Tips for Making the Most of your wedding at the 1840s Plaza

      Planning a wedding can be overwhelming and stressful, but it’s important to take it piece by piece and pace yourself, so as not to stress yourself out. At the 1840s Plaza we want to help you out as much as possible by giving you some tips for making the most of your wedding experience at 1840s. 

•  Now that you have picked your venue and the floor you will be using, the next step is picking your caterer. At 1840s, we have a list of 16 different approved caterers for our venue. If you need a recommendation, just ask our staff.
•  After you have picked the caterer, it is time to pick all your other vendors, including cake, flowers, photographers, videographers, hair, make-up, etc. This may seem overwhelming but on our website, 1840splaza.com, we have recommended vendors for

  

  Courtyard Wedding

  anything you could possibly need. We know and trust these vendors and are sure any one you choose will be a satisfying experience.
• Once you pick your photographer, we recommend scheduling a walk through with them, especially if they are not familiar with the venue.
•  If you choose to have your wedding outside in the courtyard, make sure you talk to your DJ and have him bring some sort of sound system for the ceremony so that your guests can hear you.
• Our venue now includes Valet parking on Friday’s and Saturday’s, so none of your guests have to stress about parking. The nearest parking is one block away in the PMI dodge garage. If you do not want valet, you can contract with the garage to get your guests a better deal with validated parking.
• A month before your big day, we will do a walk-through with our staff, the caterer and you. During this time we will plan out how everything will look, who is doing what, when everyone is arriving, etc., to make sure your wedding goes as smoothly as possible.
• We recommend that the bride and groom, and if possible, the bridal party, stay at the 1840s Inn the night before the wedding. This makes getting ready and taking pictures much easier and assures that if you need anything throughout your big day, it is nearby. This stay also includes a gourmet breakfast so you do not need to worry about anything, it can be delivered to your room.
• During your wedding, our staff will be assisting the caterers before, during, and after the event to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. If you need anything throughout the event, just ask one of our staff members and they will be happy to help you in any way that they can.
• If you want some extra romance, and decide to stay at the Carrollton Inn that night, sign up for our Romance & Roses package. This includes a dozen roses and gourmet chocolates waiting for you when you arrive. Rose petals and votive candles will be spread throughout the room and we will arrange it anyway you would like.  

 
 

 
 
 
 

Looks Can Be Deceiving

Entrance to the Inn

     The 1840s Carrollton Inn and the 1840s Plaza may not seem like much from the outside, but I can assure you that once you see the interior of these historic buildings, your opinion is guaranteed to change. I interned at the 1840s Plaza and now work there part time. My first impression of the place was probably like anyone else’s. My first experience was when I went on my interview there.

            Going on interviews is nerve wracking. When I pulled up to the entrance on 50 Albermarle Street in Baltimore, at the 1840s Carrollton Inn, I was surprised. I had seen pictures on the website but when I pulled up it looked very bland. I parked in a fenced in lot and after exiting the lot, I walked down the side walk and went through a white door with a blue awning over it and proceeded to enter the brick building.

Patriots Room at the Inn

            Upon entering I was pleasantly surprised with a nice reception area, which included a fireplace, carpet, and a wooden desk that looked hand carved. The staff were very pleasant and they called up my soon to be internship supervisor, Dianna. After we met, she led me through the breakfast area, which was elegant and homey, with white table clothes, cloth napkins, and wooden chairs that fit the elegant décor. We went into the dining room which had a huge table which could probably seat at least 12 people.  

The Ballroom (4th Floor)

            After the interview she took me on a tour of the B&B and the rooms were absolutely exquisite. Each room has a unique décor that fits the historic time period. All of the bathrooms include whirlpool tubs and showers, and the tiling is beautiful. All the rooms have fireplaces, a TV and a king size bed. The owner buys a lot of antiques, which makes the rooms even more authentic.

