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................