Exeter businesses come together to celebrate city centre’s wedding industry
Exeter city centre-based businesses have come together to showcase the city’s wedding industry through nine short films, a brand-new website and an event at Exeter Cathedral.
The business-led campaign called #SomethingSpecial is supported by InExeter, Exeter’s Business Improvement District, and celebrates the city’s independent businesses and larger retailers linked to the wedding industry who have faced a difficult 2020 and 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
From venues and caterers to dress makers and jewellery designers, #SomethingSpecial celebrates the reopening of the wedding industry, both for the businesses involved and for the couples whose plans have had to be put on hold. Exeter-based businesses featured include wedding venue Exeter Castle, independent tailors Sharif Tailoring, jewellery designer Erin Cox, musician Hannah Ruby, Loake Shoemakers, letterpress studio and coffee shop The Press House, cake making suppliers BAKE, bridal shop The Bridal Emporium, florists Trugs, hairdressers The Roots Foundation, makers of leather goods The Belt Makers, department store John Lewis, plus many more.
The film series, shot by Exeter-based filmmakers Thomas Smith Videography and Moments to Media, follows real-life couple Sharifa and Jess. The couple live in Exeter, work for the NHS and having got engaged earlier this year, plan to marry in the city in 2022. The film series documents their journey visiting different businesses in the city as they plan their wedding day. The films are narrated using words taken from love letters written by Sharifa and Jess telling their story to each other.
Marina O’Shea, InExeter’s Marketing, Events and Projects Manager says “Exeter is overflowing with unique independent businesses and larger retailers that cater for everyone’s wedding needs, whether you’re a guest, member of the wedding party or the couple themselves. #SomethingSpecial’s aim is to remind the community of Exeter’s inclusive offering and highlight the tight-knit neighbourhood and the individuals behind each business working hard to make this city and every couple’s wedding day so special. We are extremely grateful that Sharifa and Jess were so willing to get involved in the project and share their story to bring Exeter’s wedding industry back to life.”
The first short film in this nine-part series will be released on Wednesday 1st September 2021 at 8pm on InExeter’s social media platforms. The following eight films will be released one-a-week for eight consecutive weeks. A longer version of the film will also be made and submitted to various film festivals.
To coincide with the film’s release, a website called Exeter Weddings (www.exeterweddings.co.uk) will also go live on Wednesday 1st September. The website will host the #SomethingSpecial film and will have a wedding directory listing all Exeter businesses featured in the films plus other city-centre businesses linked to the wedding industry – a go to guide for anyone planning to marry in Exeter.
InExeter also plans to host a wedding show at Exeter Cathedral on Tuesday 1st March 2022 for local businesses to showcase at and for the public to attend.
If you’re an Exeter city-centre based business linked to the wedding industry, contact marina@inexeter.com to be featured on the Exeter Weddings website and to receive further details of the wedding show.
Visit www.inexeter.com for more information.
