DEAR MISS MANNERS: I sent out an electronic invitation for a casual dinner party. To my horror, Evite the invitation site added a link (it was an advertisement attached to the invitation) to be clicked, saying "Send a gift immediately."
I can understand (although not approve of) gift information for something like a child's birthday party, but I am mortified that my guests thought I was panhandling for gifts. I had to send out a second email saying "No gifts, please."
Is there something more I should do to make amends for this?
GENTLE READER: The website you used has put you in an embarrassing position, but fortunately you owe the company no loyalty. Your situation would be trickier if your brother's girlfriend had somehow added to an invitation of yours without your knowledge.
Miss Manners suggests an email to your guests expressing your surprise and dismay at the company's greedy link and explicitly disowning its action. She would also have you share your frustration with the company itself, explaining that it embarrassed you. Whether you want to reciprocate the embarrassment by exposing it on social media is up to you.
Although Miss Manners has little hope that an internet company will opt for good manners over profit, perhaps it could provide the host with a optional "request loot" checkbox, thus permitting clients a choice of whether or not to be rude.