You Name It, We Spell It!

Remember the little ditty, “Every party needs a pooper, and that’s why we invited you?” Here is a sure-fire way not to be that person! Lights by the Bay is the side gig of Ashley O’Brien, and she can help you dress up any celebration with marquee light displays and digital photo booths.

By day, Ashley is a Senior Relationship Manager for the Whiting Bradford Wealth Management Group of Merrill Lynch in Mobile. Her best friend, Sarah Catherine Avent, started the Brew Bus, a rolling party libation van that you see at parties throughout the Scenic 98 Coastal area. One day, Sarah Catherine saw the idea of Marquee lights. Knowing that her dad was a woodworker, Ashley knew she could make this vision come to life. This is how Lights by the Bay started.  

Lights by the Bay is Ashley's creative outlet, and it’s become a popular addition to dress-up parties on either side of Mobile Bay. Marquee Lights, with over 170 pieces in 3ft and 4ft letters and numbers (built by her father), can light up any message for any occasion. For weddings, birthdays, Mardi Gras, corporate events, and especially non-profit galas, Ashley can customize a message however many letters and numbers are needed.

She tells me her favorite thing about running a side gig is giving back. Recently, Lights by the Bay sponsored an event for Flourish in Baldwin County, spelling out FLOURISH in 4FT Marquee Lights. Flourish is a non-profit serving teen girls from under-resourced communities in Mobile & Baldwin County, Alabama. Their mission is to equip and empower teen girls to excel and flourish in all aspects of life. Some other non-profits she has served include The Ronald McDonald House, Impact 100 Mobile, United Cerebral Palsy, the Fuse Factory, and many others.

“It’s fun, easy, and not expensive,” she says. “It’s a happy and BRIGHT experience, and people love to see the “light girl.” To contact Lights by the Bay, just go to their Instagram or Facebook page and complete the contact form. The cost is $40-$60 per letter or number depending on size and there is a delivery fee, depending on the distance, of between $50 and $85. Set-up time takes 2 to 3 hours on the day of the event. Ashley told me she had done up to 12 events in one weekend.

Since launching Lights by the Bay, Ashley has added two digital photo booths to her repertoire. “No one has this kind of photo booth. It is digital and fully customizable with a photo overlay and quality props; no attendant is needed. You just tap the top of the screen. It’s a self-serve photo booth and people love it.” 

Sleek and small, she says that people seem to be more themselves without an attendant. She provides a sturdy setup and breaks down the booth after the event. There is no printing. Images are sent by text, email, or air-dropped to guests. 

An avid runner, Ashley says her favorite experience so far has been Finish Liza’s Run, a nationwide 6-mile run to remember the tragic kidnapping and murder of Eliza Fetcher in Memphis, Tennessee when she was on a morning run. “We started before sunrise and lit her name up in front of Carpe Diem on Old Shell Road, and the whole community participated. We called it Liza’s Lights and everybody loved it. It was emotional and moving.” 

How do you do it all, I ask. “The key to a successful side gig is to find one product or service, master it, and create a process that you can repeat.” She tells me giving back is important to her, and Lights by the Bay allows her to give about 30% of her profits back to non-profits or other events in the community.  It's not just about the business to her, it’s about creating a legacy of kindness and support within the community. 

“I’m passionate about anything I take on,” she says. Born in Phoenix, Arizona, her family soon moved to north Mobile. She tells me, “It’s important to me to have my health, a good career to take care of my son Cooper, and to have opportunities to give back to the community.” Ashley has recently joined the board at United Cerebral Palsy.

A graduate of Mercer University with a degree in psychology, she wanted to be a counselor until family priorities led her to Merrill Lynch eight years ago, where her mother, Ann Richardson has been a wealth management advisor for decades. Today, Ashley finds fulfillment in serving clients at Merrill Lynch and through Lights by the Bay.

Want to ramp up the fun factor at your next event? Dress up your next party or celebration with Ashley’s Marquee Lights and Photo Booth. It is certain to be a big hit and won’t break the bank.

Thank you, Ashley. That was fun!