Unboxing bridal Memories
Written by Cori Burcham
Couples all over the world have been required to make concessions for the most reliable wedding crasher of the 2020s: the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of raiding the open bar or splurging at the buffet, this uninvited guest intrudes on the wedding proceedings long before the actual day, obliging couples to narrow their attendee list, cancel any destination wedding plans and opt for the weather-permitting outdoor venue.
As most industry professionals can attest, couples in the planning stages have learned to master the art of the compromise by meeting their partner halfway on a design decision or adjusting their vision to suit a budget. When COVID restrictions went into effect, however, that delicate balance of give and take suddenly meant sacrificing a treasured aspect of the bride’s wedding journey: the celebration of wedding milestones with friends and family.
Based in Milton, the family-owned e-commerce wedding gift business Mrs… At Last!, which services the Delmarva coast and beyond, brought brides-to-be and their loved ones together despite social distancing — through their unique wedding boxes.
Partners in business and life, Eunice Chen-Promotorov and her husband, Vadim, exchanged their corporate careers to become the co-founders of Mrs. At Last Wedding Gifts Inc. two years ago. Mrs… At Last! currently specializes in curating wedding boxes that include six to seven full-sized gifts tailored to the bride. From self-care products to wedding-day essentials, the exact gifts in each box are a mystery until the future Mrs. opens them in the months leading up to her wedding day.
With a series of six themed boxes corresponding to a different milestone, such as engagement or bachelorette, the gift-giver or bride herself can choose a plan that aligns with the wedding’s timeline and have the set of boxes delivered on a bi-weekly or monthly basis.
Over the past few years, subscription box services have experienced a resurgence. Offering consumers anything from a book-of-the-month to beauty products, those self-isolating were drawn in by the convenience and not-so-cheap thrill of a mystery gift being delivered on a recurring basis to their front door. Following a similar trend, bridal box subscriptions also gave brides something that was sorely lacking during a time of celebration impacted by numerous precautions.
“Especially with the pandemic and the requirement of physical distancing, there has been an increased need for personal, human connection. Subscription boxes fill that void, and they let the receiver know that someone out there is thinking of them, even more so with our wedding subscription boxes,” said Eunice.
Priding itself on being a business made for brides by brides, Mrs…. At Last focused on the idea of basing the boxes on milestone commemoration naturally was inspired by Eunice’s own wedding in 2015. Balancing both wedding planning along with her workload as a full-time student, Eunice recalled needing a moment to pause and truly appreciate the special, once-in-a-lifetime occasion before her.
“You don’t ever get a redo for your wedding, and we thought it was important to remind brides about that,” said Eunice. “More importantly, it’s about encouraging brides to celebrate each step along the way.”
When crafting each wedding box, Eunice carefully selects products that are both well-made and something she believes a bride would want or find useful.
“I go through an ideation process, starting with the theme first, and then I choose items that a bride wouldn’t necessarily think about buying for herself,” said Eunice. “I research current wedding trends from all over the world, and I look for items that are unexpected. Lastly, I’ll test them out on my girlfriends for their feedback before making the final decision to get them produced.”
What sets Mrs… At Last! apart from some other bridal box subscription services, Eunice said, is their more human approach, which prioritizes the client’s experience. Since most bridal box services claim to assist with wedding planning, Mrs… At Last! alternatively encourages brides to focus not on the stressors, but the joy. Avoiding products with titles exclusive to heterosexual couples, such as Mr. and Mrs. matching glassware, their boxes are more inclusive of LGBTQ2+ couples.
“We’re also a lower price point than the other boxes,” Eunice said.
The cost of the individual themed boxes start at $48, but the price per box decreases when purchasing the larger box sets.
Mrs… At Last!’s promise that they don’t include meaningless trinkets in their boxes couldn’t be more authentic, because the true gift the bride is unboxing is the invaluable bridal memories that will last her a lifetime.
For more information about Mrs… At Last!’s bridal boxes, visit www.mrsatlastbox.com.