The Carol Salon (3rd Floor)

            Next she took me over to the Fava building, which is historic. It is a four floor venue/banquet hall that is most often used for weddings, birthdays, corporate events, galas, and bar mitzvahs. Each floor has a unique feel and décor. In order to get to the building we crossed through a courtyard, which was beautiful with trees and gardens and seating for guests who might like to enjoy the atmosphere. We entered the Fava building and started on the 4^th floor, which is the Ballroom. This is the biggest and most elegant floor. It has chandeliers, an Irish pub Bar, and a wooden dance floor with a mirrored wall. This room also has several floor to ceiling Baltimore murals, from when it used to be part of the Baltimore City Life Museum.

Baltimore City Lites (2nd Floor)

            Next we went to the third floor, the Carol Salon, which is used mostly for ceremonies, due to its plane but classy feel. The second floor is the City Lites floor, and the most fun. This room also has many Baltimore Murals, but it also includes an original White Tower diner, a big dance floor, a DJ booth, a bar, a disco ball and banquet area. This room still has original pieces from when it was museum, which adds even more character. City Lites and the Ballroom are the most popular rooms in the building.

Cabaret (1st Floor)

            The first floor, the Cabaret, used to be a restaurant and night club. It has a very Latin flavor, with interesting ornaments hanging from the ceiling and red walls, and even a glass lighted mural. This floor also has a huge bar and booth seating. Many wedding couples use this room for a cocktail hour because of its nightclub atmosphere.

            Needless to say, after all the tours of both properties, I was very impressed with the place and felt it was definitely someplace I would like to work and gain experience. I now work there part time managing events and giving tours of the venue.

History of the 1840s Plaza, Located in Baltimore

                  The city of Baltimore has a very diverse and rich history. When people think of historic Baltimore they may think of museums, or Edgar Allen Poe’s birthplace. However, many people don’t know the historic venue, the Fava Building, the 1840s Carrollton Inn, or the Carroll Mansion, located on 29 South Front Street, across from Port Discovery. Although the building was constructed in 1996, its cast iron façade that covers the front of the building is from the 1869 G. Fava Fruit Building. This may seem like a miniscule detail but before the Fire of 1904, there were over 100 cast iron buildings, as compared to today, which is less than 12. The Fava is one of the last remaining buildings with a cast iron façade on the east coast.

The Fava Building

Originally, the Fava façade stood where the Baltimore convention center is today. The building was condemned to make way for the convention center. The architects Peterson & Brickbauer had the idea to recreate the building to the exact specifications and the cast iron façade was plastered onto the new building. The new building became the Baltimore City Life Exhibition Center, which won awards for its construction. The goal of the Baltimore City Life Exhibition Center was to preserve a piece of historic Baltimore for generations to come.

The museum included representations of trolleys, period row houses, the old Royal Theater, Marketplace, an original reconstructed White Tower Diner, and floor to ceiling murals, which were detailed, colorful, and added life to the museum. Despite the award winning architecture and exhibits, the museum was not as popular as Peterson & Brickbauer had predicted. Due to the lack of attendance and low income, the building was closed in 1997 and became city property, until the Pomykala family purchased the property in 2003.

The courtyard leading to the Inn

After the purchase of the property, the family combined all the row homes into a 13 room bed and breakfast, now known as the 1840s Carrollton Inn. The Baltimore City Life Museum became the 1840s Ballroom. The Carrollton Inn and the 1840s Ballroom, with a courtyard in between the two buildings, makes up the 1840s Plaza. The courtyard that leads from the inn the Ballroom consists of an upper and lower courtyard. The upper courtyard is filled with trees while the lower courtyard has gardens and flowers on either side of the walkway.

