Weddings are big business. Here, we focus on the planners behind the best names in the business, like ROSS MALANEY, CONFERENCE AND BANQUETING MANAGER at DALZIEL PARK
How long have you been a wedding planner and what brought you to the role?
I have been a wedding planner for over 10 years. Having started out in hospitality as a part time job while at school and enjoying the wedding aspect, it led me to study hospitality and business management at college. After qualifying I then applied for role as C&B manager where my main focus is wedding planning.
What is the most challenging thing about your role? Do you have help?
Making sure that you are creating the perfect day for each couple. Everyone has different ideas of what they envision their special day to be and some can be very specifc. I have a fantastic sales team to support couples from point of booking and on the day an enthusiastic banqueting team who I can rely on to help the day run smoothly
What do you like most about your job?
No day is the same. So it keeps you on your toes. I love speaking to the happy couple and their wedding party when they are checking out the next day and hearing their stories and how they have enjoyed their day. What was the most unusual wedding/ request you have ever helped organise?
What is the average size of the wedding?
Most recently we have had a bride arrange a helicopter to bring her husband to be to the venue so we had to arrange for them to land on the golf course at the 9th green. We are also looking forward to having alpacas attend a wedding next year. We have a variety of wedding packages available so we can cater from Intimate to Elaborate weddings. An average wedding is approximately 80 day and 150 evening guests.
What could you not do without? Ie ipad? To do list?
The wedding details sheet with the running order of the day. This is where every little detail is noted to ensure everything runs to plan. I always have a consistently reliable and enthusiastic team behind me.
Have you met any Bridezillas… or groomzillas?
I understand that organising a wedding can be a very stressful time as it is one of the biggest days of your life. I wouldn’t call anyone a bridezilla/ groomzilla however we do have both brides and grooms who know specifcally what they want which actually makes my job a lot easier!