CHEK Upside: Victoria duo form ‘Elopement in a Box’ for pandemic-proof weddings

Victoria-based wedding planner Barb Walker is used to throwing lavish weddings with hundreds of people partying through the night.

This wedding season, however, has come to a standstill due to COVID-19.

“Most couples are choosing to postpone to next year,” said Walker, who operates French Kiss Events.

The struggles are similar for Walker’s friend and fellow wedding industry worker Shara Zimmerman Jawl.

“I think both of our businesses this summer practically went down to zero,” said Zimmerman Jawl, owner of the furniture rental business Bash Specialty.

With the two down and desperate, they teamed up in search of the seemingly impossible: a pandemic-proof wedding.

“We tried to figure out what could we do that could help these couples,” said Zimmerman Jawl.

“We always had this idea of how much fun it would be to do a party in a box, and we were talking about it one day and it just clicked,” said Walker.

Thus, Elopement in a Box was formed.

READ ALSO: Weddings postponed, cancelled amid COVID-19 pandemic

The two describe the service as a way for couples to wed in style while keeping safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s all-inclusive curated boxes that have everything from gourmet meals, cakes, cocktails and flowers delivered to your house, and then we pick it up the next day,” said Zimmerman Jawl.

The one-stop wedding box is filled with products and services sourced from local Vancouver Island vendors.

For now, boxes are suited for two to four people.

However the company says they will adjust the size of the box in unison with government policy changes regarding physical distancing.

There are currently four different themed boxes to choose from: The Modern, The Westcoast, The Vibrant and The Romantic.

“Our thinking was just because you now can’t have your celebration as you wanted and you’re choosing to elope. It doesn’t mean it still can’t be super special and memorable,” said Walker.

RELATED: Island couples having small social distancing weddings during COVID-19 crisis

Their first-ever clients, Josh and Kelly from Surrey couldn’t agree more.

The two have been together for eight years and didn’t want to wait any longer to tie the knot. They chose The West Coast theme and their wedding date is slated for July 26th.

“It seemed like a cool idea just everything in one…It’s really cool to see these vendors and companies coming together to help us, and yeah, we’re just really grateful. Definitely a lifesaver,” said Kelly and Josh.

And for Barb and Shara, it’s a chance to help couples live out their big day while also providing a glimmer of hope to a struggling industry.

“We hope, of course, that this will be successful in that way but not only for ourselves but the other vendors that we’re helping, we’re hoping it’ll bring some business to them as well,” said Zimmerman Jawl.

“This may carry on past the pandemic if it’s a success,” said Walker. “And if not, it was really fun.”

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