Pledging weekends

More than a year ago, I came across an ad in the corkboard of the university shopping center. It was an ordinary looking piece of white paper, no different from the ones beside it except that it didn't advertise a room for rent, an org activity or a tutor for hire. Rather, it was an ad about this group called "An event to remember" that was currently looking for assistant wedding coordinators. I was intrigued. I snatched the ad off the board, put it in my pocket and walked off to do the things I was there to do.

I emailed my resume in the very next day. It wouldn't hurt to have a real part-time job, I thought. I certainly did very well balancing studies, moneymaking and being a normal person when I was in Japan. Prior to being an exchange student, the only real job I had was encoding receipts for my parents' auditing firm for one summer.

A few days later, someone called Mariel called to invite me for an interview. It was a school day and I had an EXECOM meeting to preside over but I agreed anyway. Our execom meeting was made short and sweet so I had plenty of time to head over to the coffee shop where I was to meet my interviewers. It was only when I got there that I realized that I wasn't exactly dressed for a job interview. I hoped they would understand. I could always explain that people (especially students) don't really dress up for school in UP and at least I wasn't in my pajamas.

I walked in the cafe and surveyed the people inside. The usual crowd, I thought. I was a little early for our appointment so I ordered some coffee and waited for a text or a call.

After ten minutes of nothing, I called them.

Simultaneously, a phone started ringing inside the cafe.

I stood up to look for the person with the ringing phone, and our eyes met. I had to laugh a little - we were sitting across from each other all along. I walked up to their table and introduced myself to two VERY pregnant women. There were printed copies of my resume in their hands. We talked for a good 30 minutes, then stood up and shook hands. I drank the rest of my coffee on the way home.

That same weekend, I was called in for an orientation, which turned out to be more of a dinner with the rest of the coordination team. They explained to us new girls how event coordination isn't for everyone. Sure, it sounds glamorous and its fun to get to go to elaborate parties but it is also a lot of physical and mental work. To be a coordinator requires stamina, quick wit, and a great sense of humor. Plus you need multi-tasking skills, a keen eye for detail and flawless taste. The list goes on. Yes. You have to be so fabulous, you sweat glitter.

I happily counted off my first three "test" weddings.

Sometime in the months following that, I just lost count.

I also lost a lot of weekends.

In the year that I've been doing this, I have come to understand to a greater extent why wedding coordination isn't for everyone and why it took Clarice so long to build this team. Our Team.

In two days, I am going to be part of the "real world". I am going to be commuting everyday for my "real job". But I know I am not going to give this up. Even if it means no more weekends.

Images by Paul Vincent Photo