Ciara Crossan - CEO & Founder WeddingDates

Ciara Crossan is a tech-savvy entrepreneur who has over 15 years of industry experience. She is the CEO and Founder of WeddingDates, a company she started in 2008 with the aim of revolutionising how weddings were planned and booked in Ireland. With a family background in hospitality and a degree in Business Information Systems from University College Cork, Crossan identified a gap in the market and pursued her passion at the age of 25​

Prior to WeddingDates, Crossan worked in recruitment, which honed her skills in persuasion and building rapport with people​. Her expertise has been instrumental in building a successful company that guides wedding venues across Ireland and the UK to elevate their business strategies​ WeddingDates has the mission of making planning and booking a wedding easier online by connecting newly engaged couples with venues and suppliers available on their preferred wedding date​

One of the greatest achievements of her journey with WeddingDates has been building a dedicated and loyal team of 10 employees. The company has shown resilience by surviving a recession and thriving through a global pandemic, marking its 15th year of business in 2023​1​. WeddingDates was also the winner of the Irish Social Media Awards in 2011 and is a graduate of Enterprise Ireland's High Potential Start-Up program. Crossan was shortlisted as “Outstanding Entrepreneur” in UK Women 1st SHINE Awards in 2013​

Outside of her professional life, Crossan is a proud single mother to twin boys. She skillfully balances the responsibilities of home life with her entrepreneurial ambitions. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, particularly outdoors when the weather is good​Notably, she had always wanted to own a hotel, which perhaps influenced her career path in the hospitality and wedding industry​

Crossan's passion lies in brainstorming new ideas with her team, meeting clients and industry friends at events, and providing clients with tools that make their daily tasks easier​. She also advocates for flexible working arrangements and encourages her staff to fit work around family or other external commitments​

Ciara Crossan is deeply committed to supporting local businesses, improving user experience in the hospitality industry, and empowering women in entrepreneurship