Always take your hosts a little gift. The holiday season is the perfect time to find special little gifts ranging from wine, poinsettias, candy, nuts, or anything that you may have prepared yourself. Have the gift appropriately wrapped with a signed card. Hand the gift to your hosts as you are greeted. If you are not greeted by the hosts, simply leave it in the foyer.
Most parties are buffet style with cocktail plates and napkins stacked at one end of the table.
This is your cue to serve yourself - take the food and put onto your plate. The number one all time most offensive guest is the one who stands at the dip and double dips or triple dips. If an appetizer has a sauce or dip, you may dip the appetizer into the dip only once. If you have a cocktail plate, you may put the sauce onto your plate, then dip to your heart's content. Always hold your glass in your left hand so that you may shake hands.