1.1.2015 ~ New Year, New Ownership!

Hello everyone! Hard to believe that another year has come and gone already. This past year was an AMAZING one for Stargazer Weddings. Our team has had so many amazing couples, great business growth, and new leadership! For over a year, Shannin MacCarthy has been the main leader, coordinator, and overall top woman of Stargazer Weddings. Saying that she was a blessing to the team would be an understatement.

The past year has also brought the opportunity for the some big personal decisions for the members of our team as well. Bailey has moved back to Idaho and will be getting married in April of 2015! Congrats Bailey, we miss you! Shannin got married herself in November, and we couldn't be more happy for them and all of the exciting changes in their life (she can post about them herself later)!

As for me (Ashley), I have been so blessed by all of the people that I have met over the past eight years since I began Stargazer Weddings. It all started with helping my friends Krista and Travis at their wedding in Dallas, Oregon. I fell in LOVE with coordinating. I loved helping couples enjoy their day as I took care of all the details. I loved planning. I loved meeting the families. I loved watching the newly married couple leave the wedding with a huge smile on their face, feeling blessed that I had the opportunity to help them start this new journey in life together. I love getting updates from our brides about all of the changes and blessings in their lives since the weddings - new jobs, big moves, children, houses, starting their own businesses. I loved it all - and I still do.

However, over the years my family commitments have also grown, including adding a beautiful daughter to our family about three years ago. Between becoming a parent, and my husband's not-so-wedding-business-friendly work schedule (lots of weekends), I made the decision that Stargazer Weddings needed new leaders to really allow it to grow to its full potential. People that would be able to give it 100% all the time, not just part time. Please know that this was not an easy decision, but it was the right decision. Not only for me and my family, but for Stargazer Weddings as well. The emotional rewards of the past eight years have been more than anyone could have asked for. Plus, we were honored to win Best Planner and Best Day-Of Coordinator in the Willamette Valley in 2011 and 2013 from Oregon Bride Magazine. I want to thank every couple, family member, friend, work colleague, and fellow wedding industry business owner for their support and love since the beginning of Stargazer Weddings. This was a dream of mine, and am so thankful for all of the blessings that this dream has provided to me and my family.

Owning a coordinating company has also been a dream for Shannin MacCarthy and Jean Mateson, and this dynamic duo has worked together for a number of years in the wedding industry already. Most of you already know Shannin as she's been the lead coordinator for Stargazer Weddings for over a year (with over seven years of coordinating experience), and most of you know Jean from Willaby's Catering and Event Design! Jean has been coordinating for over 21 years, and has won numerous awards of her own - including Best Day-Of Coordinator in 2014 from Oregon Bride Magazine! Letting go of a dream can be hard, but seeing your dream live on is such a blessing. We've spent a lot of time talking, laughing, and hugging over the past year, and decided that they would purchase Stargazer Weddings! On December 30, 2014 - it was official! All of the papers have been signed, sealed, and delivered - and now Shannin and Jean are starting the new year with their new dream and new business!

I can't wait to see what the future holds for Stargazer Weddings, Shannin, Jean, and their growing team. I'm sure that we'll be seeing lots of changes to the website, blog, logo, etc. - and I hope that you're just as excited as I am to see it all!  I'm also excited to see what this new year and this new chapter in my life will also bring. Who knows - I might even still pick up a wedding or two here and there over the years...but this time I'll be working for Shannin and Jean! I wish everyone the very best in 2015. Pursue your dreams. Make memories. Live your life!

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