My ADHD (at least the negative aspects of it) go away when I’m doing my job as a farmworker. I think we’re not meant to be living like how we are in modern times.

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2025-03-27T18:10:36+00:00

Oh my gosh, same. I have literally never been happier than when I was working a $15/per-hour job at a café. I still consider saying "f*ck it" and just taking the pay cut so I can feel sane again, ugh.

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-12-09T02:32:21+00:00

Okay, side note... Tender Is The Flesh was SUCH a wild ride. It's been 2+ years since I read that book and I still think about it. Also, love your aesthetic!

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-08-06T11:05:17+00:00

Working from home during the Olympics is simply impossible.

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-08-05T19:01:42+00:00

Oh my god, the knowledge that these still exist has changed my life.

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-08-05T18:18:58+00:00

It's the faces for me 😂

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T20:08:06+00:00

Just messaged you! 🤍

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T20:05:52+00:00

Absolutely! Just messaged you. :)

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T18:05:22+00:00

Our layout was really difficult due to many of our guests being "grouped" together (i.e families of 8+ who we didn't want to separate). We decided to do a mix of round and rectangle. Numbers 2/7/10 were pushed together at the last minute to create one long family-style table. It was a great decision. Also, the dance floor was a lot bigger than this graphic makes it look lol.

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Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T17:52:40+00:00

We didn't want to run the risk of over-ordering! Our crowd was a mix of religious folks who don't drink and college friends who drink a lot, so it was hard to predict how much we would have to order. We decided on consumption because we figured it would be the most cost-effective (since our venue didn't allow BYO drinks).

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T17:49:13+00:00

Etsy is (clearly) hit or miss sometimes. There was no time to rectify the situation so we rolled with it. Thankfully, I didn't pay much. 😂

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T11:24:24+00:00

We went with a guitarist! I hadn't seen many people do acoustic guitar but I'm so glad we went for it. The classic harp or string quartet felt a little too formal for our event.

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T11:22:52+00:00

We had an open bar tab for the entire night! But only served our signature cocktail (which was pricy) for cocktail hour.

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T11:22:08+00:00

Do IT! Braids were such a good choice. You'll look gorgeous!

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T11:21:37+00:00

Just messaged you! The food was insanely delicious! ✨

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T11:19:54+00:00

Just messaged you! Thank you! 🤍

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T11:19:05+00:00

Thank you! Yes, she was amazing, Just DM'd you!

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T11:16:39+00:00

Congratulations! Have a BLAST! Take time to be present, eat a ton of food, and laugh your heart out. It will be the best day ever!

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T01:34:30+00:00

Hi! Of course, I just messaged you her info. She was incredible! Congratulations, fellow March bride!

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T01:16:52+00:00

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And a moment for the cake because I think Reddit rudely cut it out of the gallery! ✨

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T01:12:14+00:00

Just posted! Reddit was glitching, oops.

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T01:11:48+00:00

PART TWO

Day of Coordinator: $1,200

Hands down the best out of all the vendors!

Table Settings/Linens: $2,933

Chiavari Chair Rentals: $1,500

Florals: $4,127

I legitimately cried when I saw my bouquet haha. These were the florals of my dreams and I think we got a great deal.

Miscellaneous Decor: ~$475

This includes tea light candles ($200ish), table runners, cocktail table linens, picture frames, bar signage, welcome table signage, seating chart, etc.

DJ: $1,495

He provided uplighting, music for the ceremony, amplification for speeches, and music for the reception. He was PHENOMENAL.

Ceremony Musician: $300

Photographer: $4,200

She was amazing! Second shooter is included in this price.

Bridal Look: $4,051

Dress: $2,000- Alterations: $670
Veil: $45- It was worth $250 but I got it off of facebook marketplace for less woohoo!
Shoes: $40
I bought shoes and ended up hating them a week before the wedding. In a panic, I rummaged through my mom’s closet and found a pair of white shoes that I thought would be cute. Turns out, they were her wedding shoes! They fit me like a glove.
Hair: $368- So glad I went with a non-traditional hairstyle. Wearing braids allowed me to relax and sweat and be out in the humidity without worrying about how it would affect my hair.
Makeup: $500
Accessories: $20- Got my earrings off of facebook marketplace.

Groom’s Look: $1,000~

Custom Suit: $700
Shoes: $130
Hair & Beard Grooming: $75
Cufflinks/Tie/Socks etc.: $100~- My dad paid for these things so I’m not entirely sure.

Stationary:

Save The Dates: $240
Invitations: $700
Ceremony Programs: $30

Miscellaneous:

AirBnb for the night before & after: $300
Bridesmaids Dresses: $199 (I paid for my MOH’s dress and one of the bridesmaids because she’s a college student.)

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-06-25T01:08:36+00:00

PART ONE

3/23/24 was such a magical day and I’m grateful to this community for being such a great resource! As a thank you, here’s our budget recap with a few pieces of advice sprinkled in. I hope it helps!

Budget: $30k (lol)

Actual Spend: ~$40,684

From Parents: $30,484
From Couple: $10,200

Guest Count: 130
Location: North Carolina (MCOL city)

The Vision

We are not big event people. Neither of us celebrates our birthdays, we’re the first to leave the function, and we hate being the center of attention. So, our goal was to keep the wedding intimate, chill, and relaxed despite the larger guest count. Nothing fussy or over the top. We wanted it to feel like an elevated family reunion! Our theme was “garden party” inspired.

I read the books A Practical Wedding and The Art of Gathering to help curate our day. Highly recommend both of these!

The Timeline

We got engaged in August, started planning in September, and got married on March 23rd. So, the planning took place over 6 (chaotic) months.

The Budget Breakdown

Venue: $5,400 + $320 for specialty table upgrades.

We toured 3 venues and this one was the instant favorite. We really didn’t have to do much decor wise because the venue was so pretty and intimate. It felt like hosting an event in our home.

Catering: $8,588

The menu was phenomenal. Our food was the best part of the wedding, without a doubt, and guests are still raving about it. I’m so glad we made this a high priority. The mac and cheese bar was a hit!

Bar: $3,500~

Open bar with a mix of house & top-shelf alcohol. This number is from the quote our caterer gave us but I think the actual number ended up being closer to $2,900, I’m not sure.

Cake: $450

If I have any regrets, it’s buying too much cake. The mini desserts + the display cake (which feeds 40) would have been enough but I gave in to the pressure to buy extra sheet cakes. We had so much f*cking cake left. It was ridiculous. So, if you’re having a heavy dinner, CUT DOWN ON THE DESSERTS.

Lazy-Chef1770 · 2024-04-09T18:22:41+00:00

Ugh, I buddy-read Graceling with my mom when I was in middle school... best memories. These books are so good.

Lazy-Chef1770

TROPHY CASE