When asked to think about my “Why Ashford”, I’m immediately taken to the little girl who spent her free Saturdays setting up cupcake and lemonade stands, folding clothes for her own “boutique”, and planning her friend’s next birthday party (or her stuffed animal’s, for that matter). Few people can say that their full time career has put them more in touch with their inner child, but for me, Ashford Acres has done that. 

As I was halfway through my junior year at the University of Kentucky, studying Hospitality and Tourism Management, I was in search of a place filled with brand identity, vision, and purpose. I had followed Ashford for years on social media (who actually followed me first, which, in a way, feels like a sign of its own). 

When receiving the position in late 2023, as Ashford’s first intern, I was jumping in bravely to a place that, unlike others I had worked for in the past, saw me as a deeply valuable addition to the team. It is a thrilling feeling to walk into work everyday, knowing it is your choice how far you are willing to help propel a business, a brand, and, as Annastasia says it, “a feeling”. Beyond that, I would say, it is a thrilling feeling to be a part of the most special parts of someone’s life. There is no “boring Monday” when you work for a place that is fostering memory creation, day in and day out. That, I would say, is why I chose to continue to work at Ashford when I graduate. 

My favorite parts of working at Ashford range from the little details to the grand leaps. I adore using my creative skills in wedding and event planning, but also, organizationally and systemically taking a look at our operational success. 

The most magical lens to see the place you work for is through the lens of the client. This is my favorite practice on wedding mornings. I typically arrive between 6:30 and 7 AM, rising with the sun, and walk around the house turning each light on, starting the “Wedding Morning” playlist. The mimosa bar is being set up, Southern breakfast preparation fills the air, and I begin to unlock doors for our dedicated vendors to arrive. There is nothing quite like walking around a house from 1858, knowing how much life has been lived there. Let alone, knowing that for the people here right now, the biggest day of their life is just beginning. 

What sticks out to me, as I reflect, is seeing one backdrop behind so many different days. Some may call it a blank slate, but I’d describe it as a setting distinctly of its own kind. Kentucky is the kind of place that opens its arms to you, keeps you in, and makes you never want to leave. Ashford Acres Inn comes from the same spirit, and that is one I will chase for the entirety of my career. 

Olivia H. Freeman, 2025