A material girl from The Hangers is celebrating a match made in heaven as her bridal shop has won a regional award.
Carina Rose Bridal was named Luxury Wedding Dress Store of the Year at the South East Prestige Awards 2023/24.
Business has been booming since the dressmaker brought a touch of luxury to Durleighmarsh Farm in 2020.
It’s also the highpoint of a remarkable career change for its founder from Froxfield – as Carina had no experience of the industry prior to 2017.
Carina used to be a high-flyer in the London property market and routinely sold housing worth millions until her husband became ill with leukaemia. The blow, coupled with her daughter’s engagement, prompted her to launch her own business and “perhaps do something different”.
She said: “My daughter and I went shopping for wedding dresses and we decided it would be something I would be good at.”
Carina opened a High Street shop before falling in love with the empty unit in Durleighmarsh. Covid and lockdown presented challenges but word got around and visitor numbers grew along with the number of five-star reviews online.
The nomination arrived six months ago and she was “incredibly proud” to win the regional title at a ceremony near Southampton.
She said: “I was completely new to this industry and I had a lot of comments from other businesses.
“But it’s all been about customer care and having an eye for something that’s beautiful.”
For more details visit https://www.carinarosebridal.co.uk/