A one-suite gala dinner ticket will cost R25,000, with a seat at the table — solid to golden spear — accommodating between five and 25 people, ranging from R200,000 to R1,5 million.

An etiquette coach, Jamila Musayeva, says it's best for your behavior to go "unnoticed" in such places. Here's what else she recommends if you find yourself at a gala dinner.

You can still throw a grown-up dinner party. Entertaining experts agree: You don’t need a formal table — and certainly not a dining room — to host a memorable evening.