Here is a recommended list of CMS plug-ins. They are listed here because they add CMS functions and have been tested with Ashford. In many cases, buying Ashford Pro is a better option than downloading a plugin for sharing icons or a image gallery.
Plugins for search engine optimization
All in One SEO Pack – For most applications, this plugin is not needed. If you use this plugin, Ashford disaables its SEO code (which is excellent compared to other themes). It adds search engine optimization (SEO) tools for your web site.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/all-in-one-seo-pack/
Google Site Map Generator — adds a XML sitemap which will help search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo and Ask.com to better index your blog.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-sitemap-generator/
Plugins for building custom sites
WP-PageNavi – Great plugin for other themes. Ashford now includes excellent pagination.
Flexi-pages – adds a highly configurable WordPress sidebar widget to list pages and sub-pages. Great for building custom submenus.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/flexi-pages-widget/
Query Posts – adds a widget that can display content by category, tag, custom taxonomies, author, date, time and name.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/query-posts/
Widget Logic — adds an extra control field called “Widget logic” to each widget that lets you control the pages that the widget will appear.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/widget-logic/
My Snippets — add a widget to your sidebar but control the content of the snippet from the post editor.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/my-snippets/
Exclude pages — add pages but exclude them from your drop down menus.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/exclude-pages/
Contact Form 7 — add contact forms to any page.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/contact-form-7/
Plugins for running sites
Easy Theme Upgrades — WordPress requires write privileges to both the wp-content/themes directory and to the directory to be replaced. If you added the Ashford via the Appearance > Themes > Upload, then this plugin will work.
http://ithemes.com/a-better-faster-way-to-upgrade-themes/
WP Super Cache — adds a very fast caching engine for WordPress that produces static html files. A must for high traffic production sites.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-super-cache/
Maintenance Mode – adds a splash page to your blog that lets visitors know your blog is down for maintenance.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/maintenance-mode/
Plugins for advanced WordPress Developers
Widget Block — adds ability to create text widgets that only display on specified pages (allows PHP). This adds a feature not unlike Drupal’s Blocks.
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/widget-block/
Pods CMS — For creating sites that need advanced customized content. This adds a feature not unlike Drupal’s CCK Module.
http://pods.uproot.us/