Orchardleigh, a 500-acre Somerset estate, which, as part of a diverse offering, also acts as an exclusive use wedding venue, was effectively closed during lockdown.
With PR opportunities subsequently limited, we spotted the chance to highlight its wedding credentials at a time when traditional weddings simply weren’t possible.
Calling on the equine traditions of the estate, we looked to orchestrate a horse wedding – which would see two of the estate’s horses tie the proverbial knot.
Orchestrating a photo shoot, which involved a celebrant (ably performed by the estate owner) overseeing a ceremony where two immaculately groomed horses were presented with horseshoes and sugar lumps to mark the occasion, we then pushed the story and the accompanying imagery to the relevant press.
With media on the hunt for positive news, this saw us achieve national coverage via the Daily Mirror, supplemented by a raft of local coverage including Somerset Live, the Somerset County Gazette, the Yeovil Express and the Somerset Guardian, as well as other West Country regional press such as the Bristol Post, Western Daily Press, Cornwall Live and Plymouth Herald. All of these titles targeted the estate’s ideal audience of potential newlyweds living within a travelable distance of Orchardleigh – making them prime candidates for a South West wedding.
Furthermore, on top of this extensive UK coverage, the story also caught the eye of Fox News in the US, which published the story online – putting the archetypal English country estate firmly in front of prospective American couples, seeking a fairy-tale wedding.
Orchardleigh was delighted to see a surge in wedding enquiries as a result, with the venue subsequently booked up for almost an entire year.
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