Formal Dining: Starting a Meal - as part of the expert series by GeoBeats. Hello, I am Gloria Starr, international image, etiquette, communication and leadership coach. As you are being seated for dinner, in a position that the host has told you to, you would remain standing behind your chair until the host sat. The host is going to sit at either end of the table, indicating that they are in charge of the meal. The person to their right is going to be their highest guest of honor, and the person to their left, the second highest guest of honor. So you pull your chair out; you are going to sit so your derriere is at the back of the chair, but your back is never leaning against the back of the chair, so it is sitting tall. You do not have a sip of water or open your napkin until the host has done so. They would pick up their napkin, remove the napkin ring, open the napkin to halfway with the fold portion placed on their lap. When you go to use your napkin, it is dabbing, dabbing, not like this. And you do not touch anything further until the host either prays or indicates in some fashion that the meal is to begin, and they would say, please join me in our lovely dinner party.