Top 5 
9 years Kate O’Dowd has been working within the events industry, for over a decade; first as editor of the award-winning wedding magazine BASH, for IMAGE Publications, then as the creator of luxury events for private clients and leading international brands. Now, having found the love of her working life, Kate is solely and completely a wedding planner, channeling all her energy into creating, for her couples, a relaxed, beautiful and joyful planning experience, which culminates in a gathering that’s the pivotal moment in their lives. How great is that. Kate lives in Dublin City with her husband Brian, their handsome boys, Teddy and Albert, and the princess baby Nora. She’s that rare combination of a creative who gets high on spreadsheets.
Love & Gatherings Planner
love and gatherings. Ireland’s boutique destination wedding planner. We use our broad expertise to give you a bespoke service.
5(8)
$10 000
wezoree
Non-premium vendor
Contact via "Request Quote" form only
247
8 Reviews for Love & Gatherings
5 out of 5. Recommended by 100% of couples
In Choosing a Planner for Your Wedding in Ireland, Kate O’Dowd of Love and Gatherings is the Absolute Best You Can Do.
Our daughter and now son-in-law were married at Luttrelstown Castle just outside Dublin, Ireland in June of 2025. They both live in California and wisely engaged a wedding planner local to Dublin to help with the many details that needed to be accounted for remotely. After interviewing several planners, we felt the most comfortable working with Kate O’Dowd, proprietor of Love and Gatherings, as measured by her knowledge, calm demeanor, professionalism and confidence.
What stood out most throughout our time with her was how she made us feel like our wedding was the most important event she had ever planned. We had her full attention, and she worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything was perfect.
Kate’s checklist of “things to do” was extensive and made us aware of all that we did not know that went into the process. She worked well with the Luttrelstown staff to coordinate the many details and her knowledge of the best local suppliers, DJ, Florist, Party Tent, etc. made our decisions easy.
On the day of the wedding, Kate was at the castle early to make sure things were in place and ready to go. The wedding and reception were executed flawlessly and our guests were thrilled at every turn. The result was a wedding that people will talk about for years.
She exceeded all expectations and if you are fortunate enough to marry in Ireland, you could not possibly do better than work with Kate at Love and Gatherings to make your wedding everything you would hope it would be and more.
Our daughter and now son-in-law were married at Luttrelstown Castle just outside Dublin, Ireland in June of 2025. They both live in California and wisely engaged a wedding planner local to Dublin to help with the many details that needed to be accounted for remotely. After interviewing several planners, we felt the most comfortable working with Kate O’Dowd, proprietor of Love and Gatherings, as measured by her knowledge, calm demeanor, professionalism and confidence.
What stood out most throughout our time with her was how she made us feel like our wedding was the most important event she had ever planned. We had her full attention, and she worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything was perfect.
Kate’s checklist of “things to do” was extensive and made us aware of all that we did not know that went into the process. She worked well with the Luttrelstown staff to coordinate the many details and her knowledge of the best local suppliers, DJ, Florist, Party Tent, etc. made our decisions easy.
On the day of the wedding, Kate was at the castle early to make sure things were in place and ready to go. The wedding and reception were executed flawlessly and our guests were thrilled at every turn. The result was a wedding that people will talk about for years.
She exceeded all expectations and if you are fortunate enough to marry in Ireland, you could not possibly do better than work with Kate at Love and Gatherings to make your wedding everything you would hope it would be and more.
How lucky were we to work with Kate in planning our dream Irish wedding. Organizing our wedding from the US, we wanted to ensure we found a fantastic local planner who had connections to a variety of vendors and could support us for every step of the way in the planning journey. We are so grateful we found Kate. Kate was delightful to work with; she took the time to truly listen to us and our vision of a “wild and bright” garden wedding and worked tirelessly to make it come to life. Kate is a true creative, and when it comes to the design, vision and styling of your event, her ideas and execution are second to none! She was incredibly thoughtful in the range of vendor options she presented us with and quick in her correspondence in locking them in. Wedding planning can often be stressful, but Kate was able to be a calm, rationale and empathetic force throughout all the decision-making moments. She was incredibly responsive (even with the overseas time difference), and met with us multiple times in person as well as virtually to ensure we were confident and aligned for everything that was to come. We felt relaxed, prepared and excited when our day finally arrived and left our wedding not only happily married, but with a new friend in Kate. Thank you to Kate and team for making it all happen!
Kate did an incredible job with our wedding in June! We had the wedding at the K Club in Kildare, Ireland and she helped us plan the day from the United States. Kate took care of every little detail and made the entire process so easy. The wedding weekend was amazing and all of our guests from the United States were so impressed. All of the suppliers that Kate recommended were incredible. I cannot say enough great things about Kate and her team. An all around 5 star experience and she went above and beyond!
