Hello, it's me
I'm Ashley Barker and I LOVE weddings! To be honest, I love any reason to get dressed up, plan a party, or get together with friends and family. I'm a huge foodie (preferably something rich and delicious) and of course, I'm a fan of anything that sparkles. I've been in the event planning business for over 13 years and have successfully planned more than 300 events including weddings, showers, corporate events, and large-scale international conferences. The thrill of taking someone's vision and turning it into more than they could have ever imagined is what keeps me coming back for more.
I'm a creative person at heart - I love art, color, bold designs, texture and glitter. (Some might say I have a slight obsession with glitter but eh, there's worse things to obsess over.) One of my most favorite things to do (besides spending time with my family and planning events) is to go treasure hunting - by that I mean I enjoy finding vintage and antique furniture that I can refurbish and bring back to life. It's awesome to take something that's dying in someone's basement and make it a statement piece in a wedding design.
My grandmother loved antiques, fashion, and glamorous things and she shared that passion with me. Unfortunately she passed away before my wedding and I wanted to incorporate something that reminded me of her in my wedding design. She always loved antique Japanese tables and lamps and the Blue Willow china totally made me think of her. I ended up designing my whole wedding around a plate! In addition to the 85 Blue Willow plates I collected, I also refinished several antiques for my wedding as well. By the time it was said and done, we ended up taking a whole U-haul trailer full of antiques, plates, and other trinkets to our wedding in Charleston, SC. My husband wasn't terribly thrilled about the idea of lugging a trailer full of furniture across three states until he saw my vision come together the day of our wedding. It was priceless! He got all teary and said he'd never imagined a more perfect look for our special day (whoop whoop!!!). It was amazing seeing all of our guests have the same reaction - it meant the world to me.
All in all, I want to share my passion for planning, antiques, and design (as well as my garage-full of furniture and decor) with others to help create those same spectacular moments of awe and joy. Together, let's make something magical!
I'm a creative person at heart - I love art, color, bold designs, texture and glitter. (Some might say I have a slight obsession with glitter but eh, there's worse things to obsess over.) One of my most favorite things to do (besides spending time with my family and planning events) is to go treasure hunting - by that I mean I enjoy finding vintage and antique furniture that I can refurbish and bring back to life. It's awesome to take something that's dying in someone's basement and make it a statement piece in a wedding design.
My grandmother loved antiques, fashion, and glamorous things and she shared that passion with me. Unfortunately she passed away before my wedding and I wanted to incorporate something that reminded me of her in my wedding design. She always loved antique Japanese tables and lamps and the Blue Willow china totally made me think of her. I ended up designing my whole wedding around a plate! In addition to the 85 Blue Willow plates I collected, I also refinished several antiques for my wedding as well. By the time it was said and done, we ended up taking a whole U-haul trailer full of antiques, plates, and other trinkets to our wedding in Charleston, SC. My husband wasn't terribly thrilled about the idea of lugging a trailer full of furniture across three states until he saw my vision come together the day of our wedding. It was priceless! He got all teary and said he'd never imagined a more perfect look for our special day (whoop whoop!!!). It was amazing seeing all of our guests have the same reaction - it meant the world to me.
All in all, I want to share my passion for planning, antiques, and design (as well as my garage-full of furniture and decor) with others to help create those same spectacular moments of awe and joy. Together, let's make something magical!
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive, and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. -Maya Angelou
