Summer means barbecues, dinner parties, weddings, graduation soirees and more.

• When you're a guest at any type of party, there are certain tips and tricks to make the best impression — and score an invite back.

Why it matters: Etiquette is somewhat of a dying art. For example, the thank-you note is becoming extinct. But simple kindnesses and good manners still take us far among family, friends or colleagues.

🍽️ Zoom in: The New York Times asked 43 extremely social people — from party planners to restaurateurs to musicians to socialites — about guest etiquette.

Here are some of our favorite pointers, via The Times:

1. Say thanks. If you want to get invited back, you have to thank the host. "A text is fine, but something handwritten is beautiful," according to Maneesh Goyal, a bar and restaurant owner.
2. Bring something. If you’re accepting an invitation to a party, you have to bring something, Rebecca Gardner, an event planner, tells The Times. But here's the twist: It doesn't necessarily have to be something material, like wine or flowers. "You can bring a sprinkle — which means you sprinkle joy or wit or personality to a party," she said.
3. Find the wallflower. Says Bronson van Wyck, an event planner: "This is one of the top three things a great guest can do for a host: Figure out the person who knows the fewest people or is the most socially awkward, and go talk to them for five minutes. They're there because the host cares about them, presumably. And the host wants this person to have a nice time. You can help make that happen!"
4. Be late! You're stressing the host out if you show up early. The final hour before a party begins is a critical time for last-minute prep. Instead, show up 15 minutes late to give the host a grace period, van Wyck suggests.

Check out this quiet sunset in Wareham, Mass., taken by Wren A. Leader.