If you have been, are currently or aspire to be a social chairman for a sorority, you know that the biggest event of the year is entirely your responsibility –– formal.
OK, rush and philanthropy events are important too.
But we all know that if this special night does not go off without a hitch, we will forever earn the scorn of our sisters, and *that* formal will live in infamy. Don't lie –– your worst formal immediately popped up in your mind as you read that. It's formal season, y'all, so hold on to your hats and prepare to watch a night you've planned for months go down in history –– or in flames.
But before that happens, let's revisit the past few months of planning.
1. Welcome to the social life
If your sorority does calendar year positions like mine, then you came into January exuberant and excited. So many ideas! So many plans! So many fun things!
2. Planning with boys
With formal so far in advance, you start with planning a few mixers. However, you quickly realize boys are the worst at planning and will probably only attend if there are boobs or booze.
3. Bundle or a la carte?
As you start shopping for venues, you quickly realize you must choose between hiring a company or doing it all yourself. With pros and cons to each, it ultimately comes down to how much time you have or how lazy you want to be.
4. Venue visiting
Next, you'll likely go see a plethora of venues because "the pictures just don't do it justice." But really, they did do it justice and you just wanted to feel important. No, no, I promise I don't feel any special way about the string lights over the dance floor. In fact, this is the sixth venue I've seen and now I feel nothing.
5. Someone takes your venue
So, you decided string lights were better than normal lights, and chose venue number six. Then you discover it has been taken. So has venue number four and number three. Guess the normal lights will do.
6. False relief
With the venue secured, you feel relieved, knowing that the biggest part has been handled, and your formal company will handle the rest. However, this sense of comfort is so false. The light at the end of the tunnel is deceptively far.
7. Questions roll in
Despite your grooming for the past few months, as the date of formal approaches, some sister, likely a freshman, is bound to raise her hand and ask, or re-ask, a question you literally just answered. They will also text, email, Facebook message and sub-tweet you. It will never not be infuriating.
8. You have to be mom
Now that it's your time to shine, you have to make sure your sisters don't block your glow by doing something stupid so you have to educate them on your school's policies and procedures. They elected you because you are the fun one, but tonight you have to be less fun. Better days will come around.
9. Picking a date
Also, in your frenzy of planning, you likely forgot to find a date. So, you better hope that hookup from last semester or your best friend from that one frat will be free that night. If you have a boyfriend, God bless you.
9. The week of formal
Everything is happening. Check all the details. Also school, life, stress –– crying.
10. The day of formal
Literally this. That is all.
11. Trying to dance... and host
All you can hope for at this point is to be able to get down and let the chips fall where they may. The DJ better play your song, though, like, you literally made the playlist.
12. You are a survivor
You did it! Be proud because, good or bad, the girls are talking about it. Also your dress slayed and your pictures were fire. If nothing else, you can try again next semester, right?
