AFTER taking the leap from working in IT into the wedding industry, a North Wales cake designer is celebrating industry recognition.
A passion turned into a thriving business has seen luxury wedding cake designer Helen Searle-Jones crowned a regional winner at the National Welsh Wedding Awards 2026, for Best Wedding Cakes.
What began as an unexpected career change has turned into an award-winning business for the Hope-based creator.
Helen's journey into the wedding industry wasn't part of the original plan. Having previously worked in IT, she found herself facing redundancy, a challenging period that ultimately presented an unexpected opportunity to pursue a long-held passion.
Rather than returning to a traditional career path, Helen decided to turn her love of cake design and creativity into a business of her own.
Fast forward a few years, and that leap of faith is paying off. Helen has established herself as a luxury wedding cake designer, creating bespoke centrepieces for couples celebrating their weddings across the UK.
Her latest achievement marks a significant milestone in the journey of a business built from passion, determination and a willingness to take a chance on something new.
Read more
The National Welsh Wedding Awards recognise excellence across the wedding sector, with businesses judged on their work and feedback from couples who have experienced their services.
For Helen, the award is particularly special given how recently her business journey began.
She said: "I'm absolutely delighted to have been named a regional winner at the National Welsh Wedding Awards. When I first started this business, I could never have imagined that a few years down the line I'd be receiving recognition like this.
"Being made redundant from my previous job in IT was obviously a difficult time, but it gave me the opportunity to take a chance on something I was truly passionate about. What started as a love of cake design has grown into something I genuinely love doing every day.
Read more
"Creating wedding cakes is about so much more than the finished cake. It's about being part of such an important moment in someone's life and creating something personal that becomes part of their memories. To have that work recognised by the industry is incredibly special."
Based on the Flintshire/Wrexham border, Helen works with couples from across the country, designing luxury wedding cakes that combine creativity, craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Her award win is not only a personal achievement but also a celebration of the independent businesses and creative talent emerging from the Cheshire and North Wales region.
With this latest recognition under her belt, Helen is looking forward to building on the success of the business and continuing to create show-stopping wedding cakes for couples throughout the UK.
Share