If you have been watching the Shahs of Sunset on BravoTv for the last few weeks then you are probably familiar with the six members of the Shahs of Sunset cast: Reza, Asa, M.J., GG, Mike and Lilly. Reza, Asa, M.J., GG, and Mike are friends who grew up Persian in Beverly Hills and attended Beverly Hills High School. Reza brought in the fashionable and very cultured Lilly into the group a couple of seasons ago. A Persian from Texas, assertive Lilly is from a well to do Muslim family and has a M.B.A. and law degree. She had practiced law in California before trying her hand in business with partnering in a bathing suit line which is doing well. She enjoys being a part of the larger Persian-American community in Southern California and seems to fit in with the rest of the Sunset crew.
During season 3, episode 1, everybody seems to be embracing a new start of some sort: Reza looking to purchase a Porsche; GG concentrating on her familial bonds; Asa’s new concentration on health and wellness of those around her; M.J. improving her relationship with her mother; Mike working on his growing relationship with girlfriend Jessica and Lilly embracing a new decade as she turns 30. Lilly decides to throw herself an over the top 30th birthday dinner and party at one of her friends luxurious homes. She invites 120 of her closest friends through Evite with a rsvp deadline date. She hears back from everybody before the rsvp deadline date except M.J. Lilly and M.J. have not been the best of friends. It’s not until a few days before the event that Lilly is talking to Reza that she mentions to Reza that she has not heard back from M.J. regarding her party. Reza starts worrying about M.J. coming to the party and not being able to get in because she did not rsvp. He asks M.J. was she going to go to Lilly’s event because she has not rsvp’d. M.J. says yes and responds to the rsvp, apologizing for her late reply. Lilly tells her that she is unable to accommodate her late rsvp because it’s a sit down dinner and all seats have been accounted for. Reza and M.J. are surprised but M.J. honors Lilly’s wishes. The response doesn’t rest well on Reza who was expecting a better outcome and it’s not long before the other people in the Shahs group chime in their opinions on the ‘issue’ relationship (being a member of a group) or etiquette.
The following is a list of four reasons why I believe Lilly was right in rejecting M.J.’s late rsvp to her event:
It was a fair decision. It was an Evite type invitation so everybody invited received it with the same length of time before the deadline. It was Lilly’s decision if she wanted to hold to a hard deadline which she did. M.J. should’ve responded in a timely fashion.
Lilly paid for all the festivities. She wanted an over the top event and she made the decisions on who should attend. She wasn’t close to M.J. and felt that she was more than gracious in inviting M.J.
Reza should’ve checked with M.J. earlier. If Reza was that concerned about M.J.’s attendance then did he not check her in the earlier part of the rsvp period? He already knew that M.J. and Lilly weren’t exactly friends. He waited until he ran into Lilly and Lilly told him that M.J. hadn’t responded. He then contacted M.J. who responded at that point but too late for Lilly.
An invite is an invite. Lilly G decided to do her formal dinner and party through Evite. Now there are some people that don’t see an Evite as a formal invite but as a ‘public service announcement’. Personally, if you are doing an over the top event and paying for all decorations, food, not to mention four gowns to change in and one for your dog…..you should spend the money on printed invitations. Yes, I’m old fashioned but I will stand by that. The decision is up to Lilly and in this situation she made her call.
When people are invited to an event in which an rsvp is required it’s up to that person to make that decision within a reasonable amount of time not to exceed the deadline. Everybody is responsible for their own choices. If a person chooses not to make a choice or is delayed in their decision then they have to face the responsibility for the choice that they made. It’s a case which etiquette can trump relationship.
