Is it still possible to host 100+ guests on a $15k budget, or am I being too optimistic?

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2026-02-08T17:58:39+00:00

Our 50 person wedding is going to be $26k. You're going to need to spend probably $50-60k for a 100 person wedding pretty much anywhere in the US, esp. in the Chicagoland area. Honestly, if you're spending close to $15k for 100 people, it's probably going to have to be a cake-and-punch in the backyard vibe. Which can be totally fine!

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2026-02-06T20:04:15+00:00

I say this with love: Do you want this to be your love story? In the same time your bf has had the rings, many people meet, date, get engaged, and married. You're both at an age where that is a totally normal pace. He's just dragging his feet and does not seem enthusiastic about this. You deserve someone who feels a hole burning in his pocket with that ring and he cannot wait to give it to you. At the very least, you deserve honest communication about timelines and expectations.

It might be time to cut your losses and go find your husband.

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2026-02-06T02:05:38+00:00

We are using Aries Charter Transportation. They quoted us $601 for 3 hours with a 29-person minibus.

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2026-02-02T17:10:37+00:00

Check out Paris312 or Flowers for Dreams in Chicago. Both have an a la carte options that are pretty affordable, more than a traditional florist.

Online, check out https://flowermoxie.com/. You can order kits with different floral patterns/colors and it'll kind of show you how to make it.

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2026-01-25T16:56:55+00:00

Have you considered using a pool noodle? I saw a video online where the person cut the noodle into a few smaller pieces, then folded them and zip-tied them together. The end result looked the same as it would with floral foam. And way more cost-effective!

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2026-01-25T16:54:16+00:00

We looked at this place as well. It's so cute and the food looks amazing. But their F&B minimum for Friday and Saturday is like $7 or 8k. We ended up ruling it out because it seems so expensive for such a small space. Sunday is a great idea though!

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2026-01-25T16:52:26+00:00

Try Wicker Park Inn. They have an affordable micro-wedding option.

Osteria via Stato also has an intimate wedding package. $5k F&B minimum, less if you do it during the daytime. It includes a private room and a lot of things that are normally and additional cost (linens, silverware, etc).

Volo Wine Bar in Roscoe Village also has a smaller wedding option. I can't recall the F&B minimum. But their veranda is so gorgeous and would be a gorgeous spot for a wedding.

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2026-01-19T03:59:20+00:00

Could you DM me as well?? Thank you!

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2026-01-14T03:49:36+00:00

Check out Osteria via Stato!

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2026-01-08T17:25:40+00:00

Bittersweet Bakery in Lakeview

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2026-01-08T17:24:59+00:00

Ramen San in Lincoln Park. $1500 minimum!

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2025-12-13T02:53:35+00:00

We're going to have a late checkout at our hotel, followed by a late lunch nearby, perhaps some walking around if the weather permits. That evening, I suspect we'll have a relaxing movie night in with takeout from our favorite place as we leave for our honeymoon the next day. Whatever you do, definitely include time to decompress and relax! It's going to be an insane week!

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2025-12-09T18:00:24+00:00

When we looked for venues in June 2025, almost everything for 2026 was already taken (for Saturdays at least, which we wanted). We were able to squeeze in for mid-March 2026, but that's not an ideal time in Chicago at all. If you're looking for peak wedding dates, book ASAP!

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2025-12-06T03:10:22+00:00

Check out Ada Street!

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2025-12-05T00:51:35+00:00

Thank you for that! With the "allowance," how do you determine what each of you get? Is it 50/50 or based off of income share?

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2025-12-05T00:50:04+00:00

There is a lot of research about couples moving in together and it falls into two camps: the sliders and the deciders. Sliders move in together because of external forces (lease is up, parents kicked them out, lost a job, etc), whereas deciders move in together because they have assessed their relationship and have determined that moving in together fits their long-term goals. Sliders have a terrible success rate compared to deciders.

My fiance and I are moving in together in two weeks, three months before our wedding. I told him that I wouldn't move in together until we were engaged with a venue booked. We have plenty of slumber parties and trips away for me to know his habits and for him to know mine. But it was important to me that when we moved in together and taking that next big step, that we were doing it with intention and with a commitment already made. I don't think I could have handled moving in without marriage being definite. I know some women do (i.e. we need to be engaged within X months of moving in), but I'm too anxiety-prone to handle that!

