Young women were often presented into society at the Queen’s Birthday Ball, which then allowed them to pursue marriage.

There were strict policies at balls and other social events. If a couple danced more than two dances in a singular night, they were considered to be engaged.

Young women needed to have a chaperone at all times to ensure reputations were upheld. Men, however, had more freedom with such matters, as many men would go on “Grand Tours” in their young adulthood. On these tours, it was common for men to engage in premarital relations without the fear of societal ruin.

Timeliness was of the essence! Prior to the dinner, guests and hosts would meet in the drawing room prior to entering the dining room.

Women would enter the dining room first according to their rank in society. If women in attendance were of the same rank, the order defaulted to age or marital status.

Men would enter after women under the same order guidelines.

Once seated, the host and hostess would sit at opposite ends of the table. The mistress of the house was usually seated at the upper end, the master at the lower.

Guests could either be seated with women at the upper half and men at the lower, or mixed, usually in an alternating pattern. In the case of the latter, men were required to help women carve and serve their food.

Interested in what they ate? Click here for a brief overview of the diets of the upper and middle class at the time!

Men could not wear whole or half boots or carry sticks/canes to protect the feet of the women. Pantaloons could also not be worn, as knee breeches and stockings were seen to be more suitable.

When entering a ballroom, every lady must have been presented a ticket with their call number on it by the Master of Ceremonies. This number needed to be pinned in a apparent place to prevent any misunderstanding of place and order.

The most proper starting dance was the Minuet.

Any couple that refused to stand when a dance was called showed great disrespect to the lady that called the dance.

No couple could leave until a dance was finished and a dance could not be called twice in the same evening.

Here is an example of a Regency era Ball!

Morning calls usually took place in the afternoon and lasted around half an hour.

In London, a woman could pay morning calls to those of social equivalence or those who were inferior. In cases of calling upon those socially superior, women must wait to be called upon or be given a calling card.

Calling cards were left if the lady of the house was out or indisposed.

A gentleman could call upon a family for social matters with the mistress of the house, but business calls were made with the master of the house.

Men would meet callers in the business room or library and women would take callers in the morning or drawing rooms.

A lady could never call at a man’s lodging, no matter her marital status.

Overt displays of emotion were seen to be rude.

Laughter was moderated in polite company, especially with women.

Men could give themselves away to unrestricted mirth and cheer if they were with other men or women of a low reputation.

A lady never forced herself on a men’s notice.

No female should refer to male activities that a woman should feign ignorance about.

A well-bred person was elegant, stood upright with grace, responded in social situations with calm assurance, and did not show pretentious traits.

Servants were spoken to with the right degree of civility and never with the call informality used when speaking to an equal.