the career that I don't want to be my career necessarily. hmmmmm

Career Research Project
The path one takes through life is one not easily determined. And the career that is chosen by an individual plays a primary role in swaying one’s course. This circumstance is precisely why I have not yet decided “what I want to be when I grow up” or my career. Do not mistake my indecisiveness for lack of options, in fact, the situation at hand is quite the opposite; I have so many options that to select one is relatively impossible at this point in time. Although, the assignment at hand has put me in such a position where I must make some kind of choice, be it set or not. A friend of mine is a wedding planner and owns a catering business. I offered to help and earn some money for myself-I do love such things, and I was excited to get paid for folding napkins and serving wedding cake etc. This opportunity also provided some fantastic material for a school project on careers.
There is not a school specifically geared towards individuals in this field like there are for doctors, lawyers, police men etc. But there is plenty of education needed in order to be successful in this branch of business. Most of this “education” is attained through experience, both before and after one is employed. If I were set on the path headed towards wedding planning, I would be relatively prepared; I have helped out with my own siblings’ weddings, and I am currently “interning” in the business. The more experience that one has, the more valuable one’s work will be. In the current business with which I am affiliated, the ladies who are paid more have worked with the company longer because they have had more experience. Any other type of training that might be useful would simply be geared toward learning how to work hard, and working with people. Both the first-time employees and the head lady herself work together to get everything ready. Frankly, it doesn’t really matter who does what, just so long as it gets done. Conversely, the Wedding Planner is the primary conversant with the customer and guests, the equipment providers, cooks, seamstresses and so on. Such interactions are routine and necessary for the success of an event. Experience is the primary educator in any skills employed during this time.
A “typical day” starts long before the wedding, or any event ever takes place. Planning, reserving, and other preparations take place weeks or months prior. When decisions are made, and orders placed, the week leading towards the big day are the most intense, as one would expect. All of the linens must be picked up and pressed, tables and chairs set up, and all other essentials are acquired and sent to the site. The larger pieces are put in place several days before the wedding, but the details become increasingly more intricate as the time gets closer and closer. The day directly before the wedding, all crew members are called in to set up for the day. This includes particularly the reception area and occasionally the actual marriage site. Varying slightly from wedding to wedding, depending on the expense of the particular wedding, and customer desires, each set up is similar. Tables and chairs go up, table cloths on, tables set, flower arrangements placed, and other, more specific things. Once most things that will last the night are put in place, the wedding planner, solo from the crew, attends the rehearsal dinner. As she is relatively in charge of every aspect, she is invited to oversee all last-minute details or requests.
The nest morning starts very early, as food needs to be prepared, flowers delivered, and everything else comes together. The crew meets at the site prior to the ceremony to put together finishing touches and prepare for the long evening. The DJ arrives and sets up. The punch needs to be made. Napkins are placed. Water pitchers are filled. Guests begin to arrive. Usually the ceremony is calm and runs smoothly. Once they are pronounced man and wife is when everything gets a little crazy. Sometimes guests are specifically seated, and other times seating is not set out. Many announcements and special congratulations are made. The bride and groom sit happily together at the head table where their parents are critically surveying the scene they paid so dearly for. Hopefully they nod their head, stop worrying and enjoy the evening. Food is served, and then taken away, and then more announcements (all through which water glasses are constantly being filled.) The beautiful cake that stands as a monument of triumph and finality is cut and served. And finally, depending on the wishes of those involved, the bride and groom are seen off to get away from this expensive mess, (that the wedding planner and her crew now have to clean up.) The family has paid greatly to make everything so lovely, but not all of the money goes to the wedding planner-it certainly goes through her, but she does not keep it. Everybody has got to be paid and covered, and the rest is kept by her business along with the set fee determined in the beginning. The leftover price depends on the decided expense of the family-varying from wedding to wedding. The crew makes around $10 an hour. To completely recover from this crazy night takes more than the few hours after the night has ended. And then the process begins as soon as a week later.
Now, everybody has to get married, but not everyone actually uses a wedding planner. Hence, this job varies in demand from place to place. Where many people are tying the knot, and are willing to pay for it, demand and salary are high. Elsewhere, there will not be much business.
Although the work is hard, I enjoy helping out people on this special day. Weddings are a happy time, and to be able to enjoy it more than it comes along from friends and family is thrilling. Plus, as an un-married individual, the job provides plenty of examples of what I personally would, or would NOT like to do for my own marriage. Also, I am good at this kind of work; working hard, working with what I have, and working with other people are on my list of things that I do well, so that makes it even more enjoyable. And so, although wedding planning is not necessarily the direction in which I will direct the course of my life, it is certainly one option in this crazy maze.