The Carroll Mansion

The Carrol Mansion also resides on the 1840s property and was the home to the longest living signer of the Declaration of Independence. The mansion is often used as a wedding venue for smaller weddings. The house was originally constructed between 1804-1808. Richard Canton later purchased the mansion in 1820, with Charles Carroll, Canton’s father-in-law. Charles Carroll died on November 14th, 1832, in the mansion, at age 95. Because of his importance in the community, Charles Carroll’s death became recognized as a local and national event. After the death of the Richard Canton and his wife, the property changed hands several times. The mansion was used for a brewery, saloon, restaurant, apartments, tailoring firms, and even a school. In 1967 the mansion was renovated and open to the public as a historic house museum until 2003, when the Pomykala family purchased it as well.

The New Orleans Experience

New Orleans is a city full of history and many cultures, such as French and Cajun. During the first week of January, I had the opportunity to visit this wonderful city. I went to visit my friend in Baton Rouge, about an hour and a half from New Orleans, and that week we took a trip there. 

Before we hit the road, we stopped at a fast food chain that is native to the South, called Raising Cane’s. The entire restaurant is based around chicken fingers. The man who started it had a dream to start this chain, but no one would fund him, so he worked long, hard hours in order to raise money to open his first restaurant. Even though there are only 4 things on the menu, the chicken is so good that it was a success.

The results from the spillway

After lunch, we were off to New Orleans, but not without hitting a big traffic jam first. We headed down I-10. We crossed the Mississippi River and I saw the Bonnet Carre spillway that is used to divert the water if the river floods. It has only been opened a couple times though. You can tell that it was opened recently because all the wildlife where the water was let out is dead and it looks like a wasteland with barren trees.

We finally made it into the city. The skyline was beautiful, and I had never seen so many colleges in one city. The Superdome looks much bigger in person. As we drove through New Orleans, it became clear that pedestrians took advantage of the fact that they have the right-of-way. As we looked for a parking spot, we came to the cross roads of Bourbon Street, where we had to wait for several minutes until people finally let us cross. 

When we finally found a parking space, we made it onto the crowded street. There were people everywhere and both my friend and I were wondering why. We did not realize that the day we decided to go to New Orleans was also the day of the Sugar Bowl. This explained why half of the people were sporting Michigan garb, and the other half were in Virginia Tech garb. 

People filled the streets

As we walked down Bourbon Street, hordes of fan surrounded us. Above us were balconies on either side of us. One side held Virginia Tech fans and the other Michigan State fans. They enjoyed drunkenly shouting things at each other about how their team was going to win.

There were so many people that outside each bar stood someone trying to usher people passing by, inside their bar. It reminded me of the people who stand at the kiosks in the mall and try to make you buy their scented hand lotions. One man went so far as to grab my hand and told me to come inside. I respectfully declined.

One thing New Orleans is famous for is an alcoholic drink called the Hand Grenade. It’s a licensed drink specifically to New Orleans and the recipe is a secret. It has a very fruity taste and it’s impossible to taste the alcohol in it but it is known for its high alcohol content. I bought one of these and sipped it as we explored Bourbon Street. 

One of the many masquerade masks

The gift shops all had the same things but it was still exciting to me. Each shop had a plethora of Masquerade masks. I bought a blue one with feathers as a keepsake. There was also an extensive collection of shot glasses in each shop. Each souvenir was more overpriced than the last. 

We eventually made it to the French Quarter, which was much quieter thankfully. The crowds of Bourbon Street were a little overwhelming. The French Quarter was very pretty and the art was beautiful. Unfortunately it was getting late at this point so many of the shops were closed but we were able to explore some of the art shops. Each place had a unique style. Some focused on paintings, some focused on photography, and some focused on antiques.  

Getting out of New Orleans was another adventure. It was right before the game and all the fans were headed to the Super Dome, which we had to drive by. Traffic was bad but it could have been worse. There were cops directing traffic and keeping an eye on drunk and rowdy fans. 

Despite the fact of the crowds and craziness, I’m glad we went the day that we did. I feel like I had the full New Orleans experience because of it. The city was unlike any other I have seen and I cannot wait to go back and visit again.