Recently one of our grooms, who is a PiKappaAlpha, mentioned that planning a wedding was a lot like pledging a fraternity. At first I thought he’d totally lost it . But being a southern girl who grew up with college and Greek Life always being in the same sentence, I gave it a second thought.
[Rush Week] - engagement. You make the announcement to family and friends. There are the dinners and parties to celebrate. The feeling that the whirlwind is just beginning. But you’re so elated you jump in with both feet.
[Pledgeship] - planning. This is the time when you’re learning everything you can about weddings. Like those pledges who carry their manual or pledge book with them, memorizing all that they can between classes, the bride carries her binder with her everywhere. She is determined to know everything she can about themes, color ideas, gowns, photographers and somehow fit it all in between work, friends, family and fiance.
But fortunately, hopefully like the fraternities and sororities she has a…..
[Big Sister or Big Brother] - the planner. The one who listens to all these ideas, sorts through and helps the bride narrow her choices down. The one who answers questions, helps carry the stressful load when she feels overwhelmed with information and decisions. The shoulder to cry on when she feels she can’t make another decision or will even make it to the big day.
Now what about that unspoken, nasty word that no one on campus wants to hear? It’s dreaded but a definite part.
[Hazing] - what the guy feels during all those months of prep. Let’s face it, us women are into registering, the showers and pre-wedding parties. As our groom pointed out, all of that reminded him of hazing or going through a rite of passage before he could get to THE DAY.
And finally after all the planning, anticipation, excitement and tears, it’s arrived…..
[Initiation] - wedding day. The bride, just like that pledge, has hoped and dreamed of this day. The day where all eyes are on them and everyone is admiring their months of hard work and planning. She takes a deep breath, hugs her Big Sister or Brother and walks down the aisle. For the bride it’s satisfaction that she made it through months of planning and for most grooms, he’s lost in her; forgetting all the ‘hazing’ he endured because of his love for her. And just like those pledges, they’re both now members of a special organization called marriage.
