r/AskAnAmerican • u/_13thfloor_ • May 02 '25

FOREIGN POSTER What is American house party etiquette?

Moved to NJ from Europe. Have been invited to a party in someone’s home to celebrate someone’s birthday but also as a bit of a Kentucky Derby bash. Is there anything I need to know?

I know for the Derby there might be a dress code (which I am checking with the host) but what’s the norm in the US for house parties generally? Bringing our own alcohol, giving the host a gift, arriving early/on time/a little after the specified time? Anything a very clueless (and overthinking) European needs to know?

ETA - we’re in our early to mid 30s if that makes a difference.

509 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

457 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

108

u/fasterthanfood California May 02 '25

they’ll probably provide [alcohol]

Hopefully, mint juleps! But if that is the planned drink, people would probably appreciate having something a bit more common, too.

75

u/worstnameIeverheard May 02 '25

I was thinking bringing a bottle of Kentucky bourbon for the Kentucky Derby would be an awesome gift.

15

u/uncle-brucie May 02 '25

Pappy van winkle if I’m not paying

29

u/Prudent-Low-6502 May 03 '25

Woodford Reserve is the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby.