Pillerton Priors wedding florist through to national final
CLAIRE Higgs never set out to work with flowers.
She dreamed of being a mounted police officer with the Thames Valley force, but a riding accident meant she had to change her plans.
Those plans have proved successful as last week, Claire, 37, impressed the judges with her floral designs to win the regional final of The Wedding Industry Awards held in Edgbaston and will now head for the national finals in London on 24th January.
The accolade of was made all the sweeter because it was based on votes from couples who have tied the knot.
“To be voted regional winner and chosen from a league of highly regarded floral designers was thoroughly amazing,” Claire said. “It’s such an honour and it all comes from the heart because the married couples who gave feedback from the wedding day have to write about their experience with me, and the flowers and bouquets I designed.
“I go on a journey with them from the minute I meet them, and I often get invited to their wedding day to share their happiness. I pride myself on going outside the norm.”
Claire, a former Kineton High School pupil, is the creative designer of her own company, Hibiscus Floral Design in Pillerton Priors.
But her career all started with a night school class.
“I had a riding accident and suffered a compound fracture to my leg. While I was on the road to recovery my mother took me to night school in a leg cast and I studied the art of flower arranging. I thought to myself ‘I love this’ and from there my business was born.”
That was nearly 14 years ago.
“I chose the hibiscus flower because they grow everywhere in Greece, and they are big vibrant flowers and yet delicate at the same time and that’s exactly what I wanted for my business,” Claire said.
