The calendar may still show January, but the Penn Bookstore celebrated Valentine's Day in advance last night with a special event featuring a professional matchmaker.
With over 700 marriages to her credit, Janis Spindel -- who runs Janis Spindel Serious Matchmaking, Inc. -- has compiled her experience and insight on the path to attaining marriage in her newly published book, Getting Serious About Getting Married.
The event, based on the matchmaker's new book, was organized as a special feature for Valentine's Day, since "people always get these kind of books [on relationship issues] at this time of the year," Christine Hibbard, director of marketing at the bookstore, said.
Spindel arranges personalized matches between successful professionals that range from Wall Street savvies to celebrities. The fees charged for this service, however, are "not inexpensive," as she put it.
As one of a small number of professional matchmakers in the country, Spindel's job ranges from going on simulated dates with clients to observe their personalities, to image consulting for clients and running background checks of the potential match candidates.
In her talk, Spindel expressed that marriage is a goal-oriented process comparable to admission into graduate school or any other project. It is a process that requires one's true understanding of oneself, as well as dedication and perseverance.
"If marriage is what you want," Spindel said, "make it a mission."
Conceivably, in a large community of students such as Penn's, marriage may seem like a rather distant subject. Spindel, too, admitted that she found the audience somewhat "young" compared to her usual target market.
However, she also pointed out the potential relevance to college students, especially those in graduate school, who are closer to her target demographic. Other people affiliated with the University or living in the neighborhood may also be potential candidates. Even younger members of the audience may have relatives or friends who are considering marriage.
"You just never know," Spindel said.
Spindel also gave advice to the younger members in the audience, who may not be looking for marriage but simply looking for potential relationships. She urged the students to "stretch outside of the box" they usually live in, and "expand [their] horizons."
"Try and do different things, go to different places," Spindel said.
Graduate student Elissa Buxbaum noted the impressive extent Spindel's matchmaking career.
"She takes her business quite seriously," Buxbaum said, "she makes a science out of relationships. For people looking for a formula [to relationships], she has it."
