Invitations
Send six to eight weeks ahead for formal events. State the dress code plainly — guests would rather be told than guess.
Seating
Seat for conversation, not hierarchy. Split couples who see each other daily and place your most generous conversationalists at the table edges.
Toasts
Two minutes. Practiced. Ended on a line, not a fade.
Hosting presence
The host greets and the host closes. Everything in between should be handled by a team so the host can be present.