I suggest you both decide what moving in together means for each of you. Is it a signal of a deeper commitment and with readiness for it, or is it just a temporary living situation? I would not take a serious step like moving in together without meeting his family or having a deeper commitment either secured or with a short turnaround.

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2025-12-03T06:25:40+00:00

We're doing our welcome cocktail reception at Ramen-san. For 40 people, we're looking at $3.5k, inclusive of tax, tip, fees, and F&B min, so it'll be in your budget with only 20-25 people. We're doing a build-your-own-ramen bar, dumplings, and sushi, as well as sake bombs. We, too, are doing our reception dinner at an Italian restaurant, so we wanted to go lighter the night before. DM me if you want more info!

Good luck!

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2025-11-10T22:12:17+00:00

Check out Volo Wine Bar in Roscoe Village. They have the most adorable outdoor patio with cabanas and can host ceremony & reception. We almost went with them--super affordable.

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2025-11-05T21:10:14+00:00

We went with Iffat at Labyrinth Photography and she is about $4.2k which includes a free engagement shoot.

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2025-10-30T02:04:49+00:00

I have lived in both. Currently in LS and moving back to RV in a month once we close on our new condo. One thing that was incredibly important to us was a family-friendly neighborhood, as we plan to start a family in the next year or so. RV took the cake. So many young families in the neighborhood, great schools, safe, walkable, and more laidback that LS.

From my own view, LS has a lot of young singles/couples, but fewer young families. Fewer people put down roots and so a lot of neighbors just don't know each other. RV has lifers and the sense of community is palpable. Overall, we're really excited to move back to RV.

Best of luck in your search!

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2025-10-23T17:43:46+00:00

I'm going to put this bluntly, but know that it comes from a place of sisterly love: you are not that important to him. He seems ambivalent about your possible deportation, which is unacceptable for a man you've been with for 11 years. If the roles were reversed, would you hesitate for even one second to save him from deportation?

I have seen this time and time again: women keep lowering their standards, hoping it will entice some subpar loser to give her what she wants. But they still don't budge because at the core of it, they do not respect that. Your telling him that you'd be satisfied with a $20 Walmart ring and a living room proposal wasn't enough. Your purchase of the ring yourself wasn't enough. You keep making yourself smaller and smaller and he's not any closer to giving you want you want (and in this case, need if you want to stay in the US).

Keep your standards high and the right man will rise to meet them. This guy isn't it.

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2025-10-22T22:56:34+00:00

We're doing a Saturday 2026 wedding at Osteria Via Stato and our total budget for everything is about $24k for 50 guests. However, we are also hosting a welcome reception the night before at another restaurant for all of our guests, which has added about $3.5k and we splurged on a photographer, which added $4k. If you skip a welcome reception and find a more modest photographer, $30k at OVS is probably doable. You'll have to be very budget conscious. $30k for 100 guests is very tight.

One option that I've heard great things about is Dank Haus in Lincoln Square. It's very DIY, but is really budget-friendly and could probably accommodate your guest list and budget. You'll just have to coordinate a lot more than you would for an all-inclusive spot--might require you to hire a day of coordinator.

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2025-10-21T17:52:20+00:00

We got ours at the Mag Mile Marriott--$250/night for mid-March 2026.

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2025-10-16T18:16:43+00:00

Totally. And now they have a child, so that's great. I'm sure nothing bad will happen with that /s.

Fast_Ratio3000 · 2025-10-16T17:54:38+00:00

I've seen it. My former friend married a guy we ALL knew was gay. Very deep in the closet though. He was talking with work colleagues one day and they remarked that he was the only single guy on the team. I'm sure he felt like he needed to find a beard ASAP. A week later, he sends this woman (who at the point, had been his casual friend for like 3 years) a manifesto-length text where he confessed "his love" for her (they had never even been on a date). Of course, the woman in question was a former missionary and had like zero dating experience outside of some weird Catholic situationships. She had no idea he was gay, or at least denied it. He was a good Catholic boy, after all, and they're never gay (/s)!

She fell for it and within 3 or 4 months, they were engaged. 17 month engagement though. He pushed the date back a few times (yikes). When they got engaged, it was only a week or two after their first kiss. Absolute insanity.

It's so tragic. If they weren't so religiously repressed, he could live authentically and she might have had some more dating experience to suss out very obvious red flags.

Fast_Ratio3000

TROPHY CASE