Of Course I Want to Know Who Else Is Coming to the Dinner Party!

There’s no point in surprising people about their tablemates, and while we’re at it: Stick to two courses and limit opportunities for bloviating.

No matter where you socialize, there are two types of dinner party guests: those who want to know the guest list ahead of time and others who prefer the serendipity of a naive encounter.

Though attitudes on this issue differ, everyone agrees on one party foul: You cannot ask who else is coming before committing to a dinner. And if your host is the helpful type who discloses some or all of the attendees as the event approaches, no canceling because you find one of them annoying.

As a guest, do you want to know who is coming?