Luncheon is kind of an old-fashioned word and concept, usually referring to a lunch party given and attended by women. These days people frequently meet up for lunch in a restaurant but it's rare that a lunch party is actually given in someone's home. Yet there was a time when this was common, with its own code of etiquette for attire, written invitations, and special table settings. There were luncheon punches in cut glass punch bowls, fancy flower arrangements and everyone crossed her legs at the ankle.
It's likely that the ladies luncheon scene took a big hit when women entered the work force in the 70's, but every now and then I think it would be fun to resurrect the idea. It likely would have to happen on the weekend but we could still wear white gloves and hats and sip seriously spiked punch from little cups.
Now, who has a good recipe for salmon salad on toast points?
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I've never hosted one, but in the south, bridesmaids luncheons are still pretty common on the day of a wedding. It would be attended by all the bridesmaids and the bride's female relatives.
I may be a guy, but I totally would "do" a luncheon :)
Our church ladies do a luncheon every year around Mother's Day. It's not quite as dressy as the old days (no one wears pantyhose or heels, hats or gloves), but we do use good china, and crystal glassware.
I have regularly attended bridal and baby luncheon/showers, mostly in restaurants these days. No one wants to have these at home anymore. They're a lot of work, and nearly impossible without paid help.
The last "luncheon" I attended was in my final year of high school at an all girls' catholic school, as part of "Etiquette Day". (No joke.) This was the last vestige of pre-feminist traditions at the school, from an era where it was a finishing school for young women rather than an educational institution for the next generation of leaders...
Yes, we do this, but not nearly so fancy. Plus, guys always attend. If we want to have friends over on a Sunday (but not get ready early enough for brunch), this seems easier than a dinner on a work night.
That's how ladies looked when I was a small child. These kinds of events were reserved for weddings or major anniversaries, or for upper class ladies, bridge parties. I have collected some of those luncheon sets, little plates with cups, punch bowls, etc, but alas, modern day life does not require them. Now it would be a retro theme party to use them.
But I do love a good theme party and will get around to it one of these days. Any gathering to eat and enjoy company or your own family is worth the effort.
A family friend hosted a bridal luncheon for my wedding. Complete with invitations, place cards, punch and cheese straws (that's right it was a southern affair). It was lovely and I believe that a lot of the food she made ahead of time, including a strange (but absolutely delicious) frozen raspberry jello-y concoction. I'm still working on getting the recipe from her cause as weird as it sounds everyone loved it.
Oh, gosh yes! We still have luncheons pretty regularly around the small town where I grew up. The last one I hosted was last Fall for my mother's 75th birthday.
I host a mother/daughter luncheon the weekend before Valentines Day! My husband was in the foreign service and luncheons are alive and well in the diplomatic corps.
We have them pretty regularly at my church (yes, in the south), aside from the showers (which here are teas - please don't ask me to explain the difference, I'm a transplant). But they're always delightful, and always have the best chicken salad!
As a teacher, most of my luncheons took place in the summer--cold gazpacho, grilled shrimp, cucumber sandwiches, and basil strawberry limeade "punched" up with vodka or tequila, etc.
I've been to a few bridesmaids' luncheons, and my grandmother had one at a restaurant for her birthday a few years ago, but I don't think anyone was wearing gloves or hats. And since my grandma was involved, the punch was definitely not spiked.
I'm another Southerner.