Kristína Foltinová, event manager of the hotel: Working as a wedding coordinator has always been my dream
This year, Kristína Foltinová became the new event manager and wedding coordinator of the Zlatý Klúčik hotel and thus fulfilled her long-term work dream. From April 2024, he guides couples through the entire preparation process, from budget management to overall coordination of their big day. With its help, couples can enjoy a more efficient and enjoyable wedding planning experience to make their special day flawless and memorable in the end. However, you will learn more details about the work of a wedding coordinator in the interview.
What were your professional beginnings like?
I started working in the hotel industry as a high school student, as a waitress in a restaurant. Later, I went through almost all positions in the hotel, from maid, barmaid, receptionist to sales manager. This year, the opportunity to work as an event manager opened up for me and I accepted the offer.
What led you to accept the offer of event manager?
From the first day I started working at the hotel, I knew that it was the job of my dreams, because many weddings, congresses, teambuildings and various other events were regularly held at the hotel. I was interested in the course of their organization. I have always been fulfilled by working with people, and the feeling itself after a successfully completed event was priceless. I wanted to be helpful in realizing the dreams of brides or corporate clients.
What do you think is really important in your job?
Precision for every detail and communication, because every detail creates the overall impression and flow of every action. I like to devote more time to brides during the preparations, so that their wedding day meets their ideas and expectations.
How is your working day going?
A working day during a wedding requires a strong sense of detail and a team of skilled people. I start in the morning by welcoming the bride to the HoneyMoon wedding suite, where I will also bring prosecco for the bridesmaids, or refreshments according to her requirements. Next, it's up to me to coordinate the day. During the entire course of the wedding, each of the suppliers communicates directly with me, from the decorator, confectioner, DJ, elder and make-up artist. In short, I communicate with everyone involved in the creation of the wedding day. I try to relieve the bride of all the phone calls or possible chaos and I am literally her right hand. After taking over all the cakes, tortas, cakes, finishing the decoration, agreeing the course of the wedding with the elder or the DJ, I am now available to the brides. I always try to solve every little thing that the bride might miss or spoil the day. Whether it's a broken cake, a torn wedding dress or a forgotten groom's shirt, I'm always there for them. I regularly stay at weddings until the end, when the taping takes place. That's when my work for the given wedding day ends. The next day, I help the newlyweds with all the food, desserts and gifts. A completed wedding is definitive when the newlyweds leave satisfied and happy from their special day. The working day during company events is a little easier. At the beginning, I welcome the guests, familiarize them with the space and, if necessary, I am available to them throughout the training or congress. I am in charge of controlling the sound system, preparing the equipment or navigating the guests. The day ends with the departure and satisfaction of the clients.
Did any of the previous weddings stick in your memory?
Every wedding is special, but a few of them were really special for me. The beautiful floral decoration on one of them stuck in my memory. The decorators turned the wedding pavilion into a wonderful garden with cherry trees, white peonies and roses. As soon as you entered, you felt like you were in a dream, but a wedding one. Another wedding that sticks in my memory was with Spanish guests. It was an unforgettable experience, how people with different cultures know how to have fun with their family, with a drink and of course with an amazing DJ, who gave them a great party at the wedding, which they will definitely remember for the rest of their lives.
How do you ensure that the wedding couple's idea of their dream wedding is 100% fulfilled?
Of course, it is important to prepare and evaluate the possibilities offered by the hotel. Communication with the bride is sometimes about several emails, meetings and phone calls. Only then can I prepare a truly dream wedding with all the requirements. There is also an amazing kitchen team and a chef who will prepare a gastronomic experience at every wedding. The hotel has a skilled team of people who I can always rely on during larger weddings. The goal of each of us is to see the newlyweds with a smile on their face.
What do you enjoy most about organizing weddings or what is also the most difficult?
I enjoy the most when all the long preparations culminate on the "D" day. There is nothing better than when all the wedding suppliers come together to create an unforgettable day for the couple and their guests. However, there is also a more difficult part of the work, which is to complete everything down to the last details and communicate sufficiently.
Why should future married couples choose the premises of the Zlatý Klúčik hotel for their wedding?
The hotel offers beautiful spaces, a panoramic view of the entire city of Nitra, amazing gastronomy and also a team of skilled people. We can fulfill many requests of couples, from organizing guests to helping with all wedding preparations before and during the wedding. I can also help couples with food selection, meeting schedule, selection of suppliers or drawing up a schedule.
Tell us more about how the arrangement of the wedding takes place, from the initial contact email, through the hotel tour, the menu, to the final day.
After receiving an inquiry, I always arrange a meeting with the bride-to-be, where I ask her to write down all the questions and prepare an idea of what their "D" day should look like. At the meeting, we will show you all the areas of the hotel, go over the wedding offer, available dates and all the possibilities that the hotel offers. After that, the decision is up to the future newlyweds. If they decide on our space, a contract will be created for them. After meeting all the conditions, it is time to plan the wedding in detail. I am available to the betrothed at any time during the preparations.
Which wedding spaces can married couples use in the hotel?
There are four spaces available in the hotel. The Frenchie Terrasse restaurant with a view and terrace, which is designed in the style of "Provence". The Clé d'Or restaurant is decorated in a noble Parisian style, which creates an ideal setting for a wedding reception in an intimate atmosphere. Another space is a luxurious hall furnished in a glamor style with a romantic view of the Nitra panorama, which will add an unforgettable atmosphere to the wedding day. The last exceptional space is the wedding pavilion furnished in a rustic style with a covered terrace and a garden for an outdoor ceremony. Due to its exceptional location, this venue is one of the most lucrative wedding venues in Nitra.
If you had to choose one space from the hotel for your life event, which would it be and why?
Every space has something special, but for me the most beautiful is the Louis XIV congress hall. Its elegance and incredible view of Nitra won me over from the first moment. It is an open space in which any decoration will stand out and the mentioned elegant design will enhance the whole impression even more.
You have several events and weddings behind you. Do you register any wedding trends over the years?
Simplicity. More and more flower decorations are being added, which elevate the space, but do not cover it completely. The colors are decent and soft. Brides prefer beige, green, white, gold or silver in fine details.