invitation etiquette

[bubbles4920]

what is the correct etiquette on the following? if you go to a couple's house for dinner ie neighbours and another couple who you meet and get along with are there,if you want to invite then round to your house for dinner , is it always obligatory to invite the first couple round too who invited you intially. if you dont invite them, would it be seen as 'friend stealing'?? we would obviously like to invite both couples round but it may get to a time when we may just want the second couple to come or even that the first couple may be away on holiday.

[snagged]

ffs life's too short to worry about all that... if you like 'em, invite 'em... end of...

[DONNAKEBABUK]

I would say invite both couples to begin with and then again whether the first couple are on holiday or not.

I used to be in a Dinner Club. There were 7 of us and this would involve cooking dinner for 7 once every 7 weeks if you will. The other 6 weeks you would go to the others house. Sometimes one of the 7 couldnt make it but it didnt really make much difference.

It was great fun and something to really look forward to.

Enjoy and dont make apologies, I am sure you are all adult enough to know it wouldnt be friend stealing so to speak and if your first friends think that then they shouldnt be playground behaving.

Katie. x

[Kim A]

Surely the original invitation by your neighbours was made with the intention of introducing you to other people that they considered you would like/get along with and therefore might want to meet again? That you did get on with them means that their judgement was sound. I'd say, have your dinner with the second couple. And what on earth is 'friend stealing'? Do your neighbours have exclusive rights to friendship with this second couple? I think not!

[bubbles4920]

thanks so much for your answers so far. i was wanting to know too the more 'official' line on this one, i believe there are old fashioned books on etiquette and was wondering what that said about the said scenario.

[bushbaby_de]

I think it has more to do with how your original friends are likely to react. We met a lovely couple through a family member and we now spend a lot of time with them. However the family member in question has taken it very badly and does think we are friend stealers! On the other hand, two of my friends met at my birthday party and one had called asking if I mind her meeting up with the other for a night out and it doesn't bother me in the slightest!