Choosing my wedding dress; sort of: Maggie Sottero Wedding Dresses

I haven't chosen my wedding dress or decided on a wedding designer. I figure I still have some time for that. Need to at least get venue and set a date.


Over the years, I've been able to style a few fashionistas and my go to wedding dress designer has been Maggie Sottero. Maggie Sottero dresses are stylish, chic, elegant and for the most part, affordable.

Luxe stylish taste doesn't have to break the bank. Will I choose a Maggie Sottero dress? Don't know. I've never tried on a wedding dress and have no idea what type of dress will look good on me. Somehow its never what you think will work. But I do have an idea. Just not sharing it yet!

photos - Maggie Sottero

Click here to check out Maggie Sottero wedding gowns.

Planning my wedding - choosing a location

Where do you host 300 guests for a wedding ceremony, cocktail party and plated dinner reception?

My dream location in the DC metro area? Baltimore Inner Harbor.

So, how do you think I can find a downtown Baltimore hotel to host my cocktail hour and reception for under $30,000?

We'll have to see. Maybe there is a fairy godmother somewhere with a magic wand, just waiting to make all my dreams come true.

Don't get it twisted. I've researched other locations from Prince George's County to Washington DC, Silver Spring, Baltimore County and Baltimore City.

My broke little heart is set on the Inner Harbor. After living in Baltimore for almost 20 years, I have a soft spot for the city and would love to have my celebration there.

Will I? Can I? Should I?

I'm a sucker for convenient all-inclusive packages. A total sucker!

Planning my wedding - the wedding flowers

Well, since my favorite colors are orange, yellow and pink and my budget for 300 guests is limited........... well, about $30,000......., I've decided to use budget-friendly blooms for my centerpieces, bouquets and decor.

And here come the ever so pretty Gerbera Daisies!!!

photos - the knot

Planning my wedding - the guest list - the huge guest list

So, like I said earlier, we initially set our wedding budget at $30,000 - a pretty darned respectful number if you ask me.

Well, that didn't take into account my ridiculously large family......... I've decided to break down and have a small ceremony. Our guest list is 300 guests. Yes, 300. When you realize that I'm actually cutting over 300 family members and friends from my list because we cannot afford a wedding for 600 guests, then it all makes sense.

Wait, does it? It's a huge number. Even for me. Coming from a large African family, I'd always known that I'd have to do a big wedding. Would I prefer a small destination wedding in Key West surrounded by immediate family and friends. Heck yeah!!

Can I truly get away with it without buying a ticket to a journey on my family's guilt train? Probably not. Well, I'm kinda hoping I can bring the number down to 250 guests.

My poor fiance is traumatized and probably slightly peeved. Who wants to feed 300 guests on a limited budget. No one I know, but family is family. Oh well......... [insert wistful sigh].

Planning my wedding budget - lean and colorful

Ahhh, the dreaded wedding planning part.......... the budget.

My fiance and I are paying for the wedding and initially set our wedding budget at $30,000, which in our humble, hardworking and broke opinion, was enough, if not too much to pay for one fabulously stylish celebration.

Well, that's what we thought until I told him about the guest list................

Choosing my wedding colors - bold, bright and colorful

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love color. Not the sweet muted colors. Not pastel. Not silver or black.

I love and adore bright, bold colors. I surround myself with my favorite colors - orange, red, pink and yellow. Life is so much sweeter with color.

And so when it came time to make the first planning decision for the wedding? I went with the easiest one........... choosing the colors.

You guessed it - orange, yellow and pink.

I know the wedding is set for September, and some folks may think that's more fall than summer. I beg to differ. It's always summer in my color world. No halloween type orange colors, either. I don't want the feeling of a 'harvest' or 'thanksgiving feast' of any kind. I just want bright bold color and I'm gonna have it!!!

Engaged...........Now what?

So I've been engaged for a little over a week now, and I'm in full-on 'planning' mode. Where do I start? What do I do?

For someone who's not the most organized, this is going to be very interested. Between running my two businesses, my day job and planning a wedding, I'm either going to learn how to organize, prioritize and get it together or turn into one hawt mess!! what will it be?

Engaged and planning my wedding

Let the planning begin.......... Got engaged to the love of my life on July 9, 2010 and planning a wedding for September 2011.