Fionnuala Townsend is an expert wedding planner at one of Ireland’s leading wedding venues, Carton House.
She acts as the first point of contact when a bride and groom decide to have their wedding at the venue and also works on Carton House’s bi-annual wedding events, the first of which is set to take place on February 22nd.
Tell us a little about your job…
My day to day role is all about our liaising with couples, those who are already booked with us and those who are considering the hotel as a venue. An initial guided tour around the resort is a special opportunity for me to learn as much as I can about the couple. As we get to know each other a little better, I can then suggest the particular features of the resort that I think will appeal most to them. Knowing what the couple have in mind is important so that I can get to know their personal taste and can steer them in the right direction towards the wedding of their dreams.
For the next year or so leading up to their wedding date, I touch base regularly to see how their plans are coming along, make any little changes they want and remind the couple I am here to help in anyway I can. I keep a detailed dossier with every last detail about each couple’s day. This attention to detail is vital as the date gets closer to ensure their wedding day is everything they dreamed of.
How did you get to your current position?
I have always loved the excitement of working in hotels and over the years, I have worked in almost every department of hospitality. I studied Hotel Management in GMIT, which was an amazing experience and a fantastic way to kick start my career. Before my current role at Carton House, I worked my way up the ladder at hotels across the world from chateaus in France to boutique hotels in New York City.
Thanks to all the experience I have gained, I am confident that I give 100 per cent to every wedding and help couples create a day they may not be able to achieve elsewhere. Weddings are my passion and planning weddings in the magnificent setting of Carton House is my dream job.
What is your typical working day?
I usually plan my workload a day ahead. I know what appointments I have coming up in advance and which weddings are on that particular week so when I arrive at the hotel, I’m ready to hit the ground running.
I check my emails first thing every morning to make sure there aren’t any last minute requests from clients. Once this is complete, I manage upcoming weddings, cross checking that everything is on track. I meet with new couples for guided tours and inform the entire team of the plan for the week ahead.
If there is a wedding taking place, I could have a meeting with the banqueting manager to do a final check through all the finer details. The bride and groom always advise what time they are due to arrive so I would be in position at the front door of the hotel well in advance of their arrival time to welcome them to their reception and congratulate them on their marriage. Their wedding day is not the time to ask them any questions, all this information has been gathered well in advance so that they can enjoy their day without any interruption.
Why did you choose your current career?
Once you get the hotel bug, it’s hard to work anywhere else. I tried teaching for a while but ended up longing to be back in the hotel industry. It’s a satisfying, challenging and exciting industry! Everyday is different, particularly with weddings as they are such a creative experience and are extremely personal to each individual couple. I love that variety.
What are the biggest challenges you face in your career?
Keeping on top of wedding trends is a challenging task. Wedding trends change with the blink of an eye and something that is big news one month can be old news by the next!
Staying ahead of the curve is important so Carton House can provide couples with a memorable day and remain one of Ireland’s leading wedding venues. This skill also comes in handy when I am planning activities like the Carton House Wedding Event. I need to be certain I ask the most in-demand and trendy suppliers in the country to join us. This year, we will welcome The Parisian Bride and Frilly Frocks among plenty of others, there will be exclusive previews and first looks at new designer bridal wear.
What are the most rewarding aspects?
Seeing a bride and groom blissfully happy. Their wedding day is the most important and remembered day of their lives and they deserve a reception that reflects that. Carton House really gets to know each couple throughout the planning process and when the big day comes, we all love seeing them delighted with how the day has turned out. Couples put so much work into their wedding, it’s nice to see all our hard work pay off!
Could you ever see your work taking you away from Ireland?
No, I’m a home bird now and feel my career has peaked at Carton House! During my 20s, I worked in New York, France, Australia and Germany so I have done enough travelling and working abroad. It was an amazing experience that I would recommend to anyone, especially if hospitality is a career path you would like to follow, but I love Ireland and don’t want to live anywhere else.
What is the best piece of advice that you’ve been given?
Tell the truth and be respectful of everyone. I believe that honesty and integrity will always prevail. I also believe in karma!
What has been the one ‘pinch me’ moment of your career so far?
A couple once had a wedding themed on A Midsummer Night’s Dream. There was so much work involved in turning this dream into a reality for the couple. On the day of the wedding, it was the hottest day of the year and everything looked magical at sunset. When I saw the end result and realised we had pulled it off, it was definitely a ‘pinch me’ moment..
What do you think is the biggest misconception about what you do?
Some people think that wedding planning is similar to organising a party for friends. Looking at dresses, tasting wine and picking stationary is not as easy as it sounds when you are considering how important a wedding is to a couple and that you are working with a paying customer.
Sometimes a bride and groom have no idea what they want or how to begin planning their wedding so I have to inspire and educate. I’ll suggest colours, themes, foods and drinks that would work well, while directing couples to suppliers that can fit their requirements. There is a lot of administration work involved in planning a wedding that takes up a large proportion of time. I love meeting our brides and grooms, that’s the nicest part, but behind the scenes, my role at Carton House is quite a demanding job. Everything has to be perfect on a wedding day and achieving these standards takes dedication.
What is the biggest mistake that you think people in your chosen sector make?
I have seen others take the importance of the finer details for granted and assume things will work out. I have witnessed lack of attention to detail make an impact on a client’s wedding day. The Carton House team pay full attention to every aspect of the day, from the minute a couple walk in our door to the minute they leave us. Every wedding is different and the couple’s needs and requirements should be tended to accordingly – even down to the temperature in the room!
Describe what you want to achieve in your career with one sentence.
Create the best weddings in the country!
‘The Wedding Event’ at Carton House on Sunday February 22nd. For more information, visit www.cartonhouse.com or call 01-5052000.
