Unbridled love at Orchardleigh Estate wedding venue in Somerset

We loved hearing about Lewis and Fern, two resident horses at luxury wedding venue Orchardleigh Estate, who had an equine wedding staged by venue owners Chris and Heather Vincent during social distancing.

Given the restrictions, the horses were having less human interaction and spending more time together. "They started showing real signs of affection towards each other," says experienced horsewoman Heather Vincent. "I remarked to Chris that it'd be funny if they got married – considering there are no weddings going on at the moment – and before we knew it we were planning an entire big day!"

As a traditional venue, Orchardleigh has a whole host of picture-perfect spots for Lewis and Fern's wedding – from the proposal with a polo mint, to a touch of grooming at Orchardleigh Castle, before the vows at Elmhay Park, a separate venue within the grounds. After the formalities, the neigh-lyweds enjoyed a sumptuous three-course banquet on the lawn, followed by a swim in the tranquil lake.

Chris Vincent told us, "It may sound a bit mad, but while we were missing hosting actual weddings, we thought we'd do something that evoked all the same sentiment, but keeping firmly within social distancing guidelines – all the while providing a little light relief!"

To find out more about this Somerset wedding venue, visit www.orchardleigh.net