All male/female seating plan: host/hostess and seven guests

	7
6		5
4		3
2		1
	Host(ess)

If a host were holding a luncheon or dinner in honour of a specific guest he might adopt the following plan:

	6	2	Guest of honour	4	8
10						9
	7	3	Host	1	5

When both host and hostess are present the principle is extended as follows:

Mixed seating plan: host, hostess and six couples (men underlined)

	2	4	6	5	3	1
Host							Hostess
	1	3	5	6	4	2

The same rules apply when the host and hostess sit opposite each other in the centre of the long sides of the table. This arrangement has many advantages, but tends to leave those at the ends of the table rather out in the cold: a situation aggravated if, as sometimes happens, the end daces are not filled.

The hostess normally sits facing the door leading to the kitchen, so that she may more effectively control her staff.

It is not normally the practice in European countries for wives to be placed next to their husbands, nor do two ladies or two gentlemen normally sit next to each other, but in this respect the custom of the country should be adhered to. It will be found that tables of 6, 10 and 14 work out satisfactorily if the host and hostess are at opposite ends of a rectangular table, whereas 8 and 12 do not permit host and hostess to sit at opposite ends. However 14 is risky, because if one person drops out the hostess is left with - to some - an unlucky 13.

It may sometimes happen that a couple drop out, or that one of the partners is unable to attend at the last minute. In these instances mem­bers of one's own mission or friendly colleagues may be asked to help out. When members of an ambassador's or a high commissioner's staff include their head of mission and his wife in the guest list for a lunch or dinner it is customary for the latter to be seated as though they were the hosts in the same way as a Foreign Minister or a Head of State does when visiting one of his own missions.