Darcy Darbyshire and her husband-to-be Eli Blanchette had big plans for a tropical beach wedding on February 15th. But the pandemic had other plans, and the couple have decided to take their downsized wedding onboard a BC Transit bus.
“We were supposed to get married in Cuba, but of course Covid changed that plan,” said Darcy, who’s been with the BC Transit service team since November 2019. “We’ll still go there with all our friends and family when we can, because for this ceremony we can only have 10 people.”
This year Family Day landed on February 15th, and it was the day after Valentine’s Day, so you may think that made this date the most logical choice for a winter wedding. But the date holds bigger meaning for the couple, who went on their first date five years ago to the day. So the date checked out…but how did a bus wedding materialize?
“It started out with me joking about it to Darcy. Then her mom kind of fell in love with the idea, and it took off from there,” said Eli Blanchette, a Transit Operator with BC Transit since September 2018. “I’ve always had an interest in buses, and transit is more than just a job for me so it’s kind of perfect.”
Darcy and Eli got engaged and bought their rings in Las Vegas. But a drive-thru wedding wouldn’t do for these two. They went going bigger and better with more wheels and available seating than they could have had in a rented Cadillac at an Elvis chapel! Darcy and Eli were joined by their parents, Darcy’s sisters, photographer and of course their wedding Officiant.
This wasn’t the first time a BC Transit bus has been involved in a wedding, but it was the first time a ceremony actually took place on a bus at the Langford Transit Centre.
“When the request came through from two of our employees, we knew that we had to do whatever we could to help with their special day,” said Brian Harrington, Assistant General Manager, Operator Leadership. “I’ve been a part of a lot of weddings from working in the hotel industry for many years, but a wedding on a bus is a first for me.”
Darcy looked stunning in a traditional wedding dress, and Eli went with a tux after much debate. He lost the battle when he jokingly tried convincing her that he should deliver his vows in his BC Transit uniform with a tie. Accepting defeat on a regular basis will likely lead Eli Blanchette on a long and adventurous journey with his new bride.
From all of us at BC Transit, congrats on your wedding, Darcy and Eli!