We found Kate during a time, while starting to plan our wedding abroad, where we thought no one could help us. Emails weren’t being responded to, no one seemed to have any referrals, & then The Studio Florist saved us by sending us Kate’s information (!!). It genuinely felt meant to be & then getting to chat & plan with Kate over the months leading up to the event only solidified that feeling. Kate is such a pure & kind soul with such immaculate taste – Forever present, endlessly helpful, & willing to meet you where you’re at. There are not enough ways to say thank you to Kate, but hopefully this review will catch all of your eyes & also solidify that “meant to be” feeling. Our wedding would not have been nearly as beautiful or as seamless if Kate wasn’t a part of it. Throughout it all, Kate truly felt a longtime friend. From Chicago to the gorgeous island of Ireland, Tom & I cannot recommend Kate more to all of you. & it just has to be said – she brings so much love to such a special gathering :)
We had the pleasure of working with Kate O'Dowd from Loveandgatherings for our wedding at Luttrellstown Castle, Ireland, and it was nothing short of a perfect. Kate's dedication, creativity, and exceptional organizational skills brought our dream wedding to life. Her choice of top-notch vendors and her constant availability to address our questions and concerns made the entire planning process seamless. Every detail was meticulously thought out, ensuring our special day unfolded flawlessly. Kate's passion and commitment to her work were evident in every aspect of our wedding. We wholeheartedly recommend her to any couple seeking a wedding planner who goes above and beyond to create a magical and unforgettable wedding day.
Kate styled and managed our wedding at Ballynahinch Castle and she was perfection. I knew I wanted to work with Kate as I loved her more relaxed yet styled weddings. Kate brought our vision to life and was a huge support for the months coming up to the wedding. On the day, Kate and her team managed the wedding seamlessly from start to finish. Everything flowed so well due to all of her work behind the scenes and we couldn’t be happier with how it all went!
I have no doubt booking Kate as my wedding planner was one of the best decisions I made planning my dream Irish destination wedding. I'm so grateful I had her help and encouragement through this whole daunting process. It was such a relief to work with someone who understood my vision without judgement, and helped me bring it to life. It was also a relief to work with someone who was so willing to allow me to be so involved in the planning process. Her calm, supportive, patient, and positive energy was exactly what I needed and helped me get to the finish line. She was also very transparent and never left me confused or misled which I appreciated. Kate was so dedicated to making my wedding exactly what I'd hoped for, throughout the entire process including on my wedding day. She was on top of all of the little details, including things I didn't realize or know about. I was so grateful to have such a great advocate pushing ahead for me. I don't always feel understood, or feel comfortable around everyone I meet, but from the beginning she put me so at ease and it was so easy to be myself, by the end she truly felt like a friend. I can't recommend her enough!
Kate, was exceptional for us. We are based in California and had to plan a wedding in Ireland in record time (5 months). Without Kate, it wouldn't have been possible. She took ownership of the entire process, managed our needs and nuances with grace, kept all our vendors in line and produced one of the most stunning and enjoyable weekends for us.
Her catalogue of vendors is endless, her sense of design is flawless, her ability to execute on the details, unmatched, and her ease to work with, even in the stressful hours.. priceless.
Thanks Kate and team for everything.
Her catalogue of vendors is endless, her sense of design is flawless, her ability to execute on the details, unmatched, and her ease to work with, even in the stressful hours.. priceless.
Thanks Kate and team for everything.
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Love & Gatherings
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Vendor Insight
In the emerald heart of Dublin, Love & Gatherings, under the laudable direction of Kate O'Dowd, has established its mark as a premier wedding planner of choice. Garnering an impressive four Wezoree Awards reflects the caliber of service transmitted through each carefully curated event. A canvas of seven passionate client testimonials vividly paints the excellence with which Love & Gatherings operates.
Lena Witek's narrative echoes the relief and satisfaction of transatlantic couples. Her commendation lays praise on Kate's attunement to her clients' visions, resulting in a wild and bright garden wedding that not only materialized as dreamt but transcended with Kate's creative flair. An echoing sentiment resounds through Kim May's recount, emphasizing ease and a seamless experience complemented by the grandeur of the K Club in Kildare.
Kayla Reda's heartfelt endorsement introduces Kate as the much-needed beacon of hope amid planning disarray. Kate's role extended beyond mere professional intervention; she became a cherished friend, fostering a connection that reaffirmed the couple's choice. In a similar vein, Tyler Hughes Souza's testimonial underscores the synergy of Kate's dedication and organizational prowess, which sculpted an exquisite celebration at Luttrellstown Castle.
Ciara McEvoy's brief yet potent praise underlines Kate's styling magnificence, the seams of her skillfulness interwoven with a relaxed poise, showcased regally at Ballynahinch Castle. Collectively, these voices resonate a unanimous credibility and attest to the exceptional standard of Love & Gatherings.
Love & Gatherings, helmed by Kate, is evidently more than a service; it's a transformative journey in manifesting nuptial dreams. The persisting narrative reveals a planner not solely laser-focused on event execution but also on cultivating relationships and bestowing a sense of tranquility upon those stepping into matrimony. For anyone seeking a planner in Ireland, the ardent referrals suggest that entrusting Kate with your wedding is not merely a wise decision but one akin to finding an ally in love and celebration.
