Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ashley Movsesyan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Ashley, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

Honestly, it all happened a little serendipitously. I’ve been in the event space since my very beginning of self discovery; for me that started in high-school.

At the time, I didn’t have a master plan to launch my own event design studio. I just knew I loved bringing people together with great food and beautiful decor.

Looking back, it started with one small opportunity after another; from a part time job in high school with a local wedding planner, to planning a 40 person, 12 day, 3 country philanthropic music tour in college, to various businesses I worked for after graduating college trusting me with the responsibility of community and product launch events.

I found myself always obsessing over the details. The logistics were part of it, but it was design that really set my heart on fire. So I followed that feeling.

Planning my wedding was when it clicked that this is something I could actually do full time. The more I leaned into the creative side of things, the more I realized I had something unique to offer. I didn’t just design a pretty experience, I was able to evoke positive emotions from guests through texture, color and story. And as an empath, it was a really moving experience for me.

I saw how much thought, care, and artistic intuition I brought to the process, and I knew I could eventually build something that reflected that.

But in full transparency, it was scary. Stepping out on your own always comes with doubt and then there’s the added layer that this is my art. It’s inherently personal and putting it out into the world often means sharing vulnerably.

But I trusted that if I stayed focused on creating meaningful experiences, with purpose and passion there would always be opportunities for people desiring the experience I had to offer.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Sure! I’m Ashley, and I’m the founder and creative director behind Agate Haus Private Events. We are an event design studio rooted in purpose, artistry, and story-driven details.

I design weddings, corporate events and social gatherings for people who care deeply about aesthetics and meaning.

My journey into this world has been anything but linear. I started young, working part-time for a local wedding planner in high school and eventually was responsible for either assisting or managing community events and product launches while working at DIOR, AvalonBay Communities and Ann INC. after college. All of those moments taught me something, and each played a role in shaping my approach today.

Agate Haus originally began with full planning and coordination services, but I quickly realized my heart was in the creative side of things. I loved obsessing over the feeling a space could evoke so I refined our offerings centering on design.

Our clients are often busy professionals, fellow creatives, or thoughtful hosts who understand the power of an experience and want to create something that truly reflects their spirit.

What sets Agate Haus apart is our ability to take something conceptual and emotional and translate it into a tactile, cohesive experience that’s also beautiful. I design with purpose, not just for aesthetics. And that difference is something clients feel.

What I’m most proud of? Probably the trust our clients place in us. There’s nothing more fulfilling than hearing a client say, “This is better than I imagined.” That’s a huge part of our <i>why</i>.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My creative journey has always been deeply personal. I’ve never really fit neatly into a box, and for a long time, I tried to. I’m a recovering people-pleaser with a touch of tedious particularity (okay, maybe more than a touch), and for years I saw those traits as weaknesses.

But now, I see how they shaped my approach to design, detail-oriented, emotionally intuitive, and always looking to create something meaningful.

My mission is to carve out space for the beautifully particular. I gravitate toward the not-so-typical, the layered, the unexpected and I want my work to reflect that.

I’m not here to replicate trends or chase perfection. I want to help people see that there’s beauty in designing from a place of individuality.

But my most important goal is being the best mom I can be, and part of that is being a great example for my son. I want to build something that shows him it’s not only possible, but powerful, to create a life around what you love. That entrepreneurship isn’t just about hustle, it’s about legacy and I need to show him that meaningful work can build both wealth and a life you’re proud of.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Not even, it was definitely a hobby! What started as a passion project has definitely grown into a career.

I originally left my corporate job to focus on growing our family, and in that quieter season, I found myself craving a creative outlet. It filled my mind, especially during the stillness of COVID, when I needed something to anchor me. But as time passed, I kept coming back to it, even during some really difficult personal seasons. Every time I thought I might need to walk away, it had a hold on me.

And it’s actually been a family affair: my mom is my second brain and the best design assistant on event days, while my husband and stepdad handle crew operations (in simpler terms, <i>the heavy lifting</i>). This year, we’ve expanded even more adding three incredible team members to support with both backend tasks and event execution.

As for a milestone I’m proud of? I’d say, a slow but steady growth. When we started five years ago, our social events were full of DIY and our first ever full service wedding client had a budget under $10K. Now, our full service wedding clients 10x that spend on their wedding celebration and DIY is a humbling task of the past.

Of course, not every event we design calls for an exorbitant budget; our smaller-scale weddings and gatherings while still luxurious are more modest than a full production wedding spend. Beautiful design is always possible with thoughtful planning, no matter the scale.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.agatehaus.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agatehaus
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agatehaus

Image Credits
Vera Mey Photography, Tiffany Noele Photography, Lanaro Visuals