spot. Think about all the time the hostess put into making appetizers, dinner and dessert. She has to top that off by picking out paper, writing our names and hoping she didn't make any spelling errors? To add insult to injury, the cards are not meant to be kept, so it's yet another item that gets thrown out or crammed into the recycling bin.

Am I being an ingrate? Am I overly critical? I don't think so. Efficient entertaining is where it's at. Good food, good wine and good company is classy enough.