✥ Rules & Etiquette ✥
Dress:
✧ Sleeves for dresses must reach the wrists for the women attending the ball
✧ Shoulders shall must be covered for the women and men attending the ball
✧ Dresses shall not reach above the calves for women attending the ball
✧ Trousers may not reach above the calves of the men and women attending the ball
✧ Removal of any clothes before, or during the ball while you're in the vicinity of the palace will not be allowed.
Dining:
✧ Elbows shall not be rested upon the tables
✧ The high table is reserved for the Royal Family
✧ Loud chatter is frowned upon
✧ Loud eating and drinking is frowned upon
✧ Refrain from excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages
✧ Hands must be cleansed with water before beginning the meal
✧ All food must be eaten with the provided utensils
✧ A prayer must be said before the meal
✧ The Royal Family must start the feast before the lower ranking tables do
✧ The Royal Family must be shown to their seats beforehand
✧ The lower ranking attendees must stand until the Royal Family has been seated
Etiquette:
✧ There shall be no raising of voices before, during or after the Nobles Ball while you're in the vicinity of the ball
✧ Please thank the help when you have been helped
✧ No foul language will be permitted
✧ No violence will be permitted
✧ Any and all weapons will be seized at the entrance
✧ Only those in the Guarding help shall have a weapon
✧Please refrain from excessive physical touching of another member of the ball
✧ Animals or/and pets will not be allowed to enter the Palace, but can be kept outside
✧ Hand Holding is deemed inappropriate, however, linking arms with a family member or your date is fine
✧ Do not greet a superior first; the person with the higher status must speak first
✧An appropriate greeting must be given to all those in higher status than you
✧ Looking away or breaking gaze with a superior is deemed dishonest
✧ Introduce the higher superior to the lowest first - the other way around is seen as a grave insult
✧ To arrive without notifying the hostess is very rude
✧ It is very impolite and rude to sit in the place of an older or less able person than yourself
✧ It is looked upon highly and encouraged to offer to show a lady to her seat, and accompany her
✧ It is very embarrassing for any lady to receive no invitation for dance throughout the evening
Dancing:
✧ A lady's permission must be granted before the dance
✧ It is frowned upon for a lady to ask a gentleman to dance
✧ The Royal Family shall be the first to lead the guests in the first dance
✧ A lady's husband, father, or in the last case, mother must grant permission to each gentleman that wishes their lady to dance
✧ Dance partners should be friends, family or of the same social status
✧ Interrupting a dance between two guests is seen to be very rude
✧ A lady refusing to dance with a gentleman without given reason is very impolite and rude
An Usher:
An usher is a servant that shows nobles their seats.
✧ The Usher announces Nobles as they arrive
✧ An Usher is usually chosen or approved by the hostess
✧ These employees are commonly high-ranked servants
✧ The Usher has the right to introduce anyone to anyone - the usher may be asked to introduce two people
✧ Although a servant, the usher is a high ranking one, and may talk to any lady if said lady is left alone and without a partner for dance
A Woman's Reputation:
A woman's reputation during this time was everything. A woman with a bad reputation is seen to be a bad wife.
These things listed below may affect a lady's reputation.
✧ Holding hands or accepting kisses from anyone not related by blood or marriage
✧ Talking to those who have known to have inherited a bad reputation
✧ Having much of her skin showing
✧ Upon coming to meet a higher or equal guest of social standing, a lady must bow or curtsy
✧ Upon coming in meeting with a King or Queen, a lady must kneel
✧ Accepting gifts from lovers in public is deemed greedy
✧ A widowed woman, especially with children, are deemed even less suitable as a wife
✧ Beauty and Posture - A woman who holds her head straight, does not run, and is physically attractive will have higher status, and hold better reputation
(More to come as they come to me.)
