PEOPLE has all the exclusive details about the event, which was held on Saturday — Ashley’s actual birthday — at The Wharf DC’s penthouse restaurant La Vie, with amazing views of the Potomac River.
“It was incredible!” Ashley tells PEOPLE. “I am filled with love. I can not think of a better way to spend my birthday.”
Marcus Bennett
Karen Huger.Marcus Bennett
Teri Galvez from Paradigm Event Management helped design the party.
Tierra Floral Design provided all the flowers for the event, including those draped on the hedge wall. Three tall arrangements and two low arrangements were set up for the table centerpieces, with blue hydrangeas sitting atop green bottom pompom and strings of white dendrobium orchids.
For food, guests dined on a brunch menu with mimosas and La Vie’s signature Bellini. A three-tier cake from Cake Theory provided a sweet treat, as did a huge cupcake the company baked for a birthday surprise for Ashley.
DJ Live Drexprovided music, while aerialist Shelly Flex (of Dollz Entertainment) performed a 5-minute number to Disclosure’s “You” using a lollipop ring for support. Guests also played games, with prizes including Zen Gem shirts from Ashley’s soon-to-launch wellness brand and dinner gift cards to La Vie.
The most touching moments came when Ashley’s family members took the mic to give speeches of their own.
Ashley’s journey to get pregnant has been a major topic on season 4 ofRHOP, which premiered in May. At the season 3 reunion last year, Ashley revealed thatshe’d suffered a miscarriage.
“It was such a traumatic experience,” she told PEOPLE. “At the time, I didn’t fully understand the magnitude of how it would affect us as a couple and as individuals because we kind of thought it would be a given that we would just be able to have children. But it was challenging.”
Upon learning in Novemberthat she was expecting, Ashleysaid it was an overwhelmingly emotional experience to share with her husband.
“I’m not the most emotional person, but I shed some tears,” she said. “Then Michael started crying. And Michael, who is a very stoic person, when he cries, I start bawling. It was like a share of waterworks between the two of us!”
Since then, Ashley has been taking followers inside all the ups and downs of her pregnancy with candid social media posts and Instagram Live sessions.
There have been some big celebrations along the way, too, including a unique sex reveal that saw Michael skydive out of an airplane to assist in sharing the exciting news.
All has left Ashley feeling grateful. “I give thanks for the incredible gifts bestowed upon me,” she wrote Saturday on Instagram.
“My loving mother, supportive husband, and caring family and friends are always on my gratitude list. This year I add a special appreciation for this little one growing inside of me — our sweet son.”
source: people.com
