The Secret Garden

See how we flourish

When: November 7, 2020Saturday, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Where: Held virtuallyAvante Banquets was booked, then moved to 2021
The vibe: Distanced, not diminishedWatch parties, boxes at the door, a garden in bloom

The Secret Garden · 2020

About the show

This is the year the show did not gather. COVID-19 closed the ballroom, the Avante deposit was rolled forward to 2021, and the committee rebuilt the whole day as a two hour live stream produced by Delack Media Group.

What replaced the room was a set of small ones. Sponsors and members hosted Watch Parties for up to ten guests, with a catered luncheon, wine, florals and dessert delivered to the house. Every guest received an Attendee Box first: a Prosecco split for the toast, a branded face mask, hand sanitiser, and the Event Guide that stood in for the printed program. The boutique ran as a shopping week from November 2 to 8, and the runway was shoppable from a phone.

The giving held its shape. The Impact Raffle jewellery came from Mr. Marco’s Jewelers in St. Charles and was run in partnership with Citizens for Conservation, with a tenth of ticket sales going to wildflower and garden development. A Super Silent auction replaced the tables of baskets. About 350 people watched.

BJWC will continue to plant in our community. Seeds of generosity, of giving, of connecting with others.

From the committee’s theme notes

What the day looked like

Live streamed, two hours Produced by Delack Media Group Watch Parties for up to ten Attendee Boxes delivered Boutique week, November 2 to 8 Impact Raffle with Citizens for Conservation Jewellery by Mr. Marco’s Jewelers Super Silent auction Face mask favours About 350 watching

Who led it

Club president

Gina Koertner

Fashion show chairs

Melissa Khamkhounnavong and Amber Wirkus

Sponsorship chairs

Stephanie Spackey, with Kathy Brodin

From the day

The four hosts in front of the ivy wall and tulle arch

The broadcast set, two cameras trained on the hosts at the garden table

The hosts mid toast during the live stream

From the watch parties

Four members with wine in front of the ivy and tulle backdrop

The auction table against the ivy wall, hosts and the DJ behind the Secret Garden signs

A watch party table raising a toast on a sunny patio

A member watching the online auction on the screen at home

A member's dog in a tuxedo beside a Secret Garden attendee box

Rosé, macarons and roses laid out for a watch party

Photographs from the broadcast set and from members’ own stories on the day. The show was produced by Delack Media Group.

Our 2020 sponsors

Flourishing Garden LevelThe top tier, which carried a Watch Party for up to ten guests

Blooming Garden LevelFour tickets and Attendee Boxes

Budding Garden LevelTwo tickets and Attendee Boxes

Named sponsorships

Runway Sponsor Attendee Box Sponsor Floral Décor Sponsor Luncheon Wine Sponsor First Sip Sponsor Favor Sponsor, whose logo went on the face masks

The 2020 sponsor roster has not survived in the club records. If you sponsored this year, we would like to list you.

Other years

2022Vineyard Harvest 2021Barrington Charm 2020The Secret Garden 2019Rosé All Day 2018POP! All yearsEvery fashion show