A Flair For Floral

These two businesses take wedding design and floral arrangements to a whole new passion-driven level.

- Kristen Birch

Although Heike le Cordeur always enjoyed being creative, she joined the corporate world after matric. ‘In 2010, I was in my fifth year as a business process analyst in the IT department at Media24, flying to Joburg every week. But the creative spark never died, and becoming pregnant with my daughter triggered a slow exit from the corporate environment to start something I could do from home in Cape Town,’ says Heike. ‘A friend in the events industry asked me to do the flowers for some of her smaller weddings, which I did from my own kitchen.

‘Only when every single surface in my house was covered with flowers did I decide to create my own little studio at home, and started Fleur Le Cordeur.’

Every one of Heike’s floral designs is distinctive, and sometimes weirdly wonderful.

‘Our typical client doesn’t want the conventional. They want an experience rather than just flowers on the tables, and to be transported to a floral wonderland.

‘I take inspiration mostly from my clients’ personalities and what they like. Then I’ll add something drawn from fashion houses or architectural and interior trends. The time of year, the season, my mood, my favourite flowers at that moment – all these things inspire!’